Challenges in Epidemiological Studies of Water Quality: Temporal and Spatial Availability of Data
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Water quality is a continuing public health issue and therefore requires continued epidemiologic study. However, obtaining water quality data can be challenging. In developed countries water quality is regulated with routine monitoring. The contaminants and regulatory limits for these contaminants vary across countries. For example, in the United States data on water quality is managed at the state level and reported to federal databases with a varying degree of detail. Therefore, once data are obtained there are challenges in relating assessing associations with human health outcomes. These challenges are often related to temporal and spatial aggregation. In developing countries, there is limited water quality data available as their water quality issues are more focused sanitation, wastewater treatment and management practices, than creating databases for research. With the continuing concerns about water quality and emerging contaminants, there is a need to have more readily available and accessible data to evaluate the extent of exposures in water and how these exposures may be associated with health outcomes. This symposium will address data availability of water quality data, challenges of current data in environmental health research, and how to utilize water quality data for advancing environmental epidemiological research. The views expressed in this symposium are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.