Environmental
Health
Air Quality
Poor air quality negatively impacts our health, the environment, and economies.
Tiny particles enter our bodies and can cause pneumonia, asthma, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.
Did you know?
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is one of the largest environmental risks to human health. Air pollution is estimated to cause 7 million premature deaths every year worldwide. Air pollution can cause illnesses that affect our whole body, not just our lungs. Children, older people, and those with existing health conditions are most severely affected by polluted air.
Local Monitoring
West Central District Health Department has Purple Air Sensors that show realtime air quality monitoring in Lincoln County and several other surrounding counties.
Clean Indoor Air Act
The Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces. To help residents maintain a clean air environment, violations can be reported to the West Central District Health Department by completing an online reporting form. If a violation is reported, an inspection will be done to decide if an indoor public place or place of work is entirely smoke-free and if an outdoor smoking area meets the guidelines. For more questions please contact us 402-727-5396 or 866-727-5396, or email us at info@3rphd.org.
Summary of the Law:
Nebraska Clean Indoor Act Summary
Reporting Form:
Clean Indoor Act Complaint Form
FAQ:
Bed Bugs
West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) often receives complaints about bed bug infestations; however, bed bugs are not considered to be a health risk since studies have not shown them to carry any diseases. They are deemed to be more of a nuisance, therefore WCDHD has no jurisdiction over remediation of bed bugs. WCDHD is not a pest control agency and will not treat for bed bugs. General information regarding bed bugs can be found at the links towards the bottom of this page.
Quick Facts about bed bugs:
- A single, sexually mature female bed bug can start an infestation.
- Bed bugs hate light, so if you can’t change rooms, sleep with the light on.
- Bed bugs can go months without food.
- Bed bugs can survive in 110 degrees Fahrenheit temperature for days.
- Bed bugs can survive freezing temperatures for several weeks.
- Bed bug eggs are very sticky and difficult to remove, making them efficient hitchhikers.
How can you get rid of bed bugs?
WCDHD recommends that a property owner hire a professionally licensed pest control agency to evaluate the pest that is present in order to determine how best to exterminate if necessary. Proper identification of the insect is important as time and money can be wasted trying to mitigate the problem yourself if the treatments are not efficient for the type of insect present. Mitigation of bed bugs involves different procedures compared to other pests and can require multiple visits to treat the problem.
Additional Resources:
Food Inspection
WCDHD does NOT provide food permits or inspect food establishments. However, citizens with food complaints or concerns can call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to make a food complaint directly at 402-471-3422.
Additional Resources:
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal that can be found in and around homes, in soil, and in some consumer products. There is no safe amount of lead exposure. Exposure to lead may cause health issues in both children and adults.
WCDHD provides home lead inspections for children with confirmed cases of childhood lead poisoning at a blood level of 3.5 ug/dL or above.
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
When children are exposed to lead, it may cause learning, behavior, and health problems. The best way to protect children is to prevent lead exposure before they are harmed:
- Have your child tested for lead exposure: If your child is at risk or if you are concerned about lead in your home, ask your child's doctor about blood lead testing.
- Consider testing your home for lead: Lead-based paint and lead dust is the most common source of lead in children. If your home is built before 1978, assume that the paint has lead unless tests show otherwise.
- Renovate safely: Children and pregnant women should not be present in housing built before 1978 that is undergoing renovation.
- Wash hands, toys, and clean your home often: Hands and toys can become contaminated from household dust or exterior soil. Both are known lead sources.
- Serve healthy foods: Feed your child healthy foods with calcium, iron, and vitamin C. These foods may help keep lead out of the body.
Information above adapted from the Nebraska Department of Health Human Services.
Learn more about the HUD programs available at WCDHD.
Check out the following resources for more information:
Pool Inspections
*Coming soon!
Rabies (Bats)
Rabies remains a potentially serious public health problem in Nebraska, and is of concern to a variety of professional and occupational groups in our state, including physicians, veterinarians, farmers and ranchers.
Rabies Control
Medical and veterinary care providers should combine epidemiological data on animal rabies in the region where the exposure occurred with an assessment of the circumstances surrounding the actual patient exposure when formulating post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations. Dog and cat bites represent the most common potential exposure to rabies. Vaccination of pets remains the most sensible measure to reduce human exposure. Other important rabies-control measures include stray animal control, education of the general public regarding wild animal contact, and legislation controlling the acquisition of wild animals as pets (most notably raccoon's, black footed ferrets, skunks, and foxes).
Criteria for Assessing Rabies Exposure
The following definitions are provided to assist health care personnel in deciding on the need for post-exposure prophylaxis.
Human Exposure: Any situation in which a person experiences percutaneous or mucous membrane exposure to saliva or to central nervous system (CNS) tissue of a potentially rabid animal. Touching or handling a potentially rabid animal or another animal or inanimate object that has had contact with a rabid animal does not constitute an exposure unless wet saliva or CNS tissue entered a fresh, open wound or had contact with a mucous membrane. A physician should be consulted to assess any potential exposure.
Provoked Attack: An attack is considered "provoked" if a domestic animal is placed in a situation such that an expected reaction would be to bite or attack.
This would include, but not be limited to:
- the invasion of an animal's territory,
- an attempt to pet or handle an unfamiliar animal,
- startling an animal,
- running or bicycling past an animal,
- assisting an injured or sick animal,
- trying to capture an animal, or
- removing food, water or other objects in the animal's possession.
Unprovoked Attack: An "unprovoked" attack or bite occurs when an animal strikes for no apparent reason. The behavior should be unusual for the particular animal. A confirmation of chronic aggressive behavior can often be made by interviewing the animal's owner. This will assist in determining whether the attack was indeed "unprovoked."
Radon
West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) offers free home radon test kits to residents of Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Arthur, Hooker, & Thomas counties. Test kits can be picked up at the WCDHD Office: 820 S Maple, North Platte, NE
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is odorless and tasteless. It is formed from the radioactive decay of uranium. Uranium is found in small amounts in most rocks and soil. It slowly breaks down to other products such as radium, which breaks down to radon.
How might I be exposed to radon?
- Radon is found at very low levels in outdoor air.
- It is found at higher levels in indoor air in homes, schools, and office buildings.
- Cracks in the basement or foundation of a home may allow higher levels of radon inside the home.
- Indoor radon levels are affected by the radium and uranium levels in soil, the porosity of the soil, the composition and condition of the foundation materials, and the ventilation rate of the room.
- Miners, particularly those who mine uranium and hard rock, are exposed to higher levels of radon.
- Radon is found in drinking water and may be higher in well water.
How can radon affect my health?
Exposure to high levels of radon may result in an increased incidence of lung diseases, such as emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis. These diseases have been seen at a higher rate than normal among underground miners who were also exposed to arsenic, silica dust, diesel fumes, and cigarette smoke. Lung disease has been reported to increase with increasing exposure to radon and cigarette smoking. Effects on the lung have also been seen in animals exposed to radon.
For additional questions not listed, please call 308-696-1201.
Additional Resources:
Nebraska's Average Radon Concentration by County: DHHS Radon Data
Nebraska DHHS Radon Resources: DHHS Radon Info
EPA Radon Info and Resources: EPA Radon Info
Water Quality
Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.West Nile
West Nile Virus Activities at WCDHD
West Central District Health Department (WCDHD) monitors for the presence of West Nile virus through mosquito trapping and collection of community reports of dead birds. During the months of June-September, WCDHD traps mosquitoes at several sites in our jurisdiction and takes reports of dead birds. WCDHD also provides prevention resources and education. This includes mosquito wipes and mosquito dunks.
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. It is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire West Nile virus from infected birds and then pass it onto other birds, animals and/or people.
Prevention:
The best way to protect yourself from infection with West Nile virus is to prevent mosquito bites:
- Use insect repellents (bug-spray) with DEET when you go outdoors.
- Wear long-sleeves and pants at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- Remove mosquito breeding sites around your home. Drain standing water from flowerpots, birdbaths, wheelbarrows, pool covers, pet dishes, and old tires. Clean out roof gutters, especially if the leaves from nearby trees tend to clog the gutters.
West Nile in Dead Birds
West Nile virus has been detected in variety of bird species. Some infected birds, especially crows and jays, are known to get sick and die from the infection. At this time, WCDHD will only be taking reports of dead birds. We will not be collecting dead birds for testing. Reports will be taken between the months of June-September.
To report a dead bird please contact:
XXXXX
Additional Resources: