<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Network: More Data, Tools and Results</TITLE>
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<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>One year after launch, CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Network offers users more important data and improves our knowledge base about how the environment affects people's health. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The Tracking Network is an online system you can use to find out how the environment may be affecting your health or the health of your community. You can access information about environmental hazards such as air and water contaminants, and some chronic health conditions such as asthma and cancer. The most common queries conducted on the Tracking Network since its 2009 launch include asthma rates and air quality.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>In a new, exciting development, CDC is now funding seven more</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN><A href="http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showStateTracking.action"><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>states</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial> to build local Tracking Networks as components of the National Tracking Network. Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Vermont have joined the 16 states and New York City (NYC) already tracking and reporting environment and health data. CDC's goal is that one day all 50 states will have statewide Tracking Networks. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Another big addition to the Tracking Network is U.S. Census Bureau data on population characteristics. These data include demographic measures such as sex, age</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>, race, and ethnicity. The data also include socioeconomic measures such as poverty, occupation, education, and income. The association between population characteristics and the environment is difficult to measure, but some research shows these factors affect a person's exposure to environmental hazards. These data allow us to better understand the factors that influence environmental exposures and human health across the United</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial> States. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Over the past year,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial> public health officials used the state Tracking Networks to identify trends such as increased asthma and lead poisoning rates and areas at high-risk of consuming contaminated drinking water. These findings inform targeted outreach efforts to educate and protect citizens in these communities and to improve our understanding of the links between exposure to environmental hazards and risk of chronic illnesses. These types of discoveries and public health actions are now faster and easier because the Tracking Network makes standardized environmental and health data available in one place. </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Other important updates made to the Tracking Network throughout the past year include: </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><A href="http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showRbMain.action"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Reproductive health and</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><U><BR></U><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>birth outcomes</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#ffffff size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Symbol>·<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>State Vital Records Departments, through the National Center for Health Statistics, now provide the <BR> following reproductive and birth outcomes data to the Tracking Network for all 50 states:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face="Courier New">o </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Prematurity among singleton births (births of a single baby, as opposed to twins, etc.),</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face="Courier New">o </FONT> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Growth retardation among singleton births, and</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face="Courier New">o </FONT> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sex ratio. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><BR></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><A href="http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showAirLanding.action"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Air</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#ffffff size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Symbol>·<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Modeled air data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now available to examine air quality <BR> for locations without air monitors, and to fill in the time gaps when air monitors may not be recording <BR> data. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Symbol>·<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>Two more years (2007-2008) of air data-the most recent available-were also added. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><BR></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><A href="http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showCancerMain.action"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Cancer</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Symbol>·<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Information is now available for ten types of cancer in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Since the <BR> Tracking Network launch, these cancer types have been added: </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face="Courier New">o </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Acute lymphocytic leukemia in children</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face="Courier New">o </FONT> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Acute myeloid leukemia</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face="Courier New">o </FONT> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Acute myeloid leukemia in children</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face="Courier New">o </FONT> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Breast cancer</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face="Courier New">o </FONT> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Chronic lymphocytic leukemia </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><BR></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><A href="http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showBirthDefects.action"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Birth defects</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#ffffff size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Symbol>·<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Information for 12 different birth defects, including spina bifida, gastroschisis, Down syndrome, and more <BR> are available for four states. In the coming year, more states are expected to contribute birth defects <BR> data. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><BR></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><A href="http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showCarbonMonoxideLanding.action"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Carbon monoxide poisoning</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Symbol>·<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Mortality data for all 50 states</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Symbol>·<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Additional years of data </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><BR></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><A href="http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showAsthma.action"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Asthma</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#ffffff size=2 face=Arial>,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial> and</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#ffffff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN><A href="http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showHeartAttack.action"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>heart attack hospitalizations</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT color=#ffffff size=2 face=Arial> </FONT> <FONT size=2 face=Symbol></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Symbol>·<FONT face="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> <FONT size=2 face=Arial>Additional years of data </FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><BR></P></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In the coming year, CDC will continue to add new data and tools to the Tracking Network. Expansion plans include adding data and information about climate change, the prevalence of asthma, and the built environment. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P dir=ltr><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>To learn more, please visit the Tracking Network today:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us> </SPAN><A href="http://www.cdc.gov/ephtracking"><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>www.cdc.gov/ephtracking</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN></A><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></P>
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<DIV><FONT face=Calibri><FONT size=3><STRONG>Tara Chetock, MHA</STRONG> <FONT color=#0000ff><FONT color=#000000>| </FONT>Health Educator</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Environmental Public Health Tracking Program</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Oregon Public Health Division</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Phone: 971.673.1496 | E-mail: <A href="mailto:Tara.A.Chetock@state.or.us"><FONT color=#000000>Tara.A.Chetock@state.or.us</FONT></A></FONT></DIV>
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