2. Tools & Resources
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Reducing Environmental and Occupational Cancer Risks Toolkit
Module 2: Maximize Data & Expert Insights
2. Tools & Resources
Environmental health trackingĀ data can help you identify specific environmental cancer risks in your state.
The National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking Network) brings together health and environmental data from national, state, and city sources. It provides supporting information to make the data easier to understand. The Tracking Network has data and information on environmental hazards in addition to data on health effects and population health resources with participation by 34 states.
If you live in a state with environmental health tracking, as highlighted below in blue, these resources can help you to discern which environmental carcinogens and pollutants are of most concern in your region and assist with risk reduction strategies.Ā
Data available will vary by state given each stateās specific priorities and interests. Click on the mapĀ to explore the environmental hazard data available in your state.
To support a reduction in health, social, and ecological inequalities, the U.S. EPA developed EJScreen, a mapping and screening tool that reveals patterns in environmental inequalities related to where people of color and/or low-income populations reside (along with other socioeconomic indicators of environmental justice).
EJScreen users select a geographic area; the tool then provides socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental quality indicators.
Most environmental quality indicators used in EJScreen enhance understanding of known cancer risks and surrogates for such risks (e.g., traffic proximity ā living near areas with high traffic volume as a surrogate for cancer risks related to vehicular exhaust). These indicators include:Ā
Check to see if your state has developed its own environmental justice screening and mapping tool/resource that often includes more local- and state-level environmental quality metrics beyond those included in the U.S. EPA’s EJScreen.
Multiple instructional videos are available through the U.S. EPA.
AirTox Screening Assessment
The Air Toxics Screening Assessment and mapping tool (AirToxScreen) was developed by the U.S. EPA and includes emissions, ambient concentrations, and exposure estimates for 181 of the 189 Air Toxics, regulated under the Clean Air Act. The AirToxScreen also addresses diesel particulate. For about 140 of these air toxics (those with health data based on long-term exposure), the assessment estimates cancer risks, the potential for non-cancer health effects, or both.
The tool can help answer the following questions:
Watch a webinar with U.S. EPA staff providing an overview of AirToxScreen.
Environmental Working Group Tap Water DatabaseĀ
Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a not-for-profit environmental health organization. EWGās Tap Water Database includes information about drinking water quality for nearly 50,000 community water systems nationwide. The database displays information about the chemical and radioactive contaminants detected in drinking water and how these concentrations compare to federal legal limits and health guidelines. Known health effects, including cancer associated with specific contaminants, are described. This tool is particularly useful for those states that lack an environmental health tracking system (see above) but are interested in exploring cancer risk concerns related to drinking water quality.
Click here to watch a tutorial about EWGās Tap Water Database
Clearya
Clearya is a tool for identifying cancer-causing chemicals and other toxics in personal care, cosmetics, baby products, and cleaning products. The tool was developed to provide consumers with more information and to guide them as they decide which products to purchase, but can be used to identify chemical hazards, including carcinogens in these consumer product categories. Clearya is a Google Chrome extension and searches products via online retail stores, including Amazon, Walmart, Sephora, Target, and iHerb.
If you are interested in more background on how Clearya was developed and the methodologies used, visit: https://www.clearya.com/our-story |Ā Watch a video about the Clearya App
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Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) developed the Red List of Chemicals of Concern in Cosmetics to serve as a resource and tool to help consumers, brands, companies, and retailers reduce their use of toxic chemicals in the beauty and personal care products made, sold, and purchased. The list included 102 chemicals found in personal care products that pose severe and chronic health concerns, including cancer, hormone disruption, and reproductive and developmental harm. The Red List also contains authoritative lists of hazardous chemicals compiled by reputable scientific organizations.
The most recent iteration of the Red List of Chemicals of Concern expanded to 480 chemicals used in beauty, personal care products, and/or as fragrance ingredients. These chemicals are separated into three different tiers:
EWGās Skin Deep Database educates the public about the ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products. The search tool ranks products based on hazards in the chemical ingredients. It lists prohibited (or ādo not useā) substances and is useful for understanding whether products contain carcinogens. The tool was developed to support consumer purchasing of safer products but can also be used for hazard identification.
If you are interested in more background about how the Skin Deep database was developed and the methodologies used, visit https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
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