Tracking Tribune Newsletter #6 – March 2014
Tracking Releases First MMWR
December 2014 marked a significant milestone for CDC’s Environmental Health Tracking Branch with the release of its first Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) surveillance summary. The report authored by Dr. Ekta Choudhary and Dr. Ambarish Vaidyanathan highlights heat stress illness (HSI) hospitalization trends over a ten year period (2001-20010). Data from 20 of the 25 Tracking grantee states were used in the study, which include the following major findings:
- Between 2001 and 2010, the 20 Tracking Program grantee states included in this report had
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- about 28,000 HSI hospitalizations.
- an overall 2%–5% increase in the rate of HSI hospitalizations compared with the 2001 rate.
- a relatively strong positive correlation between the number of HSI hospitalizations and the average monthly maximum temperature/heat index.
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- The majority of HSI hospitalizations occurred among males and persons aged 65 years and older.
- The highest rates of hospitalizations were in the Midwest and the South.
Public health agencies can use HSI hospitalizations data to estimate trends over time and to design targeted interventions to reduce heat stress illnesses among at-risk populations.
New Data Added to the Tracking Network
Pesticide exposures and proximity to highways are the newest content areas available on the Tracking Network. Pesticide exposures data come from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC). They show the rate and number of reported exposures by location, the reason for the reported exposure, and the rate and number of illnesses that resulted from the reported exposure. These data can be used to identify trends and patterns of reported pesticide exposures over time and in different geographic regions. The advanced options allow the user to explore patterns related to the presence and severity of health outcomes from the reported exposure, type of pesticides involved with reported exposures, and where people are exposed to pesticides.
Proximity to highways data show the number and percent of public schools sited within 150 meters of a highway and the number and percent of people living within 150 meters of a highway. These data are important since motor vehicles contribute to more than 50% of air pollution in urban areas. Exposure to traffic pollution has been linked to many adverse health effects including making asthma symptoms worse, decreased lung function, cardiovascular disease, adverse birth outcomes, and childhood cancer.
Two New States Added to the Tracking Network
CDC is pleased to announce that it is providing funding to two new states to participate in its Tracking Network. Kentucky and Michigan now join the 23 states and New York City already tracking and reporting environment and health data as part of the Tracking Network. CDC’s funding enables the Kentucky Department of Public Health and Michigan Department of Community Health to systematically collect environmental health data statewide. This is an important step in moving toward our goal of a nationwide Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. Participation from Kentucky and Michigan helps strengthen the Tracking Network and offers a more complete picture of our nation’s environmental health.
New Info By Location Tool
The Tracking Network recently launched a new and improved Info by Location tool. This infographic-style tool allows users to enter their zip code or county name and view environmental health data and information specific to the selected county. Current topics include:
- Demographics
- Asthma
- Air Quality
- Smoking
- Health Insurance Coverage
Additionally, users have the option to share what they see via social media, explore the data further using the Tracking Network’s data query system, or discover more information about health and environmental topic areas by visiting the Tracking Network. Future plans to include even more content areas are currently in development. Visit the Tracking Network today to explore this new tool.
New Tracking In Action Success Story Videos
In 2014, CDC’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Program’s “Tracking in Action” video series won the National Center for Environmental Health “Excellence in Communications” award for setting itself apart from other communications products with its high-caliber production quality, variety of content, dynamic videography, and plain language scripting focusing on the positive impact of the Tracking Network on environmental health. Check out the two newest videos added to the series which showcase the work Tracking Network states are doing to help advance public health in Iowa and New Mexico.
Iowa’s Data Tool Highlights Health Problems and Saves Money
In this video you can see how the Iowa Tracking Program adapted their air quality and cardiovascular disease data display tool for the state immunization program. This tool saved the sate significant financial resources and allows health department staff more time to work on research, policy, and data issues.
New Mexico’s Wildfire Response
See how the New Mexico Tracking Program created an interactive mapping tool to help protect residents from the dangers of wildfire smoke. The dangers of air pollution associated with wildfire smoke include an increased risk for breathing problems and heart disease.
Visit http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showTrackingInAction.action to see the new videos along with the rest of our award-winning Tracking in Action video series.