The mission of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to serve the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.

ATSDR is directed by congressional mandate to perform specific functions concerning the effect on public health of hazardous substances in the environment. These functions include public health assessments of waste sites, health consultations concerning specific hazardous substances, health surveillance and registries, response to emergency releases of hazardous substances, applied research in support of public health assessments, information development and dissemination, and education and training concerning hazardous substances.

ATSDR's core values, goals, mission, and organizational structure are reflected within the agency's Final FY 2002 Performance Report, Final FY 2003 Performance Plan and Draft FY 2004 Performance Plan for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Definitions of words and phrases used by ATSDR can be found in the ATSDR Glossary of Terms.