Why it matters
Environmental exposures play a major role in population health and contribute to chronic disease, respiratory illness, neurological conditions, and other health outcomes. Information about exposures is often fragmented across environmental monitoring systems, public health guidance, and research literature. A curated exposure layer helps the health graph connect environmental factors to health risks, prevention strategies, and real-world living conditions.
What to publish
Name
Description: clear and plain language explanation of the exposure and why it matters for health
Topic: air, water, soil, chemical, biological, occupational, radiation, built environment, climate related
Source: common environments or activities associated with exposure
Measurement: common monitoring metrics or assessment approaches where applicable
Scope
Top 20 environmental health exposures prioritized by population impact, public health relevance, and cross domain importance including:
Air quality exposures (PM2.5 particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, wildfire smoke, indoor air pollution)
Water and chemical exposures (Lead, PFAS chemicals, arsenic, pesticides, industrial solvents)
Built environment exposures (Noise pollution, light pollution, urban heat islands, indoor mold, secondhand smoke)
Occupational and environmental hazards (Asbestos, silica dust, diesel exhaust, heavy metals, radiation exposure)
Climate related exposures (Extreme heat, extreme cold, flooding related contaminants, allergens and pollen, vector borne environmental risks)
Potential sources
World Health Organization environmental health resources
CDC Environmental Health Tracking Network
EPA exposure and risk databases
NIH environmental health sciences resources
Global Burden of Disease studies
Peer reviewed environmental epidemiology literature
Public health agency guidance used for neutral functional descriptions