Understanding Emerging Environmental Health Concerns and Environmental Public Health–Tracking Priorities Among State and Local Professionals in Colorado

Abstract

Context: Colorado is experiencing dramatic changes related to population growth, climate change, and expanded industrial activity. Local and state public health professionals are trying to address a growing array of unique public health issues with stagnant or limited resources. Objectives: To understand, through perspectives from local and state public health professionals, the alignment of contemporary environmental and community health issues with state and local capacity and state environmental public healthtracking priorities. Design: During 2014-2015, we conducted semistructured interviews which informed the development of a statewide survey of Colorado's professionals from public health, emergency management, forestry, and transportation. Setting: This work took place in Colorado. Participants: Fifteen professionals from public (n = 9), academic (n = 4), and private (n = 2) sectors were interviewed. Forty-seven professionals, representing 34 counties and 40 public agencies, completed the 25-minute online survey. Main Outcome Measures: Environmental and community health concerns; contributing factors to environmental concerns; strengths and limitations of capacity to respond to issues; and frequency of community engagement activities. Results: Top environmental health concerns were indoor air pollution (eg, radon), outdoor air pollution, and waste management. Transportation, extreme weather (eg, wildfires), and oil and gas development were most frequently reported as major contributing factors to concerns. Obesity, physical inactivity, and mental illness were the top community health concerns. To remain prepared for emerging challenges, professionals cited a need for more spatiotemporal-refined data related to their top concerns in the environmental public health-tracking database, and support from local, state, and federal agencies, in addition to personnel and funding. To address concerns, participants reported frequently working with government officials, advisory committees, and media outlets. Conclusions: This project illuminates opportunities to strengthen connections between the state's environmental public health-tracking priorities and local-level capacity related to professionals' top concerns. It also suggests reinforcing and broadening partnerships to improve data infrastructure and inform environmental public health priorities.

The Role of Environmental Policies in Shaping Oil and Gas Operations: A Comparative Review of Africa and the Usa

“…Moreover, U.S. oil and gas companies have shown a decreasing trend in operational efficiency and CO2 emissions, reflecting an improvement in environmental efficiency following the adoption of energy transition policies (Jarboui, 2021). In terms of regulatory frameworks, the collaborative process regulating oil and gas development in Colorado represents a potential model for regulating other emerging concerns, such as indoor air pollution from wildfires (Murphy et al, 2019). Environmental conservation policies, technological advancement, and modern industrial policies are recommended to effectively reduce CO2 emissions in East African countries (Hlongwane & Daw, 2022).…”

The role of environmental policies in shaping oil and gas operations: A comparative review of Africa and the USA

“…In terms of regulatory frameworks, the collaborative process regulating oil and gas development in Colorado represents a potential model for regulating other emerging concerns, such as indoor air pollution from wildfires (Murphy et al, 2019). Environmental conservation policies, technological advancement, and modern industrial policies are recommended to effectively reduce CO2 emissions in East African countries (Hlongwane & Daw, 2022).…”

Swiss Cohort & Biobank – The White Paper

“…Also in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative" not only recognizes the important role of public health in the surveillance of, and dealing with, epidemics, but also recognizes the increasingly important role of public health agencies in protecting communities during times of emerging environmental challenges due to climate change. With evolving environmental health concerns, environmental public health tracking data priorities will require strategic updates to continue informing public health decision-making at all levels of government [38].…”