NACDD is collaborating with the Center for Sustainable Production at UMass Lowell to develop a dedicated website to house The Reducing Environmental and Occupational Cancer Risks Toolkit, which provides a strategic framework to educate and support state, tribal, and territorial health departments about the impact of environmental contaminants as contributing risk factors for cancer.

Why is this important? The 2023 U.S National Cancer Plan, estimates that more than half of all cancers in the U.S. could be prevented if we applied the knowledge we have now. In addition to behavioral risk factors and vaccines against certain viruses, the National Cancer Plan also calls out toxic and environmental exposures and the Toolkit is intended to support state and local planning to reduce cancer risk by curtailing exposure to chemical and radiological agents in our environment and workplaces. State comprehensive cancer control plans are addressing several known cancer risk factors such as physical inactivity, tobacco use, ultraviolet exposure, and are promoting vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B. However, despite CDC’s Healthy People 2030 Goal focused on promoting healthier environments to improve health, there is a missed opportunity to address cancer disparities by engaging with organizations focused on environmental injustices, including the disproportionate exposures to toxic chemicals impacting communities of color, low-income populations (including working populations), and indigenous people.

The six modules in the Toolkit provide evidence-based resources and examples for state health departments to reduce risk and exposure to contaminants that increase cancer risk factors, and addresses topics from partnership development, data and surveillance, and environmental justice.

Stay tuned for a March 2024 launch! For further information, please contact Leslie Best, lbest_ic@chronicdisease.org