Category: National Center for Environmental Health

Using Data to Make Decisions and Inform Decision-Makers

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Webster’s dictionary defines data as “factual information used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation.” This holds true at the La Crosse County Health Department (LCHD), an agency nestled between the Mississippi River and the bluffs of West Central Wisconsin. Here, data are a cornerstone to furthering policy and actions to improve the community’s Read More >

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Plain Language Past and Present, Part II

simplify

The Plain Writing Act, which requires government agencies to use plain writing in all documents, was passed in 2010—but the push to make writing clearer had been ongoing for decades. In this three-part blog series, Plain Language Past and Present, we highlight some of the interesting early efforts and events from the U.S. government website Read More >

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In Fond Memory of a Beloved and Respected Colleague, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.”

King Artur

Chris passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2020. In tribute to him, this blog is a reposting from September 19, 2016. “I often used to feel like ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’ — an out-of-place urban planner among physicians, epidemiologists, and nurses at CDC,” says Chris Kochtitzky, an Associate Director for Program Development Read More >

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Three Tips for Choosing the Right Hearing Protector

earplugs

We live in a noisy world. Some noises can damage our hearing, leading to hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and difficulty communicating especially in background noise. Permanent noise-induced hearing damage is incurable. Read More >

Posted on by CAPT William J. Murphy, Ph.D., Christa L. Themann, MA, CCC-A,CAPT Chucri (Chuck) A. Kardous, MS, PE, and CAPT David C. Byrne, Ph.D., CCC-A.Leave a comment

International Noise Awareness Day – Wednesday, April 29, 2020

International Noise Awareness Day is an annual observance held on the last Wednesday of April. This global campaign aims to raise awareness of the impact of noise on the health and welfare of people. Read More >

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Plain Language Past and Present, Part I: The Legacy of “Gobbledygook”

simplicity

Ever been confused—or annoyed—by stuffy, stiff, hard-to-understand writing in a government document or statement? You’re not alone. For this reason, the Plain Writing Act of 2010 was passed, ordering U.S. government agencies to write in plain English. To support the law, the government created a website, https://www.plainlanguage.gov/law/, featuring guidelines, resources, and before-and-after examples. There’s also Read More >

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Legionnaires’ Disease and Water Management Programs

Water management programs are the primary mechanism for ensuring clean water to serve a building’s occupants.

Rob Cole squints against the desert wind as he gathers his equipment and crosses the hotel parking lot. Another person diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease reported staying at this hotel. Rob, a Senior Environmental Health Specialist at Southern Nevada Health District, is investigating the case and preparing to begin a facility environmental investigation. Meanwhile in coastal Read More >

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Renovation 101

renovation

3 environmental health hazards to consider when you “do it yourself” You’ve probably seen this familiar home improvement storyline on TV: Homeowners are excited about knocking down walls and transforming their property into the home of their dreams when (wait for it), they run into an environmental complication that requires expert remediation. Although many homeowners Read More >

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All Hands on Deck! Geospatial mapping meets outbreak control

All Hands on Deck” video screenshot

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ATSDR) Geospatial Research, Analysis, and Services Program (GRASP) and National Center for Environmental Health’s (NCEH) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) produced a video that explains the vital role geospatial science and technology can play in supporting cruise ship outbreak investigations. The video (All Hands on Deck!), featuring Dr. Read More >

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Welcome to CDC’s NCEH/ATSDR Clear Writing Hub!

Clear Writing site

Part 3: Tools for writing a scientific journal article Share Your Knowledge: Write a Scientific Journal Article Our NCEH/ATSDR blog, “Your Health, Your Environment,” reaches a varied audience. Whether you want to know more about our programs, get to know our scientists, or learn something new about environmental health, you can find a post to Read More >

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