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How do we get involved?
The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) can prepare three different types of documents for the communities near hazardous waste sites. These are: Public Health Assessments, Health Consultations and Exposure Investigations.
Public Health Assessments (PHAs)
A Public Health Assessment  is a comprehensive report reviewing chemicals found in environmental samples of air, soil and water. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the US Environmental Protection Agency gather these samples.
A PHA also looks to see if there is a way for the chemicals to reach people (exposure pathway). These reports determine if a chemical (or chemicals) at a site poses a health risk or not.
The PHA estimates whether a health threat exists for people living near a site. The Florida DOH also estimates if past exposures are likely to affect people?s health now. We gauge if people are apt to become sick in the future from chemicals at the site. The Florida DOH also recommends steps cleanup agencies need to take to protect public health in the future.
Health Consultations (HCs)
The Health Consultation is similar to a PHA, but has a more narrow focus. While the PHA looks at an entire site and many issues, the HC usually answers a single question or looks at just one issue. For example, HCs have reviewed whether chemicals from a site are washing off into storm water and onto a nearby schoolyard.
Exposure Investigations (EIs)
An Exposure Investigation focuses on chemicals in people?s bodies (blood/urine) or in the environment (fish, vegetables/fruits, air or dust). DOH coordinates blood and urine testing with the County Health Departments (CHD) in Florida. DOH coordinates fish testing with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC). DOH or CHD staff collect vegetable/fruit for chemical testing. DOH coordinates air and dust testing through several different agencies. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the County Health Departments or the community can request the Florida Department of Health to conduct an EI. All EIs must receive the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry approval.
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