Health Assessment and Toxicology Program
Texans face a variety of environmental stressors that could threaten our health. The Health Assessment and Toxicology (HAT) Program works to understand how exposure to toxic substances can affect our health. Our aim is to prevent and reduce the harmful effects they have on health and quality of life. The HAT Program works to keep people safe from dangerous chemicals by:
- Answering questions about the impact of pollution on our health.
- Collecting surveillance data on major chemical releases and poisonings.
- Investigating sites where people may come into contact with chemicals.
- Recommending evidence-based actions to keep people safe.
The HAT Program operates under state laws:
- Health and Safety Code, Title 6, Chapter 503.005: Health Risk Assessments
- Title 2, Subtitle H, Chapter 161.0211, subchapter C: Epidemiology or Toxicology Investigations
External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.
Partner Agencies
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Environmental Epidemiology & Disease Registries Section (EEDRS)
- Toxic Substances Coordinating Committee, State of Texas (TSCC)
- Texas Groundwater Protection Committee (TGPC)