Environmental Public Health Tracking Network

Use CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Network to find out how the environment may be affecting your health, your family's health, or your community's health.

Two years after its launch, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking Network) has expanded and improved. It now offers users easier and enhanced data query functionality, more important data, and improved knowledge about how the environment affects people's health.

The Tracking Network is an online system you can use to find information on how the environment may affect your health or the health of your community. You can use the Tracking Network to access information about environmental hazards such as air and water contaminants and some non-infectious diseases and health conditions such as asthma, carbon monoxide poisoning, and cancer. Two exciting features have been added this fall: a cutting edge mapping and data query system and climate change data.

New Generation Data Query System

With the Tracking Network's new generation data query system data queries take less time and data displays are more dynamic and easier to create. Users now can sort data in many different ways, add layers to maps, and compare maps side-by-side. Learn more about the new query system: "CDC's Tracking Network: Easier, Faster, Better."

Environmental and Health Data Expansion

Scientists believe changes in the climate can affect your health in many ways. The Tracking Network's new climate change content includes data on temperature, heat index, and heat vulnerabilities. These data can help local communities develop interventions and better understand the possible health effects and risks to specific groups of people. Check out our new Success Stories Web page to find out what some of our states like California, New Hampshire, and Minnesota are doing about climate change. Visit CDC's Climate and Health Program for more information about climate and health.

Another addition to the Tracking Network this year was community design data, which includes information on types of transportation to work, motor vehicle-related fatalities, and more. Community design refers to all the elements of a community that are human-made and form the physical characteristics of that community. Well-designed communities can improve public health. The design and maintenance of communities may be related to chronic diseases, injury rates, and the effects of climate change. Learn more about community design data.

How can you use the Tracking Network?

You can use the Tracking Network to access information about environmental hazards such as air and water contaminants and some non-infectious diseases and health conditions such as asthma, carbon monoxide poisoning, and cancer.

With the Tracking Network's new generation data query system, data queries take less time and data displays are more dynamic and easier to create.

For example, you can see if asthma hospital stays are higher in your county than nearby counties. Doctors and nurses can use the Tracking Network content to improve treatment plans for asthma or other conditions related to the environment. Public health officials and policy makers can use the Tracking Network to make critical decisions about where to target environmental public health interventions. The Tracking Network provides faster and easier access to these types of data and information. Find data and information on your state's network or on the National Tracking Network.

State and Local Tracking Networks

CDC funds 24 state and local health departments to build statewide or local tracking networks as components of the Tracking Network. These systems supply data to the Tracking Network and address local environmental public health concerns. The health departments and their partners use the state tracking networks daily to improve the health of their communities by informing outreach efforts to educate and protect citizens and improve the understanding of the links between exposure to environmental hazards and risk of chronic illnesses. Find data and information on your state's network or on the National Tracking Network.

What's Next for the Tracking Network?

In the coming year, CDC will continue to evolve and expand the Tracking Network. Plans include adding more data, such as information on biomonitoring, developmental disabilities, and additional cancers. In addition, the design and functionality of the online system will continue to improve. You can stay up-to-date on the progress of the Tracking Network by joining our list-serv. Updates include information about new data, conferences, podcasts, and more. To join the list-serv, send an email to epht@cdc.gov.

To learn more:

• Visit the Tracking Network
• Follow the Network on Twitter
• Connect with the Network on Facebook