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Environmental Health
Our Goal:
The Environmental Health Program's goal is to fill gaps in the coverage
of environmental health
protection for New Mexico border residents. These gaps
include
community outreach, technical
assistance on environmental health issues, and overall
environmental
health surveillance.
Background:
Founded in 1995, the Environmental Health Program was created
in response to increased community concerns regarding environmental health
issues along the border as a consequence of increased population growth,
increased industrial development and the North American Free Trade
Agreement
(NAFTA). The work of the program is made possible by the New Mexico
State Legislature, the major funding source, and other funding from the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Program Collaboration with Others:
The Environmental Health Program began as a result of community
advocacy. Today, the program staff continues to recognize the
important
contributions of concerned citizens, agency representatives, and
non-profit
organization members. It is through their contributions and efforts,
the program has received the continuing support to address many of the
community's concerns.
The sustainability of the program is evidenced today through the
monthly
meetings of the Environmental Health Committee, an Advisory Board to the
Border Health Office. The Committee enjoys the continued active
participation
by many, including:
Environmental Protection Agency
State Engineers Office
Elephant Butte Irrigation District
Southwest Environmental Center
New Mexico Environment Department
Border Environmental Health Coalition
Border Residents
Water Protection:
(Quotes: "You can't put a price on water. You can't put a price on
health. We just throw our water away. Conservation should be
a large part of our life"; "We want 100% clean river water so we can have
100% good health"; "You can go without food longer than without water.
Water is the most important. You need your water as clean as
possible.
The way we are headed we are all going to be drinking bottled water"; "The
water problem is big. This water coming out of my facet is black
like coffee and it stinks like sewage. I think this is a very
serious
problem and that the water might be contaminated from septic tanks")
The border region has limited supplies of fresh, clean water due to
increased industrial development and population. Although border
residents currently receive their drinking water from ground water
resources,
planning is underway to use the Rio Grande as a future drinking water
source.
The use of the Rio Grande for drinking water can increase residents'
exposure
to infectious organisms.
Both ground water and surface water sources are at risk from naturally
occurring contaminants such as fluoride, manganese, and arsenic as well
as from manmade contaminants such as pesticides and solvents.
The Environmental Health Program Assists Border Residents
by:
Conducting periodic monitoring of the Rio Grande and drains to determine
concentrations of contaminants and potential impact on health
Conducting periodic monitoring of ground water resources, including
private
drinking water sources, to determine concentrations of contaminants and
potential impact on health
Providing education to border residents by organizing bus tours of local
water works, facilitating public meetings to discuss water and health,
and broadcasting documentaries on environmental health issues such as the
safety of the Rio Grande
Conducting County-wide Environmental Health Profiles to predict the future
water quality of public drinking water supplies and to identify potential
health risks to residents
Assisting with the identification, inventory, and clean-up of existing
contamination sites to protect public and private drinking water
sources
Compiling and summarizing water quality data from various agencies and
non-profit organizations for public access
Community Outreach and Education:
(Quotes: "I will do my best to make a better community, but I have to have
the help of everybody. We all have to pull together". "We
really
need a waste water system and clean drinking water. The other things
are secondary even though we may need them. But first we need clean
water and a waste water system")
Many contamination sites exist in low-income, minority communities,
where toxic chemicals such as pesticides and solvents contaminate the
ground
water and pollute the air. Many residents are unaware of the
potential
health effects caused by these contaminants. (Insert pictures of
dairies, landfills and trash)
The Environmental Health Program Increases Community Awareness and
Government
Accountability by:
Collecting and cataloging information on border related environmental
projects
for use by the public
Visiting residents' homes and conducting safety checks to identify
environmental problems within the homes such as fire and chemical exposure
hazards
Performing outreach to educate community residents on environmental
health
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