The Environmental Epidemiology Section (EES) conducts large-scale studies of patterns of disease and exposure. These may arise from follow up of urgent health investigations, in response to public concerns about environmental hazards and their relationship to chronic disease or adverse reproductive outcomes, or to address emerging issues identified by the scientific community that may affect Californians. EES also conducts disease surveillance as appropriate. Integral to these studies is the Branch Geographic Information System, a resource for computer mapping of health and exposure data.