FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2026
Contact: Allie White Dubuque County Public Health Phone: 563-557-7396 allie.white@dubuquecountyiowa.gov
Dubuque County Residents Invited to Discuss Environmental Health and Iowa's Cancer Crisis
Free community presentations in Dyersville and Dubuque will explore potential environmental risk factors and opportunities for community action.
DUBUQUE COUNTY, Iowa – Dubuque County residents are invited to take part in Environmental Risk Factors and Iowa's Cancer Crisis: A Dubuque Conversation on Monday, November 9, 2026. Hosted in partnership with the Iowa Environmental Council, Dubuque County Public Health, Dubuque County Watersheds, and the Iowa Farmers Union, these free presentations will explore the relationship between environmental health and cancer and what it means for communities across Iowa.
Iowa faces a significant cancer challenge. It is one of only three states where cancer rates are increasing and has the second-highest rate of new cancer diagnoses in the nation. These presentations will bring attention to the issue while creating space for meaningful conversations about potential environmental contributors to cancer.
Topics will include cancer trends specific to Dubuque County and research examining potential environmental contributors to cancer, including pesticides, PFAS, nitrates, and radon. Presenters will share information, answer questions, and encourage community members to consider how environmental health intersects with the health and well-being of our communities.
"Understanding the factors that influence community health is an important part of our work in Public Health. We know that improving health requires looking beyond the healthcare system and considering the environments in which people live, work, and grow," said Allie, Dubuque