1 00:00:04,00 --> 00:00:07,00 We鈥檝e seen how biomonitoring can help us protect our health 2 00:00:07,00 --> 00:00:09,00 and improve our nutrition. 3 00:00:09,00 --> 00:00:13,00 Now, let鈥檚 find out how biomonitoring helps government agencies respond 3 00:00:13,00 --> 00:00:15,00 to emergency situations. 4 00:00:15,00 --> 00:00:18,00 When people are exposed to dangerous chemicals, 5 00:00:18,00 --> 00:00:21,00 public health officials need to act fast. 6 00:00:21,00 --> 00:00:23,00 Biomonitoring provides accurate information to help them 7 00:00:23,00 --> 00:00:25,00 make key decisions quickly. 8 00:00:25,00 --> 00:00:28,00 Through biomonitoring, scientists can find out 9 00:00:28,00 --> 00:00:31,00 what the chemical is, who has been exposed to it, 10 00:00:31,00 --> 00:00:33,00 and how much of it got into their bodies. 11 00:00:34,00 --> 00:00:38,00 CDC鈥檚 Environmental Health Laboratory works with public health laboratories 12 00:00:38,00 --> 00:00:43,00 in states, territories, cities, and counties to respond to health emergencies 13 00:00:43,00 --> 00:00:47,00 that involve chemicals, like chemical terrorism or industrial accidents. 14 00:00:48,00 --> 00:00:54,00 CDC鈥檚 Environmental Health Laboratory developed the Rapid Toxic Screen (RTS) 16 00:00:54,00 --> 00:00:56,00 for use in emergency situations. 17 00:00:56,00 --> 00:01:00,00 It鈥檚 a series of methods that scientists use to identify and measure more 18 00:01:00,00 --> 00:01:04,00 than 150 chemical threat agents 鈥� chemicals that are harmful to our health 19 00:01:04,00 --> 00:01:06,00 鈥� in blood or urine. 20 00:01:06,00 --> 00:01:10,00 RTS provides important information to medical personnel, 21 00:01:10,00 --> 00:01:13,00 public health professionals, and law enforcement officials. 22 00:01:13,00 --> 00:01:17,00 RTS results help guide lab testing and medical treatment for people 23 00:01:17,00 --> 00:01:19,00 who are affected by the chemical. 24 00:01:19,00 --> 00:01:23,00 To help state and local public health laboratories prepare to respond 25 00:01:23,00 --> 00:01:26,00 to future emergencies, the Environmental Health Laboratory 26 00:01:26,00 --> 00:01:30,00 provides routine training using Rapid Toxic Screen methods. 27 00:01:31,00 --> 00:01:34,00 The Environmental Health Laboratory also coordinates the 28 00:01:34,00 --> 00:01:39,00 Laboratory Response Network-Chemical (LRN-C), a national network for responding to 29 00:01:39,00 --> 00:01:43,00 chemical terrorism and other public health emergencies. 30 00:01:43,00 --> 00:01:47,00 The LRN-C brings together 54 state and local public health 31 00:01:47,00 --> 00:01:49,00 laboratories that operate 24/7. 32 00:01:50,00 --> 00:01:55,00 During large-scale, national health emergencies, these state and local laboratories help CDC 33 00:01:55,00 --> 00:01:58,00 test samples and communicate with local health officials, hospitals, 34 00:01:58,00 --> 00:02:00,00 and poison control centers. 35 00:02:00,00 --> 00:02:04,00 They also support other important state and local public health programs. 36 00:02:05,00 --> 00:02:09,00 In emergency situations, CDC鈥檚 common reporting system 37 00:02:09,00 --> 00:02:14,00 allows laboratories across the country to share vital information quickly. 38 00:02:14,00 --> 00:02:16,00 When health officials, hospital emergency teams, 40 00:02:16,00 --> 00:02:19,00 and first responders have the information they need, 41 00:02:19,00 --> 00:02:22,00 they can make better decisions to support those affected by 42 00:02:22,00 --> 00:02:25,00 emergencies like chemical terrorist attacks.