We all know that environmental factors like clean water, fresh air, safe food, and clean buildings can impact our health, but we rarely compare environmental and health information together. For example, childhood asthma rates have increased by more than 80% in the past two decades, and the level of air pollutants has changed, but we don't fully understand the relationship between these two important factors. Environmental health tracking is a comprehensive approach to gathering environmental and health data in a way that will lead to a better understanding of the health of our communities, as well as to more effective public health actions.

Through the Environmental Health Tracking Program, New Hampshire is developing a state-wide tracking system that will integrate and improve access to state environmental and health data. This system will provide the following benefits to New Hampshire's citizens:

• Provide information that is better, faster, and more complete
• Help to facilitate decision-making and resource use
• Prioritize environmental health concerns, risks, and actual impacts
• Define a baseline for short and long-term progress
• Monitor changes in the environment that affect human health
• Detect changes in practices that effect environmental health
• Evaluate measures and interventions for pollution or disease control