Consumers believe more research should be done to track and monitor how environmental factors like pollution, waste and chemicals affect community health and their role in
causing chronic diseases.
Over two-thirds of Americans surveyed by Princeton Survey Research Associates believed that the government already tracks chronic diseases like asthma, childhood cancer and
birth defects and their links to environmental hazards or are not sure.
When they learned that the government has no system for environmental health tracking, 89% expressed support for a national monitoring system that would gather data on where
chronic diseases strike and in what numbers.
The survey also highlights other public perceptions about environmental health risks:
- 74% of those surveyed say that they or a close family member has lived in a community where one or more environmental issues with air, water or food caused a health
problem. - 23% say they know someone whose health was damaged by environmental factors.
- Toxic waste (79%), drinking water with harmful chemicals (78%), and air pollution (75%) are considered the top environmental health hazards.
The survey, conducted by Health-Track, is based on 1,565 registered voters nationwide.
(Health-Track, http://www.health-track.org)