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Air Quality Alert (7/27/2010)
Ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach unhealthy levels for the Southwest Coastal region (Kittery through Boothbay Harbor) on Wednesday, July 28, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
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Time to clean out the medicine cabinet! (6/3/2010)
Public Health Division will host a medication collection drive for over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
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New environmental health reports released (5/28/2010)
New environmental health reports related to chemicals in canned foods and fragrances have been released.
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New studies released on sunscreens and indoor tanning (5/25/2010)
Learn how to protect your skin.
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Britain's General Medical Council bars doctor who linked vaccines with autism (5/24/2010)
Source: New York Times. A doctor whose research and public statements caused widespread alarm that a common childhood vaccine could cause autism was banned on Monday from practicing medicine in his native Britain for ethical lapses, including conducting invasive medical procedures on children that they did not need.
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May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month (5/10/2010)
With May being Lyme Disease Awareness Month, the Maine Center for Disease Control has released a Health Alert on Information for Clinicians on Lyme Disease.
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Environmental Working Group releases 2010 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce (4/30/2010)
EWG's annual list ranks common fruits and vegetables by the level of pesticides they contain.
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National Infant Immunization Week (4/27/2010)
National Infant Immunization Week is April 24 to May 1, 2010.
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High Browntail Moth population in parts of Cumberland County (4/15/2010)
Maine Forest Service personnel have completed the 2010 winter web survey for Browntail Moth. In Cumberland County, the area most affected by this infestation is Brunswick, with small infestations in Freeport and Falmouth.
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Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America releases (4/15/2010)
The Portland, Maine metropolitan area ranks 90th out of the 100 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States on AAFA's "Most Challenging Places to Live with Asthma."
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2008-2009 Public Health Division Annual Report Now Available (3/31/2010)
The 2008-2009 Public Health Division Annual Report is now available online.
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Portland gets $1.8 million for projects to fight obesity (3/30/2010)
The schools will be given $500,000 and the city will receive $1.3 million to work on obesity rates in adults.
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Portland Community Health Center Phone Number Change (3/24/2010)
The Portland Community Health Center phone number has changed to 874-2141.
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1.2 Million 'Unstable' Graco High Chairs Recalled (3/18/2010)
Graco Children's Products announced Thursday that it's recalling 1.2 million Harmony high chairs because of stability issues.
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Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine Webinar Series (3/3/2010)
The series takes the audience from the foundations of smoke-free policy adoption, financial and health benefits of going smoke-free, legality and further justification of policy implementation, to drafting policy language and enforcing an existing policy.
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New Resource for Expectant/New Mothers Now Available (2/19/2010)
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health.
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New County Health Rankings Give First County-by-County Snapshot of Health in Each State (2/17/2010)
University of Wisconsin/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project ranks counties on how healthy people are and how long they live.
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Seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccines Available For Everyone (2/9/2010)
The Public Health Division has seasonal and H1N1 (swine) flu vaccines available by appointment for everyone.
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British doctor rebuked over research linking vaccine and autism (2/3/2010)
Britain's medical regulator finds that Dr. Andrew Wakefield, who now practices in Texas, conducted his now-discredited research on the MMR shot in an unethical and irresponsible manner.
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Salmonella-Related Sausage Recall Expanded (2/1/2010)
Daniele Inc., the company whose sausage products have been linked to a widespread Salmonella outbreak, expanded its earlier product recall to include another 17,235 pounds of products that may be contaminated by black pepper. Stores that carry the affected products in Maine include BJ's Wholesale Club and Sam's Club.
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McNeil Consumer Healthcare Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Over-The-Counter Products (1/15/2010)
The company is initiating this recall following an investigation of consumer reports of an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor that, in a small number of cases, was associated with temporary and non-serious gastrointestinal events. These include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.
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2009 Cumberland County Municipal Health Assessments Now Available (1/14/2010)
New Cumberland County municipal health assessments now available.
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The Hidden Benefits of Exercise (1/5/2010)
Even Moderate Physical Activity Can Boost the Immune System and Protect Against Chronic Diseases
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Vaccine Refusal Raises Chickenpox Risk (1/5/2010)
Kids Are 9 Times More Likely to Get Chickenpox if They Don't Get Vaccinated.
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H1N1 Vaccine Now Recomended for ALL Mainers (12/15/2009)
Based on demand and a large recent increase in H1N1 vaccine supply, Maine CDC is now recommending that H1N1 vaccine be offered to anyone who wishes to receive it.
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Portland Community Health Center Now Open (11/10/2009)
Portland Community Health Center is a full-service, primary care medical facility, and is now open and accepting new patients.
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Report: Smoking Bans Protect Nonsmokers' Hearts (10/15/2009)
A major report confirms what health officials long have believed: Bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and other gathering spots reduce the risk of heart attacks among nonsmokers.
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City of Portland Public Health Division Selected to Test National Accreditation Program (9/24/2009)
The City of Portland Public Health Division announced today it was selected by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) to participate in a test of the new national voluntary public health accreditation program.
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environmental health
contact us
Environmental health focuses on factors that are external to our bodies and
affect our health. These factors include air, land and water pollution, water
quality, food safety and vector control. The Portland Public Health Division is
beginning a comprehensive environmental health program that will help educate the public on these and more topics as
well as bring to light any areas of concern for the citizens of the Cumberland
County. This web page is the beginning of this Division's campaign on environmental health. Stay tuned for
more!
In the meantime, you might find the following links informative:
Environmental Health Data
Maine
Beach Health Data
Maine Environmental Health Tracking Network
Maine Lead Poisoning
Program
Mercury
Arsenic
CO2 Poisoning
Air Quality Data
Current Air Quality
Forecast Data
Environmental Health Links
American Lung Association of Maine
Portland Water District
Maine Bureau of Air Quality
Environmental Health Strategy Center
Maine Environmental Policy Institute
Division of Environmental Health -- Maine CDC
Maine Public Health Association
Environmental
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