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The Air You Breathe

Poor air quality is linked to premature death, cancer, and long-term damage to respiratory and cardiovascular systems.  

Essential Online Databases for Environmental Research

Air Force Administrative Record Search

Search: https://ar.afcec-cloud.af.mil/

 

Drinking Water Database

In many cases, the levels of contaminants that the government regulations allow are higher than what current research suggests is safe. This is why the Environmental Working Group (EWG) developed a tap water database.

Type in your ZIP Code to find out what is in your tap water: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/

Civil and Cleanup Enforcement Cases and Settlements

Link: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/summary-criminal-prosecutions

Civil Cases and Settlements

Link: https://cfpub.epa.gov/enforcement/cases/

Corporate Compliance Screener

Search: https://echo.epa.gov/facilities/compliance-screener

 

Cleanups in my Community Search

Search: https://www.epa.gov/cleanups/cleanups-my-community

 

Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO)

Focuses on inspection, violation, and enforcement data for the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), and Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data.

Link: https://echo.epa.gov/

Environmental Protection Agency Database Searches

https://www.epa.gov/enviro/topic-searches

Environmental Justice Communities

Learn More: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-your-community

Facility Registry Service (FRS) Search

Search: https://www.epa.gov/frs/frs-query

 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Public Record Request

Submit your request: https://www.epa.gov/foia

Greenhouse Gas Search

Search: https://enviro.epa.gov/envirofacts/ghg/search

 

Manufacturing and Chemical Industries Near You

Search: https://enviro.epa.gov/facts/tri/form_r_search.html

My Environment Summary

Type in your state: https://enviro.epa.gov/myenvironment/

 

Reuse of Contaminated Lands

Learn more: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/addressing-liability-concerns-support-cleanup-and-reuse-contaminated-lands

RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) Facility Information Search

Research: https://enviro.epa.gov/envirofacts/rcrainfo/search

Safe Drinking Water Act Violation Report

Search: https://enviro.epa.gov/envirofacts/sdwis/search/form?state_abbr=FL

Search Property for Environmental Concerns

Research: https://enviro.epa.gov/facts/myproperty/

Superfund Facility and Geographic Search

SEMS: https://enviro.epa.gov/envirofacts/sems/search

 

Superfund Sites Across the United States

Search for Superfunds Near You: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/search-superfund-sites-where-you-live

Superfund Enforcement: 

Info: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/superfund-enforcement

Radiation in Air and Water Search

Monitoring stations distributed across all 50 states regularly sample the nation's air, precipitation, and drinking water for a variety of radionuclides and radiation. 

Search: https://enviro.epa.gov/envirofacts/radnet/search

Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Search

Variety of reports for every facility that has reported to EPA since 1987.

Search: https://www.epa.gov/enviro/tri-search

 

Wastewater/Stormwater/Biosolids Facility Search

Search: https://echo.epa.gov/facilities/facility-search?mediaSelected=cwa

Essential Online Databases for Health Research

Cancer Statistics in the United States

SEERS database: https://seer.cancer.gov/

Blood Test for Heavy Metals 

Arsenic, blood; cadmium, blood; lead, blood; mercury, blood

Lapcorp: https://www.labcorp.com/tests/706200/heavy-metals-profile-ii-whole-blood

Blood Test for Lead

Lapcorp: https://www.labcorp.com/tests/007625/lead-whole-blood-adult

Blood Test for PFAS Exposure 

Empowered DX: https://empowerdxlab.com/products/product/pfas-16-test-legacy-compounds

Hair Analysis Test

Aluminum, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, lead, lithium, mercury, phosphorus, strontium, thallium, uranium, vanadium, zinc

​DHA Lab: https://www.dhalab.com/shop/drhebroni-hair-toxic-essential-elements/

Mold Allergin Serum Test

Lapcorp: https://www.labcorp.com/tests/062448/allergen-profile-mold

State Cancer Profiles

Cancer statistics across the nation

Data: https://statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov/incidencerates/index.php?stateFIPS=12&cancer=086&race=00&sex=0&age=001&type=incd&sortVariableName=rate&sortOrder=default#results

Statistics Center by American Cancer Society 

Estimates: https://cancerstatisticscenter.cancer.org/#!/

Health and Cancer Statistics by State

  1. Alabama: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/ascr/

  2. Alaska: https://health.alaska.gov/dph/VitalStats/Pages/cancer/registry.aspx

  3. Arizona: https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/public-health-statistics/cancer-registry/index.php

  4. Arkansas: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/arkansas-cancer-registry

  5. California: https://www.ccrcal.org/learn-about-ccr/

  6. Colorado: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/center-for-health-and-environmental-data/registries-and-vital-statistics/colorado-central-cancer

  7. Connecticut: https://portal.ct.gov/dph/Tumor-Registry/CTR-Home

  8. Delaware: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/dcr/home.html

  9. Florida: https://fcds.med.miami.edu/

  10. Georgia: https://northcentralhealthdistrict.org/georiga-cancer-registry/

  11. Hawaii: https://www.uhcancercenter.org/research/shared-resources/hawaii-tumor-registry

  12. Idaho: https://www.idcancer.org/

  13. Illinois: https://dph.illinois.gov/data-statistics/epidemiology/cancer-registry.html

  14. Indiana: https://www.in.gov/health/cdpc/cancer/cancer-registry/

  15. Iowa: https://shri.public-health.uiowa.edu/

  16. Kansas: https://apps.kumc.edu/kcr/?=redirect

  17. Kentucky: https://www.kcr.uky.edu/

  18. Louisiana: https://sph.lsuhsc.edu/louisiana-tumor-registry/data-usestatistics/

  19. New York: https://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/

  20. Maine: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/data-research/vital-records/mcr/

  21. Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-cancer-registry

  22. Maryland: https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/cancer/pages/mcr_home.aspx

  23. Michigan: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/providers/forms/michigan-cancer-surveillance-program

  24. Minnesota: https://www.health.state.mn.us/data/mcrs/index.html

  25. Mississippi: https://www.cancer-rates.info/ms/

  26. Missouri: https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/cancer-registry-research-center

  27. Montana: https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/cancer/tumorregistry

  28. Nebraska: https://www.unmc.edu/cancercenter/registry/registries/

  29. Nevada: https://dpbh.nv.gov/Programs/NCCR/Nevada_Central_Cancer_Registry_(NCCR)_-Home/

  30. New Hampshire: https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/nhscr/

  31. New Jersey: https://www.cinj.org/research/new-jersey-state-cancer-registry-njscr

  32. New Mexico: https://hsc.unm.edu/new-mexico-tumor-registry/statistics/

  33. North Carolina: https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/units/ccr/

  34. North Dakota: https://ndcancer.org/

  35. Ohio: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/ohio-cancer-incidence-surveillance-system

  36. Oklahoma: https://oklahoma.gov/health/health-education/chronic-disease-prevention/oklahoma-central-cancer-registry-occr.html

  37. Oregon: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/diseasesconditions/chronicdisease/cancer/oscar/pages/index.aspx

  38. Pennsylvania: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Reporting-Registries/Cancer-Registry/Pages/Cancer%20Registry.aspx

  39. Rhode Island: https://health.ri.gov/programs/detail.php?pgm_id=124

  40. South Carolina: https://scdhec.gov/CancerRegistry

  41. South Dakota: https://www.sdcancerstats.org/

  42. Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/tcr/tennessee-cancer-registry-data.html

  43. Texas: https://www.texascancer.info/cancerdata/dataandstatistics.html

  44. Utah: https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/utah-cancer-registry

  45. Vermont: https://www.uvmhealth.org/medcenter/departments-and-programs/cancer-data-registry

  46. Virginia: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/virginia-cancer-registry/

  47. Washington: https://doh.wa.gov/data-statistical-reports/diseases-and-chronic-conditions/cancer-data

  48. West Virginia: https://oeps.wv.gov/cancer/Pages/default.aspx

  49. Wisconsin: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wcrs/index.htm 

  50. Wyoming: https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/chronic-disease-and-maternal-child-health-epidemiology-unit/cancer-surveillance/

Florida Resources for Environment

Certified Laboratory Testing Search

Search: https://floridadep.gov/dear/florida-dep-laboratory/content/nelap-certified-laboratory-search

 

Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System

Maintained by USF's Dr. Drobert Weisberg, provides information regarding currents and seal levels from an array of buoys and coastal stations.

Link: http://comps.marine.usf.edu/

Fish Monitoring Project by ORCA

Donate fish to this project designed to collect data related to the accumulation of toxins in fish living in the Indian River Lagoon and contributing waters (e.g., Lake Okeechobee, canals).

Link: https://www.teamorca.org/fish-monitoring/

Florida's Air Quality Monitoring

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) continuous monitoring of ozone and fine particle pollution. 

Single Site Data: https://floridadep.gov/air/air-monitoring/content/single-site-data

Multiple Site Data: https://fldep.dep.state.fl.us/air/flaqs/selectreport.asp?

Florida Aquifer Locations Map

Link: https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/5c1ac7e1b3f34a5181fac1949e97621d_4/explore?location=27.707376%2C-83.720988%2C5.75

 

Florida Brownfield Sites

Search: https://floridadep.gov/waste/waste-cleanup/content/florida-brownfields-area-and-site-documentation?fbclid=IwAR0X5W-ugZwaDEWhEUo_g4Ayr7dK9miE8JW1-ttRtlvCEpp6uKIAIHw0UUY

Florida Statewide Cancer Data System

Data: https://fcds.med.miami.edu/inc/publications.shtml

Florida Statewide Cancer Incidence

Visit Florida health chart: https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=NonVitalInd.Dataviewer&cid=0460

 

FDEP Environmental Document Search

Click Public Oculus Login: https://depedms.dep.state.fl.us/Oculus/servlet/login

FDEP Facility and Document Search

Information Portal: https://prodenv.dep.state.fl.us/DepNexus/public/searchPortal

FDEP List of Maps

View: https://fdep.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html

 

Florida Fish and Wildlife Invasive Plant Control Map

Map: https://ipm-myfwc.shinyapps.io/AnnualRep/

Florida Fish and Wildlife Spray Schedule

Schedule: https://app.myfwc.com/hsc/pmars/waterbodyschedule.aspx

Florida PFAS Investigation

Federal Facilities: https://floridadep.gov/waste/waste-cleanup/content/pfas-investigation-federal-facilities

Invasive Plant Control Map

Map: https://ipm-myfwc.shinyapps.io/AnnualRep/

 

Phosphate Lands Where Food is Grown

Document: https://fluoridealert.org/wp-content/uploads/fl.phosphate.radionuclides.food_.1986.pdf?fbclid=IwAR35Kwg912zTEg-QphZFnu7P6OuBP41AF3QAnMuQ3tHZGQqGJIzDRnbi1yo

 

Public Drinking Water Plants in Florida

Search: https://geodata.dep.state.fl.us/datasets/1df064433629466ba40ac8efffd5eea6_1/explore?location=27.748622%2C-83.466600%2C5.09&showTable=true

Search Hazardous Waste Sites by County, Chemical, or Site

Search: https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/hazardous-waste-sites/reports/hw-reports-search.html

Stormwater Permit Map

Link: https://ca.dep.state.fl.us/mapdirect/?focus=npdes&zoom=query&querytype=npdes&queryvalues=FLR20EW35

 

Subscribe to Notices of Pollution

Provide an email address to subscribe to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) public notice of pollution notification list. 

Subscribe: https://prodenv.dep.state.fl.us/DepPNP/reports/addSubscriber

Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)

Search: https://edap.epa.gov/public/extensions/newTRISearch/newTRISearch.html?

View Submitted Notices of Pollution

View pollution notices to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Submitted Notices of Pollution: https://prodenv.dep.state.fl.us/DepPNP/reports/viewIncidentDetails?page=1

Environmental Interactive Maps

Enviro Mapper

Link: https://enviro.epa.gov/enviro/em4ef.home

 

Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping

Link: https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen

Radium Contamination Map

By the Environmental Working Group (EWG)

Link: https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2018-radium/?utm_source=201801RadiationRelease&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=201801RadiationReleaseGM#.Wyp9MRiZNZq

Toxic Sites in the United States Map

Link: https://www.toxicsites.us/

Environmental Testing Resources

Drinking Water At Home Test Kits

TapScore: https://mytapscore.com/

 

PFAS At Home Water Test Kit

$79 https://cyclopure.com/product/water-test-kit-pro/

Environmental Health Policy Watch

PFAS Contamination Bill Tracker

Safer States: https://www.saferstates.com/toxic-chemicals/pfas/

CANCER CLUSTERS

Bayshore High: "Cancer cluster" concerns at Bayshore High are under investigation.

Fort Pierce: Rare form of cancer sickens 11 people within a seven-mile radius.

Miami:  Higher-than-expected rates of pediatric cancers have been identified in the Miami metro area and an area west of the Everglades. 

Palm Bay: Harris Corp. has been cited for sloppy handling of hazardous waste, including cancer- causing pollutants, flammable solvents, and sludge that could contaminate groundwater. 

Palm Beach County: At least 13 cases of brain cancer.

Patrick Air Force Base: Cancer-Causing Chemicals Detected In Groundwater At Patrick Air Force Base.

Seminole County: Researcher studies number of rare childhood brain cancer cases in Central Florida.


Southwest Florida: A closer look at where a cancer-causing chemical was found in SWFL tap water.

The Silence of the State: This is a story about pediatric cancer clusters in Florida.

DID YOU KNOW?

Class I and II surface water classification requires that the surface waters of each state be classified according to designated uses. Florida has six classes with associated designated uses, which are arranged in order of the degree of protection required.

  • Class I: Portable water supplied fourteen vernal areas throughout the state, including impoundments and associated tributaries, certain lakes, rivers, or portions of rivers, used as drinking water supply.

  • Class II: Shellfish propagation or harvesting generally coastal waters where shellfish harvesting occurs. geodata.dep.state.fl.us

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is a federal law that protects public drinking water supplies throughout the nation. Under the SDWA, EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and, with its partners, implements various technical and financial programs to ensure drinking water safety. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa

If a community has to do a "chlorine burn," it is a drinking water utility's first step in admitting something is wrong. The length of chlorine burns should be kept to a maximum of 21 days. An event such as a chlorine burn or a switch from chloramine to chlorine is considered to be part of the normal operations of a system for periodic maintenance. Erin Brockovich

Dozens of EPA Superfund sites, such as the gasification plant, which leaked dangerous chemicals into the ground, still exist throughout Central Florida. Read More: Superfund Sites 

As of 2011, cancer is now the leading cause of death for Floridians, surpassing heart disease. In the three-year period from 2009-2011, the total number of cancer deaths was 122,921. There's an average of 100,000 new cancers diagnosed and reported each year to the statewide cancer registry, the Florida Cancer Data System. Florida Health 

Florida was projected to have the second-largest number of new cancer cases in the United States. Tandfonline 

Hazardous waste permits provide treatment, storage, and disposal facilities with the legal authority to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. Source: EPA Hazardous Waste Permitting 

"Dr. Amin’s statistical analysis of pediatric cancers in Florida – from the years 2000 to 2007 – concluded that there are significant cancer clusters in two large areas of Florida: the southern region of Florida and in northeast Florida. That struck one of the most sensitive nerves in state government." Source: https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/06/04/cancer-clusters-in-florida-the-silence-of-the-state/

"A statewide increase in pediatric cancer rates that started in 2005. Five separate research teams from the group Science and Public Policy analyzed data from 2000-2010. Although their methodologies differed, they were all attempting to detect cancer clusters in the Florida area. "Unusually high" cancer rates." Source: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/researchers-find-pediatric-cancer-clusters-in-florida-042115.html

What is Environmental Health?
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We don't always see it, but our environment affects public health. Most people assume that health outcomes mostly result from individual choices, and although genetics plays a role, many external things can influence how healthy we are. The connections between our environment and public health are difficult to imagine. For example, if you live in a city with polluted water, it may be dangerous to eat the fish you catch. It's essential to reduce chemical and other environmental exposures in air, water, soil, and food to protect people and provide communities with healthier environments. Environmental health consists of preventing and controlling diseases related to the interaction between people and their environment. Unlike diet and exercise, many ecological health facts can't be managed at the individual level. Combatting the risk they pose often takes laws, policies, and programs. It takes a comprehensive and coordinated effort to protect the health and safety of communities throughout Florida.

Protecting Our Children

Children are often the hardest hit by the consequences of poor environmental exposure. For their size, they breathe more air and eat more food than adults, making them more vulnerable to environmental health hazards. Even low levels of toxic exposure can affect children's physical and mental development.

Investing in Our Communities

Communities are often unaware of the threat of chemical exposure. Providing basic needs to the public, such as safe drinking water, clean air, lead poisoning prevention, and more, are essential to public health. Investing in dedicated resources will create an effective system that proactively protects Florida communities and helps everyone attain good health. 

Need for Action

Tracking environmental exposures in communities across Florida is important to finding potential links with disease outcomes. Our homes should be free of exposures that negatively impact the health of our families.

 

We should all have access to safe and clean public spaces. This requires the participation of federal, state, and local governments.

PROTECT CHILDREN

 

Children have an increased risk from environmental hazards compared to adults during development. https://www.who.int/ceh/risks/en/

The National Academy of Sciences estimates that 50% of lifetime pesticide exposure occurs during the first five years of life. https://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/lawn/factsheets/Pesticide.children.dontmix.pdf

Children experience great exposure to toxic chemicals n their environment based on their body size. Pesticide.children.dontmix.pdf

Children's metabolic pathways are immature. In many cases, children are more vulnerable because they are less able to detoxify and excrete toxic substances than adults. https://www.who.int/ceh/capacity/Children_are_not_little_adults.pdf

Delicate developmental presses are easily disrupted while children undergo rapid growth and development. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp358

Even minute exposures to toxic chemicals during these critical windows of development can lead to permanent injury to the brain and other organ systems. 

Because children have more years of life ahead, there is more time to develop the disease than can be triggered by early environmental exposures. https://www.who.int/ceh/risks/en/

Children need healthy environments to play and learn in so that they may reach their full potential. As adults, we must ensure that children are protected from environmental threats like toxic chemicals and air pollution.

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