A Decade of Environmental Public Health Tracking (2002-2012)

Abstract

Background The creation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Environmental Public Health Tracking Program spawned an invigorating and challenging approach toward implementing the nation’s first population-based, environmental disease tracking surveillance system. More than 10 years have passed since its creation and an abundance of peer-reviewed articles have been published spanning a broad variety of public health topics related primarily to the goal of reducing diseases of environmental origin. Objective To evaluate peer-reviewed literature related to Environmental Public Health Tracking during 2002-2012, recognize major milestones and challenges, and offer recommendations. Design A narrative overview was conducted using titles and abstracts of peer-reviewed articles, key word searches, and science-based search engine databases. Main Outcomes Eighty published articles related to “health tracking” were identified and categorized according to 4 crossed-central themes. The Science and Research theme accounted for the majority of published articles, followed by Policy and Practice, Collaborations Among Health and Environmental Programs, and Network Development. Conclusions Overall, progress was reported in the areas of data linkage, data sharing, surveillance methods, and network development. Ongoing challenges included formulating better ways to establish the connections between health and the environment, such as using biomonitoring, public water systems, and private well water data. Recommendations for future efforts include use of data to inform policy and practice and use of electronic health records data for environmental health surveillance.

Evaluating the Use of Electronic Health Records for Type 2 Diabetes Surveillance in 2 California Counties, 2010-2014

“…Data utility is often limited by delays between collection and reporting, poor geographic refinement, and sparse population coverage that hinders the analysis of disease trends and health disparities. 6 EHRs are seen as a potential solution to these challenges. 7…”

Contribution of Satellite-Derived Aerosol Optical Depth PM2.5 Bayesian Concentration Surfaces to Respiratory-Cardiovascular Chronic Disease Hospitalizations in Baltimore, Maryland

“…CDC subsequently incorporated PMB into its Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) network of state and New York City partners [ 16 , 18 , 22 , 26 ]. To date, PMB has been used by federal and state epidemiologists completing EPHT projects in different parts of the US [ 16 , 18 , 22 , 26 ].…”

“…In the last 15 years, PMB has turned out to be a more representative PM 2.5 concentration surface, compared to the interpolation of PM 2.5 monitor data, as a method to resolve spatial gaps between ambient air monitors [16,18,22]. CDC subsequently incorporated PMB into its Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) network of state and New York City partners [16,18,22,26]. To date, PMB has been used by federal and state epidemiologists completing EPHT projects in different parts of the US [16,18,22,26].Within this decade, the availability and use of satellite AOD data have become more routine [6,16,[27][28][29][30][31].…”

“…CDC subsequently incorporated PMB into its Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) network of state and New York City partners [16,18,22,26]. To date, PMB has been used by federal and state epidemiologists completing EPHT projects in different parts of the US [16,18,22,26].Within this decade, the availability and use of satellite AOD data have become more routine [6,16,[27][28][29][30][31]. Newer generation satellite instruments measure AOD with increased temporal accuracy and finer spatial resolution [27,[32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

Fulfilling the Vision of Environmental Public Health Tracking

“…The underlying theme is putting data and technology to work in environmental public health practice, reflecting the basic purpose of tracking to drive public health decision-making and action. Overview articles by Charleston, et al 4 , Qualters, et al 5 and Kearney, et al 6 describe how CDC laid the groundwork and systematically built a standards-based Tracking Network; how the Tracking Program and Network have been used to drive public health actions; and how, as the Tracking Program matured, publications focused more on science, research, policy and practice than network development and collaboration. Subsequent articles provide specific examples of technological advancements and application of data in science and practice.…”