Hair Analysis Panel Discussion: Section 6.5

Section 6
6.5 Next Steps To Be Taken by ATSDR

Dr. Susten described ATSDR's anticipated next steps related to evaluating the utility of hair analysis. First, a summary report of this panel meeting will be generated and released (the report will be posted on ATSDR's Web site). Second, ATSDR will generate a report related to lessons learned from the panel discussions (and possibly publish it in the open literature). In addition, internally, the agency plans to do the following:

Continue to provide education to physicians and other health professionals.

Develop a generic fact sheet to help health assessors and communities communicate and understand hair analysis issues.

Continue to develop substance-specific toxicological profiles. The profiles are an excellent resource and contain information on biomarkers of exposure. In light of the panel discussions, additional language may be added regarding hair analysis (e.g., in terms of limitations, etc.) on a substance-specific basis.

Develop guidance on hair analysis to support public health assessments and health studies conducted by the agency. That is, develop criteria for determining when to consider hair analysis as part of an ATSDR exposure investigation.

These activities will help all of ATSDR's divisions as well as professionals in the community.

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