HHS · no agency ID · record R0694

ATSDR Toxicological Assistant chatbot

Department of Health and Human Services · HHS/CDC

Overview

Development stage: DeployedSource: c) Deployed – The use case is being actively authorized or utilized to support the functions or mission of an agency.
High-impact designation: Not high-impactSource: c) Not high-impact
Impact justification: Not reported
Start date: 2025-04 (month precision)Source: Apr-25
Withheld from public reporting: NoSource: a) No

Mission

Topic area: Science
Operational functions: Chatbot or virtual assistant, Summarization Derived by keyword rules; see methodology

Problem the AI is intended to solve

The ATSDR Toxicological Assistant chatbot via the CDC Chatbot has access to query 180 comprehensive toxicological profiles (A-Z Index of Tox Profiles | Toxicological Profiles | ATSDR). The chatbot can assist users in accessing toxicological data, answering questions about specific chemicals, providing information on exposure pathways, and offering guidance on health assessments related to environmental contaminants. This tool can significantly reduce research time, ultimately enhancing efficiency in accessing critical toxicological information.

Expected benefits

This tool significantly reduce research time, ultimately enhancing efficiency in accessing critical toxicological information to effectively and rapid response to general public enquire relative to chemical exposure through to ATSDR Info.

System outputs

Substance Lookup: Summarizes health risks, exposure pathways, and toxicological data from a pre-built library of over 180 ATSDR toxicological profiles. Interactive Q&A: Generates answers to user questions based solely on information within the extensive toxicological profiles, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Navigation Support: Effectively guides users to specific chapters, tables, pages, and references within lengthy toxicological documents. Comparative Analysis: Enables users to compare the health effects of different substances, facilitating comprehensive environmental research and exposure assessments. Document Generation: Assists in creating documents and reports tailored to different reading levels, supporting health consultations and public communication.

Technology

AI classification: Generative AISource: Generative AI: AI that generates new or synthetic content (e.g., images, videos, audio, text, code).
System name(s): EDAV (Enterprise Data Analytics and Visualization Platform)
Custom-developed code: No
Public source code: Not reported

Sourcing

How it was built: Contract and in-houseSource: c) Developed with both contracting and in-house resources
Vendor (as reported): Not reported
Vendors (standardized): None on the standard list

A vendor is the supplier named by the agency. It does not identify the underlying model or AI technology.

Data and privacy

Involves PII: No
Privacy Impact Assessment: Not reported
Authorization to Operate: Yes
Demographic features: k) None of the above
Training and evaluation data: Not reported
Federal Data Catalog: www.atsdr.cdc.gov ↗

Governance

0 of 8 minimum-practice questions answered. A blank answer means the agency reported nothing; it does not mean the practice is absent.

Pre-deployment testingNo answer reported

AI impact assessmentNo answer reported

Independent reviewNo answer reported

Ongoing monitoringNo answer reported

Operator trainingNo answer reported

Fail-safeNo answer reported

Appeal processNo answer reported

User and public consultationNo answer reported

Potential impacts and how they were identified

Not reported