What to know
The New Hampshire (NH) Tracking Program will help policymakers, health professionals, scientists, researchers and others to:
Quick Stats
New Hampshire has one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the country. Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan virus are other tickborne diseases that have been documented in NH.
New Hampshire is known as the Granite State due to its granite bedrock. But that also means there is a high risk of having arsenic in groundwater. NH has the highest rate of bladder cancer cases in the nation—37% higher than the national rate. 1One of the leading causes of bladder cancer in the state is exposure to arsenic in private drinking water wells.
About 4 out of 10 (44%) New Hampshire households get their drinking water from private wells. Unhealthy levels of contaminants, like arsenic, radon, and uranium, are common in many private wells and have been linked to cancer. Contamination can come from natural sources, like bedrock, or from man-made sources, like lawn care products, agricultural run-off, or plumbing fixtures. Private wells are not regulated and do not require testing by state law.
Accomplishments
Protecting Private Well Water
Over 40% of New Hampshire households rely on private wells for drinking water. Unlike public water systems, residential wells are not routinely tested for contaminants like arsenic and uranium. These contaminants, found naturally in the state's groundwater, pose significant health risks. The New Hampshire (NH) Tracking Program served as primary data analysts for a well water sampling initiative in Auburn, Pelham, and Bethlehem. These areas were selected where geology indicated potential for exposure to harmful contaminants in well water. The initiative was organized by the NH Department of Environmental Services to address water quality concerns in these communities. Results showed high rates of arsenic and uranium exceeding safety standards in many households.
NH Tracking staff created town-specific fact sheets summarizing water testing results and supported virtual community workshops to share findings. The workshops educated participants on potential risks and actions to reduce exposure. In total, 305 households participated in water testing, and 106 attended the workshops. A follow-up survey by NH Tracking revealed many households took action to improve their well water quality because of the initiative. By providing data and community outreach support, NH Tracking helped protect residents from harmful contaminants in their drinking water.
Addressing Radon Exposure Risks
Radon, a cancer-causing gas, is a significant public health concern in New Hampshire (NH) due to the state's granite bedrock. Indoor radon levels in New Hampshire average 5.9 picocuries per liter (pCi/L), much higher than the national average of 1.3 pCi/L. The NH Tracking Program analyzed radon test results from 2007 to 2021, mapping town-level risks and identifying areas with high concentrations. Carroll, Rockingham, and Strafford counties had the highest radon levels, with 37% of homes exceeding the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L. NH Tracking worked with the Radon Program to create a data brief summarizing results and identifying areas with low testing rates.
The data informed geotargeted social media ads promoting free radon test kits. The ads achieved over 2,500 impressions and a click-through rate of 13%, far exceeding the platform benchmark of 3%. This translated into almost 200 test kits ordered during the timeframe the social media ads ran. Combining data analysis and targeted outreach, NH Tracking raised awareness about radon risks and encouraged testing to protect residents' health.
Assessing Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water
Working with other state agencies, the NH Tracking Program responded to communities affected by contaminated private drinking water wells and public drinking water systems. The NH Tracking Program provided and interpreted blood tests for contaminants like perfluorochemicals (PFC) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Also, tracking program staff analyzed results to determine the extent of exposure. NH Tracking displays aggregate (not individual) blood test results from each testing location.
Informing Revision of Heat Advisory Policy in New England
The NH Tracking Program, along with key partners from Maine and Rhode Island, evaluated the effects of heat on health across the Northeast region of the United States. The data showed that emergency department visits and deaths increase significantly on days when the maximum heat index is 95°F as compared to days when the maximum heat index is 75°F.
They shared these findings with the National Weather Service (NWS) Northeast Region and worked with them to revise the excessive heat advisory threshold policy. Now, the NWS issues excessive heat advisories at 95°F instead of 100°F.
Activating response efforts at more moderate temperatures may help reduce individuals’ exposure to extreme heat and, subsequently, reduce the risk of heat-related illness across the Northeast.
Unique Data
All state and local tracking programs collect and display a set of standard data. But individual programs may host other data that are important to their populations. NH Tracking's unique data include the following.
Contacts
Website: www.nh.gov/epht
Email: EPHTInformation@dhhs.nh.gov
Facebook: @NHPubHealth
Twitter: @NHPubHealth
Instagram: @NHPubHealth
Resources and tools
Training sessions
The NH Tracking Program provides training on the NH Tracking site and Social Vulnerability Index Tool at regional public health network locations throughout the year.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention