You need data? We've got data! CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking Network: A Resource for HIAs

Health impact assessments (HIAs) need locally relevant data on environmental conditions, health indicators, and population characteristics.  CDC’s Environmental Public health Tracking Network (Tracking Network) can be a valuable resource for these types of data. The Tracking Network is an online surveillance system with national data on environmental hazards and exposures, chronic health conditions, and vulnerability indicators.  Tracking data are available in tables, graphs, and maps.  These data can be used in HIAs, particularly in the scoping, assessment, and monitoring and evaluation steps. Come learn how Tracking Network data were used in four HIAs.  New York City’s Tracking Program contributed hospitalization and mortality data and technical assistance to study impact of air pollution on the health of New Yorkers, and to estimate current and potential future burden of health impacts related to heat waves.  The results have supported legislation, regulation, and voluntary initiatives to shift to cleaner heating fuels and have informed city planning for adapting to climate change.  In 2014, the Minnesota Tracking Program provided asthma hospitalizations data by zip code for a land use HIA conducted as part of a state urban air quality and respiratory health initiative.  The Massachusetts Tracking Program successfully collaborated with the state Department of Transportation to inform transportation HIA studying the future of the Route 28 corridor in Somerville, MA.