Process for Developing Conclusions Diagram

The Process for Developing Conclusions Diagram helps health assessors go through the process of determining conclusions, assigning conclusion categories, and determining recommendations and public health actions.

For determining conclusions, there are three conclusion categories: Health Hazard, Uncertain Health Hazard, and No Health Hazard.

For assigning conclusion categories, under Health Hazard, there is Category 1: Short-term exposure, acute hazard and Category 2: Long-term exposure, chronic hazard. Under Uncertain Health Hazard, there is Category 3: Lack of data. Under No Health Hazard, there is Category 4: Exposure, no harm expected and Category 5: No exposure, no harm expected.

For determining recommendations and public health actions, under Health Hazard, there is health advisory, measures to stop or reduce exposures, health education, health study, and health surveillance. Under Uncertain Health Hazard, there is further characterization of site-related exposures, health education, health study, and health surveillance. Under No Health Hazard, there is health education, health surveillance, and measures to prevent future exposures.

Note that some conclusions and recommended public health actions may come early in the PHA process. ATSDR would only recommend a health study in very rare cases when all the feasibility criteria are met. ATSDR would recommend a public health advisory or health study in very rare cases.