Environmental Health Data Tool Training

Having access to data about community health indicators and environmental conditions is key to monitoring the environment and its potential relationship to health issues. 

Community members, however, often don’t know where to turn for answers about environmental health. 

This short tutorial explains how to use existing information from CDC’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Network to address their questions. 

Introduction and Background

Environmental Public Health Tracking Tutorial

Statement from CDC

With an estimated 1,000 suspected cancer clusters reported to U.S. state health departments each year, it is essential that public health partners help communities access publicly available data on cancer and environmental hazards.  This tutorial provides communities with step-by-step instructions to access data in CDC/ATSDR’s National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network Data Explorer. The Data Explorer houses data on a range of different health outcomes as well as environmental data, across jurisdictions in the US.  Enhancing access to these data sets can empower communities to better understand local health and environmental issues and to take action to protect their community’s health. 

About the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network

CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Program delivers information and data to protect the nation from health issues arising from or directly related to environmental factors.

This effort was led by Megan Weil Latshaw, Associate Teaching Professor, and coordinated by Angela Zhu, who was an undergraduate student at the time. It was developed with technical assistance from CDC/NCEH/ATSDR.