What to know
The Maryland (MD) Tracking Program aims to provide useful environmental and health data to protect, promote, and improve the health and well-being of all Marylanders and their families. Special attention is given to populations at higher risk for negative health effects. MD Tracking assists agencies in planning, implementing, and evaluating public health actions. They also educate community members on potential linkages between environmental factors and health conditions.
Accomplishments
Excellence in environmental health surveillance
The Maryland Tracking Program has been a leader in environmental health surveillance since 2006. The MD Tracking site was one of the first in the country to present environmental and public health data together in the same visual display. It is also one of the first to display sub-county level health data.
The state health department has used MD Tracking information to map state cancer data in investigations of potential cancer clusters. Other programs have used their mapping resources extensively to track environmental health issues like radon testing, climate change, and more.
Answering community concerns about cancer
The Tracking Program has worked with the Maryland Cancer Registry on two major cancer investigations. One was conducted in Poolesville and another in Frederick. The first looked at concerns about cancer and drinking water. The second involved concerns about cancer in a community.
In both cases, the Maryland Tracking Program provided maps showing the geographic distribution of cancer and geo-statistical analyses of the cancer cases. The results of these two investigations were presented at community meetings. Experts were able to answer questions from community residents. To date, there is no evidence of cancer clusters.
Milestones
2002: Maryland Tracking Program established with CDC funding.
2008: Launched the MD Tracking Network site.
2010: Analyzed data and issued a report finding no evidence of cancer clusters in Poolesville, MD.
2011: Conducted cancer investigation in Frederick, MD and concludes no evidence of clustering exists; Completed report to the state legislature investigating the feasibility of biomonitoring of Maryland's residents.
2014: Investigated potential public health impacts of national gas development/production in western Maryland.