What to know
The Colorado (CO) Tracking Program builds on existing state and local public health capacity and expertise in environmental health surveillance to develop a network of integrated health and environmental data. This empowers public health practitioners, healthcare providers, community members, policy members, and others to make information-driven decisions that affect their health.
Background
Colorado’s rural vastness provides valuable recreational opportunities and natural resources.
One-third of counties in Colorado are frontier counties. They contain fewer than six people per square mile. In these rural areas, high percentages of the population rely on private well water.
Colorado's geology contributes to elevated levels of naturally occurring ground water contaminants and radon gas. This happens in rural and urban areas.
It is home to a thriving recreation and tourism industry. This makes protecting the environment paramount in Colorado. Residents share a strong interest in environmental public health surveillance and data-driven public health action in the state.
Accomplishments
Addressing Concerns about Elevated Levels of Uranium in Drinking Water
The Colorado Tracking Program worked with the state's Water Quality Division (WQD) to determine the natural range of uranium in Colorado water supplies. Data showed that elevated levels of uranium were common in Colorado water. The research supported other evidence that the small increase in uranium levels poses a low risk to the health of those who drank the water.
The Colorado Department of Corrections was concerned about possible health risks. They needed help finding the right information to share with staff and inmates. The tracking program helped develop messages to educate about the research and low level of risk for health effects.