U.S.-Mexico Border 2012
Measuring Conditions and Progress
Goal 4: Improve Environmental Health
State of the Border Region Indicators Report 2005
Environmental Health Work Group (EHWG)
Protection of public health is a key element of the Border 2012 program and it is an integral part of all program activities. The Environmental Health Work Group (EHWG) serves as the main conduit for addressing bi-national environmental health concerns, such as increases in disease rates along the US-Mexico border.
The EHWG has conducted a number of projects in the border region related to surveillance, research, training, education and communication as well as the development and application of indicators to assess changes in specific human exposure and health conditions.
For detailed information, please visit the Environmental Health Workgroup Web site.
Health Concerns Related to Poor Water Quality
Many health problems are associated with poor water quality. While many diseases are caused by direct ingestion of contaminated water, they can also be spread through inadequate hygiene and the contamination of food. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that some of the more common diseases that can be spread through contaminated water are cryptosporidiosis, Escherichia coli infection, giardiasis, viral Hepatitis A, cholera, shigellosis, salmonellosis, and typhoid.
In the U.S.-Mexico border region there are limitations and differences between definitions and reporting requirements, as well as timely access to the data. Additionally, the available data may not accurately represent the level of disease in the border region population due to differing behavioral patterns of seeking medical care when sick. For these reasons, an indicator on waterborne diseases is still being developed.
Health Concerns Related to Poor Air Quality
Many health problems from long-term exposure to elevated air pollution are associated with diminished lung function and cardiovascular disease. Vulnerable groups (children, the sick, and the elderly) are more likely to suffer ill effects. A number of epidemiologic studies have linked changes in air pollutant concentrations with increased risk of pneumonia, respiratory infections, and exacerbation of asthma (e.g., asthma prevalence in Calexico/Mexicali 2001 (English (PDF) (1 pg, 310K) | en Español (PDF) (1 pg, 311K), Data Table (PDF) (10 pp, 1.1M), Metadata (PDF) (1 pg, 36K). As with water borne diseases in the U.S.-Mexico border region, the reporting mechanisms and disease definitions vary considerably between border states and countries, limiting the ability to make comparisons. For these reasons, an indicator on diseases related to air pollution is still being developed.
Contact the Border Indicators Task Force Co-Chairs