[7] Although ATSDR is an independent operating agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) performs many of its administrative functions.

ATSDR conducts research on the health impacts of hazardous waste sites and provides information and recommendations to federal and state agencies, community members, and other interested parties.

[7] A 1982 lawsuit litigated by Chemical Manufacturers Association and the American Petroleum Institute forced the creation of ATSDR,[17] which was created as an agency under the Department of Health and Human Services on April 19, 1983.

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) broadened ATSDR's responsibilities in the areas of public health assessments, establishment and maintenance of toxicological databases, information dissemination, and medical education.

This environmental data provides information on the amount of contamination and possible ways humans could be exposed to the hazardous substances at the site.

Other agencies and the general public rely on ATSDR to provide trusted information on the health effects of hazardous substances at contaminated sites.

[33] ATSDR has a computational toxicology laboratory that conducts research and modeling on the effects of toxic substances on human health.

The registry contains more than 71,000 people who lived, worked, or went to school near the World Trade Center site, as well as emergency response personnel who were involved in rescue and recovery efforts.

ATSDR partnered with 15 states to collect information for HSEES in order to track, report, and study chemical spills.

[46] The information in the HSEES system was used to plan for emergency events involving hazardous substances (including terrorist attacks).

States also used the information to develop policies and programs to strengthen public health and reduce illnesses and deaths that can result from exposure to hazardous substances.

[36] For example, states used HSEES data to support legislation addressing the problem of hazardous chemicals at illegal methamphetamine labs.

NTSIP also has Assessment of Chemical Exposure teams to assist state and local health departments in the aftermath of toxic spills.

[49] ATSDR represents the Department of Health and Human Services on the National Response Team and works with other agencies to provide technical assistance during emergencies involving hazardous substances, such as chemical spills.

Another tool is the Medical Management Guidelines, which summarize important information on exposure to common chemicals and provide suggestions for safely treating and decontaminating patients.

[54] ATSDR works closely with communities to evaluate the public health effects related to redevelopment of brownfields properties.

ATSDR has worked at more than 400 brownfield or land reuse sites to assess health effects of potential exposure to hazardous substances.

[55] The agency has created resources to provide guidance to communities when planning redevelopment projects, including tools to evaluate the potential threat of chemicals at development sites.

In 2008, ATSDR had cooperative agreements with 29 states and one tribal government, providing technical assistance to help those partners address local environmental health concerns.

[59] In June 2009, ATSDR and NCEH launched a joint project, the National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures.

[60][61] The goal of the National Conversation is to develop recommendations for ways ATSDR and other government agencies can improve their efforts to protect the public from harmful chemical exposures.

To foster a productive dialogue, ATSDR encouraged broad public participation in the National Conversation and welcomed involvement from all interested stakeholders, including government agencies, public health professionals, environmental organizations, community leaders, business and industry representatives, tribal groups, and other interested citizens.

[62] The National Conversation is led by a 40-person Leadership Council that includes experts in various areas related to environmental public health.

"[78] In 2009, however, ATSDR announced that it had identified gaps in environmental data and planned to take a "fresh look" at Vieques by reviewing studies on the island.

[79] In 2015, ATSDR released a report, based on EPA data, declaring no health risk to communities near West Lake Landfill.

The agency's assessment contradicted findings from scientific investigations initiated by the Missouri attorney general and affected residents, who started organizing in 2012 when an underground fire in the landfill raised awareness of radioactive material and high rates of childhood cancer.