The Florida Department of Health conducts public health assessments, consultations, and community updates at such sites. Chemicals at these sites can harm human health.
The program studies chemicals existing at a site, amount, possible exposures, and length of possible exposures. Identifying these factors can determine the amount of risk a site may pose to people and the community who live nearby.
Two reports are generated:
- Public Health Risk Assessment: Looks at a site as a whole (soil, water, air) and possible health effects.
- Health Consultation: May answer a single question about a site and/or it may review one set of data.
Health Risk Assessment Process
Learn more about the basics of the human health risk assessment process.
These reports only relate to human health. They do not check the health of any one person, are not an in-depth health study of a group of people, do not set standards, and do not set cleanup levels for a site.
From 1992-1998, the Florida Department of Health also reviewed prior health assessments to identify areas for more work – these special reports are called site review and updates.