ADVANCEMENT OF THE PRACTICE
estimating internal dose, ATSDR can pro- vide communities with clearer, science-based explanations of what might have occurred and what it means for their health. These efforts increase transparency and help indi- viduals make informed decisions about their health and environment. HR and TK modeling are central to ATSDR’s mission to protect communities from harmful exposures and advance environmental public health. These approaches directly support the agency’s core activities, including pub- lic health assessments, health consultations, exposure investigations, and epidemiologic studies (ATSDR, 2026; Desai et al., 2024). By improving characterization of past exposures, HR and TK modeling enable more accurate health-risk evaluation, which is particularly important for contaminants with long latency periods or persistent envi- ronmental and biological properties where past exposures could drive current health outcomes. These tools also inform the devel- opment of exposure registries and long-term health studies, helping to identify trends and prioritize future research needs. Public Health Impact and ATSDR’s Mission In addition, these methods support timely decision-making during both chronic and acute exposure scenarios. For example, TK modeling can estimate internal doses after chemical incidents, providing rapid insight into potential health risks and informing emer- gency response actions (Boone et al., 2025). More broadly, HR and TK modeling strengthen ATSDR’s ability to translate sci- ence into action. They provide the technical foundation for communicating risk, guid- ing remediation strategies, and support- ing health-related decision-making aimed at reducing or preventing exposure. Just as importantly, they help build trust with com- munities by demonstrating a commitment to using the best available science to address environmental health concerns. As environmental challenges evolve, these approaches will remain essential. Contin-
ued advances in modeling, data integration, and computational tools will strengthen ATSDR’s ability to assess complex exposures and respond to emerging contaminants. By reconstructing the past and understanding its implications, ATSDR continues to advance its mission of protecting public health and pre- venting harmful exposures. Conclusion HR and TK modeling transform limited data into actionable public health knowledge. These approaches enable ATSDR to assess past exposures, support research, and guide public health actions to protect communities. Through these efforts, ATSDR provides com- munities, health professionals, and decision- makers with the knowledge needed to reduce risk and prevent future harm. AI Disclaimer: The authors used ChatGPT (version 5.5) to assist with language editing and drafting portions of this column. Chat- GPT created the figure design for this col- umn. The authors reviewed and edited the figure after its creation. All AI outputs were reviewed and verified by the authors. Corresponding Author: Jason Sautner, MS, Environmental Health Scientist, Office of Innovation and Analytics, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Highway, S106-5, Atlanta, GA 30341. Email: jsautner@cdc.gov References Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2026). Simulation science . https:// www.atsdr.cdc.gov/simulation-science/ Boone, S., Sun, W., Gonnabathula, P., Wu, J., Orr, M.F., Mumtaz, M.M., & Ruiz, P. (2025). Assessing the application of physi- ologically based pharmacokinetic mod- els in acute chemical incidents. Journal of Xenobiotics , 15 (2), Article 42. https://doi. org/10.3390/jox15020042 Desai, S., Wilson, J., Ji, C., Sautner, J., Prus- sia, A.J., Demchuk, E., Mumtaz, M.M., & Ruiz, P. (2024). The role of simulation
science in public health at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: An overview and analysis of the last decade. Toxics , 12 (11), Article 811. https://doi. org/10.3390/toxics12110811 Lynch, M.T., Lay, C.R., Sokolinski, S., Ante- zana, A., Ghio, C., Chiu, W.A., & Rogers, R. (2023). Community-facing toxicoki- netic models to estimate PFAS serum levels based on life history and drinking water exposures. Environment International , 176 , Article 107974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. envint.2023.107974 Maslia, M.L., Suárez-Soto, R.J., Sautner, J.B., Anderson, B.A., Jones, L.E., Faye, R.E., Aral, M.M., Guan, J., Jang, W., Telci, I.T., Grayman, W.M., Bove, F.J., Ruckart, P.Z., & Moore, S.M. (2013). Analyses and historical reconstruction of groundwater flow, contami- nant fate and transport, and distribution of drinking water within the service areas of the Hadnot Point and Holcomb Boulevard water treatment plants and vicinities, U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Caro- lina—Chapter A: Summary and findings . Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/camp- lejeune/php/data-researchhadnot-point-a/ index.html Pavuk, M., Adgate, J.L., Bartell, S.M., Bell, E., Brown, L.M., Laumbach, R.J., Schaider, L.A., van t’ Erve, T.J., Bailey, J.M., Botelho, J.C., Calafat, A.M., Cutler, C.R., Forand, S., Graber, J.M., James-Todd, T., Jeddy, Z., Kato, K., Mowry, N., Nair, A.S., . . . Bove, F.J. (2025). Multi-site study of communi- ties with PFAS-contaminated drinking water: Methods, demographics, and PFAS serum concentrations. Environment Inter- national , 202 , Article 109589. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109589 Ruckart, P.Z., Bove, F.J., & Maslia, M. (2013). Evaluation of exposure to con- taminated drinking water and specific birth defects and childhood cancers at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: A case-control study. Environ- mental Health , 12 , Article 104. https://doi. org/10.1186/1476-069X-12-104
Did You Know?
Whether you are seeking your next career opportunity or looking to hire talented professionals, our Career Center offers a variety of resources to help job seekers and employers. Learn more at https://jobs.neha.org.
38
Volume 89 • Number 4
Powered by FlippingBook