Modernizing Data Systems in Environmental Public Health: A Blueprint for Action
Table 3 presents real-world examples of each type of data to illustrate how they are applied in practice and how they support core functions within environmental public health programs. Table 3 TYPE OF DATA DESCRIPTION REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE Exposure Data Measurements of environmental conditions that pose potential health risks. South Coast Air Quality Management District,
California: Provides real-time air quality measurements and forecasts, including nitrogen dioxide and ozone levels for Southern California residents. New York City Department of Health: Publishes lead poisoning reports showing elevated blood lead levels in children by neighborhood. Florida Department of Health’s Arbovirus Surveillance: Tracks mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and West Nile virus with weekly updates. University of Wisconsin’s County Health Rankings: Aggregates data on income, education, housing, and access to care to assess community health drivers across U.S. counties. Mapping Inequality Project (a collaboration with universities): Uses historical redlining maps to study associations with current environmental exposures and health disparities. Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection: Posts public records of hazardous waste site inspections and enforcement actions against noncompliant facilities. A typical environmental public health department might integrate permitting and inspection systems with payment processing and budget tracking to align operational, financial, and compliance data.
Health Outcome Data
Records of diseases or conditions linked to environmental factors.
Surveillance Data
Ongoing monitoring to detect patterns and threats.
Demographic and Socioeconomic Data
Community-level statistics that inform health vulnerability.
Geospatial Data
Spatial information is used to analyze environmental and public health phenomena.
Regulatory and Compliance Data
Documentation of environmental law enforcement and industry compliance.
Financial and Budgetary Data Financial and budgetary data, including fees, fines, and budget tracking, are integrated with public health surveillance and compliance systems.
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