Category: Sharing Our Stories

“Don’t Mess with Mercury” Initiative

If you’re a parent of middle school kids who love to play video games, join the legions of other parents who are, too! Don’t mind them playing games that have some educational appeal? Then let them explore ATSDR’s video game, “Don’t Mess With Mercury.” Are you aware that mercury is still a threat in middle Read More >

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Florida Tracking Program Helps Women Make Safer Fish Choices to Reduce Mercury Exposures

Eating Fish with High Levels of Mercury Harms Developing Nervous Systems Stephanie is pregnant and has a lot on her mind. She knew to expect morning sickness, doctor visits, and lifestyle changes, but news about dangerous mercury in fish added one more worry on top of that. “I try to eat healthy. I eat a Read More >

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Massachusetts Tracking Program Helps Keep Norwood Residents Safe from Factory Pollution

An asphalt plant is proposed in the residential town of Norwood, Massachusetts   As director of the city health department in Norwood, Massachusetts, Sigalle Reiss is the first person that residents call with their health concerns. Facing the prospect of a new asphalt plant in the residential community, local citizens flooded her office with questions Read More >

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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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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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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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Photojournalism Focuses on Climate Change in Pacific Islands

Climate change is any significant variation in temperature, precipitation, wind, or other type of weather that lasts for decades or longer. Pristine waters, lush vegetation, picturesque landscapes, remote location….. This sounds like the stuff of travel guides—words that conjure up images of a vacationer’s paradise. But these alluring descriptors aren’t about “Fantasy Island.” Think Pacific Read More >

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The Asthma (Counter) Attack

MAY is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. Knowing triggers and having an action plan can help control your asthma. Seven-year-old Michael’s home was literally making him sick. The young Flint, Michigan boy was a frequent visitor to the emergency room and doctor’s office. In one school year, he was out sick for a combined total Read More >

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Respirators Protect Health in Emergency Response

May 7-11 is National American Occupational Safety and Health Week. In recognition of this observance, we are featuring a study of respiratory protective equipment for emergency responders conducted by ATSDR scientists Dr. Vinicius Antao, Dr. Laszlo Pallos, Dr. Youn Shim, and Jay Sapp. They worked with colleagues from the New York City Department of Health Read More >

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