Department of Health and Human Services

Toxic Substances

Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance Program (HSEES)

In 1990, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) established an active, state-based Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system to describe the public health effects associated with releases of hazardous substances such as ammonia, chlorine, acids, pesticides, paints, and dyes (but not petroleum products). North Carolina Division of Public Health joined the federally funded project in 1991. The project ended in 2009. Data are available from 1993 – 2009. The information was used to develop ways to protect health and prevent or minimize hazardous substance releases.

In 2009, the Division of Public Health was awarded a new grant that builds on the data collected in the HSEES program. The new program name is the National Toxic Substance Incidents Program.

Program Publications

HSEES Reports

• Surveillance of Hazardous Substances Emergency Events in North Carolina, 2004-2005 (PDF)
• Surveillance of Hazardous Substances Emergency Events in North Carolina, Cumulative Report 2002-2003 (PDF)
• Surveillance of Hazardous Substances Emergency Events in North Carolina, Cumulative Report 1998-2001 (PDF)
• Surveillance of Hazardous Substances Emergency Events, North Carolina Data Summary, 1993-1997 (PDF)

Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets

• Ammonia
• Carbon Monoxide PDF HTML
• Chlorine
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Methamphetamine Laboratories Information & Safety for First Responders, Firefighters, & Law Enforcement (PDF)
• Mercury
• Sulfuric Acid

* The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to properly view PDF documents. Download the latest version of the software.