Hazardous Substances
Academic Training Program 

Environmental Health Sciences
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Overview

The Hazardous Substances Academic Training (HSAT) program was established in 1993 to provide specialized training in the management of hazardous substances for professionals in environmental health (EH) and industrial hygiene (IH) areas. The program provides training in this multidisciplinary field, drawing on specialized coursework and experience in public health, environmental science, and engineering. The HSAT program responds to the well-recognized need for professionals who are competent in dealing with hazardous substances in the environment and workplace. Program graduates are capable of addressing such topics as hazardous waste site remediation, environmental management of toxic substances, soil and groundwater remediation, pollution control and pollution prevention, worker protection and worker training, community concerns and risk communication, and exposure and risk assessment.

The background photo shows emergency medical personnel administering oxygen to community members in the aftermath of a large chemical fire.

The HSAT program is supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. With this support, we can provide tuition and stipend assistance for qualified students. The HSAT program is one of the elements of the Education and Research Center (ERC) at the University of Michigan. This multidisciplinary center provides academic training, continuing education and research in the areas of industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, safety engineering and nursing.  Prof. Batterman is the director of the HSAT program.

The photo shows a portion of an abandoned wood preserving operation that results in significant contamination of surface soils. Such sites are common throughout the world.  
The photo shows a "unit" of a Superfund site containing PCB and dioxin contaminated soils that have been placed underneath the tarp. While many of the nation's 1400 Superfund sites have been cleaned up, major efforts are needed to clean up remaining Superfund sites.  Many of the remaining sites pose special challenges requiring innovative approaches.
Brownfield sites, such as this area just south of Detroit, are widespread in older urban and industrial areas. Some of these sites are in prime commercial areas, often close to population centers, and many clean-ups are planned or underway.  
Incineration of hazardous waste can destroy a very high fraction of toxic organic wastes, yet concerns remain regarding emissions of metals like mercury, arsenic and lead, and persistent organic pollutants like dioxin. Thus EPA policy requires a health and ecological risk assessment as part of permitting.  Cement kilns like the one pictured here now burn a larger amount of commercial waste than do commercial waste incinerators.

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revised Aug. 3, 2000