New Mexico Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are leading the initiative to build a Web-based National Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) Network to create a better understanding of how the environment affects people's health and to educate the public about ways to protect themselves from possible exposures and their related health effects.
Environmental conditions and hazards in New Mexico have substantial impacts on health, with related medical costs estimated at nearly $1 billion per year. Although the exact burden of environmentally related disease, disability, and death is unknown, recent studies have shown how significantly environmental exposures contribute to chronic diseases: lead poisoning (100%), childhood asthma (10%–35%), cardiovascular disease (7%–23%), childhood cancer (2%–10%), all cancers (1%–5%), and neurobehavioral disorders in children (5%–20%). Much chronic disease caused by exposure to environmental pollutants can be reduced through pollution prevention and exposure mitigation measures.
Learn About EPHT
