About Colorado Tracking Program

For Public Health

July 23, 2026

The Colorado (CO) Tracking Program builds on existing state and local public health capacity and expertise in environmental health surveillance to develop a network of integrated health and environmental data. This empowers public health practitioners, healthcare providers, community members, policy members, and others to make information-driven decisions that affect their health.

Background

Colorado has a diverse geography. It is home to one of the country’s largest and fastest-growing urban areas as well as vast regions of mountains, forests, and plains. Nearly three-quarters of Colorado’s counties are rural, and one-third contain fewer than six people per square mile.

In rural areas, many households rely on private well water. Colorado’s geology contributes to elevated levels of naturally occurring ground water contaminants and radon gas. This happens in urban and rural areas.

Protecting the environment is a top concern in Colorado. The state’s recreation, agriculture, and tourism industries rely on a healthy environment. Plus, residents share a strong interest in Colorado Environmental Public Health Tracking’s long-term mission: to reduce exposure to hazards and improve environmental public health.

Accomplishments

Supporting Legislation for Low Income Radon Mitigation Assistance

Radon is an odorless, colorless, radioactive gas. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States after cigarette smoke.

Half of Colorado homes have unsafe radon levels. For low-income families, fixing their homes (mitigation) costs too much money, leaving them at a much higher risk for lung cancer.

The Colorado Tracking Program provided radon data to support a legislative bill, HB 16-1141. This bill established the Low Income Radon Mitigation Assistance (LIRMA) program. It provides financial support for testing and mitigating radon in low-income homes.

Unique Data

All state and local tracking programs collect and display a set of standard data. But individual programs may host other data that are important to their populations. CO's unique data include the following.