Category: National Center for Environmental Health

Seniors Stay Cool in the Summer with Missouri Tracking Program

High Heat Presents Danger for Senior Citizens in Missouri As a lifelong resident of Missouri, Rita Mae Puckett knows just how hot the summers there can be. “When you’re outside in the summertime, you’re not sure you can get another breath,” she said. And she’s not alone. Miriam Fuller of Missouri also struggles with hydration Read More >

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Find Out about Food Trucks in Your Area

Ever wonder about mobile food trucks in your area? They bring their tasty treats right to you. Make sure you know your local rules for safe handling of food on food trucks. Food truck vendors in your community must follow local food safety rules set by your city, county, district, or state. Each community may Read More >

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Voices from the Field: Behrooz Behbod

I’m Behrooz Behbod, an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer in CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health. Read about how I helped investigate health concerns caused by a chemical leak in an Alabama neighborhood: A lightning strike in 2008 caused a storage tank at a natural gas pumping station in Prichard, Alabama, to leak a chemical called Read More >

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New Growth in North Omaha: Healthy Community Design at Work

Setting the Stage In the early part of the 20th century, the neighborhood of North Omaha, Nebraska, birthplace of Malcolm X, was a thriving African American community. It was well-known for its jazz, swing, and blues music and as a stop for leading artists when they toured the Midwest. Although North Omaha is rich in Read More >

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Meet the Scientist: Dr. Carla Cuthbert

The “Meet the Scientist” series brings you conversations with NCEH/ATSDR scientists that aim to give you a sense of the talented people who are working to keep you safe and secure from things in the environment that threaten our nation’s health. Newborn screening is one of the nation’s most successful public health programs. Newborn screening Read More >

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Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather

Although summer officially began less than 2 weeks ago, many parts of our nation already have experienced very hot weather. And in some areas, those temperatures will continue into September. Most of us can’t spend three or four months in air-conditioned comfort, nor would we want to. If you want to work and play outdoors Read More >

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Lead Poisoning in Nigeria

  Rows of tiny graves peppered the Nigerian landscape. In May 2010, NCEH/ATSDR assembled a team to investigate children’s deaths in at least six villages in Zamfara, Nigeria. Investigation Results The team helped quickly identify the source of contamination—the processing of gold ore rich in lead. The previous November, unidentified persons had installed an estimated Read More >

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Healthy Homes

What Is a Healthy Home? Alex and Dana recently bought their first home a—real “fixer-upper” built in the early 1980s. They wanted to do everything they could to make their new home a safe and healthy environment, especially because they have two young children. Although the home had working smoke detectors, the previous owners had Read More >

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Welcome to NCEH/ATSDR, Dr. Ikeda!

  NCEH/ATSDR recently welcomed its new interim director, Robin Ikeda, MD, MPH, (Captain, U.S. Public Health Service). CDC Director, Dr. Tom Freiden, selected Dr. Ikeda for the new NCEH/ATSDR role. This role is in addition to her responsibilities as CDC Deputy Director, Office of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury and Environmental Health. Read on for more insight Read More >

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Restaurant Safety: What You Should Know

Dining out? Keep these things in mind when choosing the right restaurant for you and your family. Food Safety Rules The food vendors in your community, like restaurants, delis, grocery stores, and others, must follow local food safety rules. These rules are set by your city, county, district, or state. Each community may have the Read More >

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