The Heritage Emergency National Task Force http://www.heritagepreservation.org/programs/TASKFER.htm is a partnership of 41 national service organizations and federal agencies created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies. With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Heritage Preservation has developed the Field Guide to Emergency Response. The compact handbook is designed for immediate use when disaster strikes. Simple, clear instructions help staff organize essential disaster response functions and tackle common threats to collections. The Guide provides handy checklists and features an instructional DVD on salvage techniques that can be viewed on-site with a laptop computer.You can see the guide and other resources for cultural institutions at http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFHurricaneRes.HTM There are also resources for the general public to learn how to save their family treasures. http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFHurricanePub.htm
As a follow-up to a Congressional hearing in September 2007, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is planning to develop a unified program referred to as "Partnerships for Environmental Public Health" (PEPH). The intent of the program is to support a variety of research, outreach and education activities to prevent, reduce, or eliminate environmental exposures that may lead to adverse health outcomes in communities, with the active engagement of those communities in all stages of the work.
To establish a vision for the PEPH Program in an appropriate and responsive manner, the NIEHS is seeking input from the lay public, environmental health researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, policy makers and others with a vested interest in the effects of environmental exposures on public health.
The NIEHS released a Request for Information (RFI) - posted online at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-ES-08-002.html- with six open-ended questions that will help the institute advance its commitment to environmental public health.
Active Living Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has announced a call for presentation and paper abstracts for its annual conference to be held April 9-12, 2008, in Washington, D.C. The theme of the conference is "Connecting Active Living Research to Policy Solutions." Abstracts on all topics related to active living policies and environments are welcome. Deadline: September 17.
Active Living Research has also issued a call for nominations for the "Translating Research to Policy" award, which will be presented at the conference. This national award will recognize innovators who have successfully harnessed research to impact policy and environmental changes. Deadline: September 17. For more information, visit http://www.activelivingresearch.org/ [posted on CBPR listsserv]
Collaborative on Health and the Environment
http://www.healthandenvironment.org/
The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) is a diverse partnership of individuals and organizations working collectively to advance knowledge and effective action to address growing concerns about the links between human health and environmental factors. [posted on PHPartners http://phpartners.org/ - New Links for the week of Jul 13, 2007]
The American Lung Association’s new State of the Air: 2007 report finds that more than 136 million Americans are living in communities where they are exposed to unhealthful levels of air pollution. http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2007.html?tr=y&auid=2646898 [American Lung Assocation email]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency invites nominations to fill vacancies on its Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC). The Agency seeks qualified senior-level decisionmakers from diverse sectors throughout the United States to be considered for appointments. EPA encourages interested applicants to send their resumes and qualifications as soon as possible. Additional avenues and resources may be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.
ADDRESSES: Submit nominations via e-mail or fax to Carolyn Hubbard, Designated Federal Officer, Hubbard.carolyn@epa.gov, 202-564-2733 (fax), Office of Children's Health Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1107A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-GENERAL/2007/April/Day-17/g7272.htm
The National Library of Medicine has created a flyer, Earth Day: Online resources for teachers and students at the high school and college level http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/resources/Earth%20Day%20Flier.pdf You may also find it useful for other NLM/NIH promotional activities. The flyer is a companion to the recently updated flyer on "Resources for Science Teachers" at http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/resources/resources_science_teachers.pdf [posted on NLM-TOX-ENVIRO-HEALTH-L]
The PublicHealth Partners website inlcudes a section on Environmental Health http://phpartners.org/environmentalhealth.html Included are links to Data Tools and Statistics, Hazardous Substances, Toxicology and more. [PHPartners - New Links for the week of Jan 26, 2007]
Tox Town, http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov, the web site from the Specialized Information Services of the National Library of Medicine, has added to its neighborhood scenes. Now, besides learning about the environment and health in cities, towns, farms and the US-Mexico Border, users can also learn about ports. Topics covered inlcude drinking water, air quality, watewater treatment, work hazards, sun safety and more. [scb]
Three new Public Health Topic pages, Bioterrorism, Environmental Health and HIV/AIDS were launched this week on PHPartners.org. Each topic is divided by sub-topics, for example under BioTerrorism the sub topics are:
Biological/Chemical Agents & Other Threats | Emergency Response | Preparedness | Surveillance | Literature and Guidelines | Discussion and E-mail Lists | Education and Training | Grants and Funding
Just use the dropdown menu on the home page http://phpartners.org/ to access the health topics sections.
The Children's Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC) http://www.checnet.org/home.asp is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public, specifically parents and caregivers, about environmental toxins that affect children's health.
Our ultimate goal is to eliminate children's exposure to man-made toxic substances by ensuring everyone's right-to-know what is in their air, food, water and commercial products. We are working to achieve this goal through increased scientific research, government policies which are more protective of children, and educating and mobilizing individuals — like you — around the country. Visit the CHEC website: http://www.checnet.org
Tox Town update: new pages, new features October 2006
http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov
Introducing Tox Town - a2-minute video overview of Tox Town and its features. 20 MB. Uses Windows Media Player. http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/toxtowndemo.wmv
Tox Town – A Resource for Teachers and Students
slideshow, http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/intro_toxtown.ppt
with script, http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/intro_toxtown_pp_script.doc
New page: For Teachers
Resources for high school teachers interested in incorporating environmental health into science or health curricula. Includes classroom activities, selected interactive web resources, checklists and quizzes, environmental health careers, and textbook list. http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/teacher.html
Outreach to Teachers
Resources for Science Teachers: Classroom Resources from the National Library of Medicine. Introduces NLM web resources useful in Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Earth Science, and Environmental Science courses. Also includes resources on the history of medicine, information on health careers, and resources in Spanish.
• one-page handout, http://www.sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/resources_science_teachers.pdf
• trifold brochure, http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/resources_science_teachers_brochure.pdf
• slideshow, http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/resources_science_teachers_powerpoint.ppt with script, http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/resources_science_teachers_pp_script.doc
"Why study the US-Mexico border” page now includes links to state government resources for California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/descriptions/whystudyborder.html
The Migrant Clinician Network (MCN) and Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (FS4JK), with funding from the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety (NCC), have produced a 16-page, full color, Spanish language comic book to educate parents about the risk of exposing children to pesticides and ways to minimize these risks. The publication, entitled Aunque Cerca...Sano, is targeted to the families of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. While the comic book is free, shipping and handling charges apply. To order copies, call Farm Safety 4 Just Kids at 1-800-423-5437. The book can also be downloaded from the MCN website at http://www.migrantclinician.org/excellence/environmental (click on pesticides). [posted on Migrant Education News Digest--10/04/06]
ToxMystery (http://toxmystery.nlm.nih.gov) is the National Library of Medicine’s new, interactive learning site for 7-10 year old kids. It provides a fun, game-like experience while introducing potential environmental health hazards sometimes found in the home. “Toxie” the cat helps find the hazards hidden in each room, and offers hints when needed. The objective is to find all the hazards. ToxMystery’s Parent Resources page provides more detailed information about everyday environmental hazards that can be harmful to one’s health. A For Teachers page contains more than ten downloadable activity pages that can be used in elementary school classrooms.
The National Library of Medicine has compiled publications dealing with the environmental and health issues related to the collapse of the World Trade Center. http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/wtcairbornehazards.html
New research shows that a chemical compound found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products, may be harmful to the lungs. Human population studies at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, found that exposure to a volatile organic compound (VOC), called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) may cause modest reductions in lung function.
Read the entire press release at http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2006/niehs-27.htm
In an extraordinary letter of protest, representatives for 10,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientists are asking Congress to stop the Bush administration from closing the agency’s network of technical research libraries. The EPA scientists, representing more than half of the total agency workforce, contend thousands of scientific studies are being put out of reach, hindering emergency preparedness, anti-pollution enforcement and long-term research, according to the letter released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=706
HHS Assists States with Antiviral Drug Purchases
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced a contract award with Roche Laboratories, Inc. to provide oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu®) to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five U.S. territories and the three Freely Associated States of the Pacific at a federally subsidized price. The contract will run for a period of two years with a total contract award amount of $149,110,000. [News Release, 6-30-06]http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060630.html
There Is No "Away" - Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products, and Endocrine-Disrupting Substances: Emerging Contaminants Detected in Water
This report is intended to provide non-scientist readers with an overview of the issue of emerging contaminants (including pharmaceuticals, personal care products and endocrine-disrupting substances) that are now being detected in low concentrations nearly everywhere in surface and groundwater, and also in treated drinking water. [Canadian institute for Environmental Law and Policy, 1-06; 94-pp pdf] http://cielap.org/pdf/NoAway.pdf
AIDS and Behavior Special Supplement Issue on Housing and HIV/AIDS
Extended deadline for manuscript submissions: August 1, 2006
AIDS and Behavior seeks submissions for a special supplement issue of the journal on the role of housing with regard to prevention, consequences, social impact, and response to HIV/AIDS. The goal of the special issue is to bring together state-of-the-art research on housing, homelessness, and HIV, and analyses of program and policy implications of research findings. Topics of interest: Epidemiology of homelessness and HIV; Housing status and HIV drug and sex risk behaviors; Housing/homelessness and HIV treatment and care; Evaluation of housing based interventions; Systematic literature reviews, or Policy-oriented papers. Questions to: Special Editor, Angela Aidala, PhD, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, at 212.305.7023 or aaa1@columbia.edu
[posted on ACHI Conmmunity Health News, 7-5-06]
Now you can learn about the National Library of Medicine’s environmental health and toxicology resources via a four minute "Quick Tour" (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/captivate/tehipoverview.htm). The tour provides an overview of several environmental health and toxicology resources including Tox Town, the Household Products database, TOXNET, TOXMAP, and ChemIDplus. It is available from the Environmental Health and Toxicology portal (http://tox.nlm.nih.gov). Macromedia Flash Player is required. [posted on NLM-TOX-ENVIRO-HEALTH-L]
The American Lung Association’s new State of the Air: 2006 report finds that more than 150 million Americans are living in counties where they are exposed to unhealthful levels of air pollution. Polluted air hurts us all, but most especially children, the elderly, and those living with chronic lung diseases like asthma, emphysema, or diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Read the report and see what the state of the air is in your state at http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2006.html
Pollutants Threaten Poor, Minority Kids
Their families are more likely to live near lead, pesticides, study finds
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_31366.html
Robert Preidt
WEDNESDAY, March 22 (HealthDay News) -- Environmental toxins that harm a child's brain development and other aspects of health are much more likely to affect poor or minority kids than youngsters from white or more affluent families, a U.S. study shows.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, also believe that local, state and federal policies aren't doing enough to correct these inequities.
The findings appear in the March/April issue of Child Development.
Some Local Drinking Water Contains Too Much Fluoride
U.S. panel concludes that health threats exist, including bone fractures
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_31374.html
WEDNESDAY, March 22 (HealthDay News) -- The current maximum level of fluoride allowed in U.S. drinking water is too high, and may cause health problems such as bone fractures and, ironically, erosion of tooth enamel.
That's the conclusion of a panel from the National Academy of Sciences commissioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess the safety of fluoride levels in drinking water.
Related MedlinePlus Pages:
Child Development - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus//childdevelopment.html
Children's Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus//childrenshealth.html
Environmental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus//environmentalhealth.html
Child Dental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus//childdentalhealth.html
Dental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus//dentalhealth.html
Drinking Water - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus//drinkingwater.html
MedlinePlus Health News, Thursday March 23, 2006
A new web page that addresses the relationship between pesticides and human health has been added to the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Enviro-Health Links. The page provides links to selected web sites on pesticide exposure, as well as on the treatment and prevention of pesticide poisoning. http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/pesticides.html In our everyday lives, we all handle many chemicals (including pesticides) that can be toxic if ingested or inhaled. Acute or chronic exposure to pesticides can cause severe and even life-threatening illnesses. The risk of potential injury to a chemical is determined by exposure and toxicity. Without both factors there is no risk. If we take care to limit our exposure and handle these substances safely, we reduce our risk. This web page provides selected links to help identify and reduce the risk.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) has added new chemical and health-related data to its interactive mapping site, TOXMAP (http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov). Released in September, 2004, TOXMAP helps users explore the geographic distribution of certain chemical releases, their relative amounts, and their trends over time. This release data comes from industrial facilities around the United States, as reported annually to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Now, users can also use TOXMAP to find information about Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund sites and substances. Since many users may not be experienced in reading maps or understanding map data, TOXMAP provides a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/help/faq.jsp) and a "Glossary of Terms" (http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/toxmap/help/glossary.jsp). Both resources attempt to provide questions/answers to supplement the user's ability to understand the map displays and the data. More information about TOXMAP can be found at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/toxmap.html. [posted on NLM-TOX-ENVIRO-HEALTH-L]
"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to drastically reduce the FY07 budget for its network of libraries—from $2.5 million to $500,000—leading to the closure of the headquarters library and deep cuts and possible closures at six of ten regional libraries, layoffs of up to one-third of professional contract employees, and the end of its online catalog." http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6308599.html [posted in LJXpress (February 21, 2006)]
Tapestry (Demographics and Health Care)
by Emily Friedman
It should not be news to anyone that the United States has a diverse population; although our practice has not always been as pure as our posturing, we have traditionally prided ourselves on this aspect of our society. However, current and projected patterns of demographic change are more complex than they were historically, and the implications for the health care system are profound. [H&HN, 2-7-06] http://tinyurl.com/clo9l
Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environment Chemicals
CDC's analyses of environmental toxins have found very high levels of DDT and other pesticides in surveyed Mexican-Americans, about twice that of African-Americans, and three times that of whites. Report: http://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/
Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved Call for Papers on Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma
Due September 1, 2006
Natural disasters captivate world attention, but Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on Monday August 29, 2005 as a Category 4 hurricane showed something different. The images that riveted the world's attention in Katrina's aftermath showed not only people affected by the power of nature, but a majority seemed to be poor and Black. Due to this disparity in the victims of Katrina, the Journal has announced a call for papers on the theme of these hurricanes and their public health implications. Papers will be subject to the regular process of double-blind peer review. The issue is scheduled to appear in May of 2007. The Journal is especially interested in how race and/or class relate to specific public health concerns emanating from the disaster and in ideas for solutions. Questions should be directed to JournalQuestion@mmc.edu and submissions can be sent to JournalSubmission@mmc.edu.
[posted on ACHI Community Health News, 02-10-06]
Removing lead from water supplies can ensure children's health, experts say
HealthDay
By Robert Preidt
THURSDAY, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Experts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are offering schools and child-care facilities a new "toolkit" to help reduce lead in their drinking water.
The kit includes materials to help schools and child-care facilities to implement a voluntary training, and "testing and telling" strategy.
"Our drinking water tools for schools teach lead prevention through action and awareness. This new and improved guidance will help students, teachers and parents have confidence in the quality of their school's tap water," Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water, said in a prepared statement.
The kit explains how to test for lead in drinking water; report results to parents, students, staff and others; take action to correct problems
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_29711.html
Related MedlinePlus Pages:
Drinking Water - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drinkingwater.html
School Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/schoolhealth.html
Thursday, January 19, 2006
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Exposure to even small amounts of lead through a mother's blood may harm the brain development of unborn babies, a new study suggests.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently considers 10 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) the "level of concern" for lead in the bloodstream, but researchers in Mexico found that maternal blood lead levels well below 10 mcg/dL appeared to have a lasting impact on their children's IQ, at least up to the age of 10.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_29227.html
Related MedlinePlus Pages:
Infant and Toddler Development - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandtoddlerdevelopment.html
Lead Poisoning - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/leadpoisoning.html
Pregnancy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancy.html
[posted on MedlinePlus Health News, Friday January 20, 2006]
The National Library of Medicine website "ToxTown" http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/index.html uses color, graphics, sounds and animation to add interest to learning about connections between chemicals, the environment, and the public's health. Tox Town's target audience is students above elementary-school level, educators, and the general public. You can explore Tox Town by selecting Neighborhoods, Location links or Chemical links. The City, Town, US-Mexico Border or Farm neighborhoods give an overview of environmental health concerns in those settings. The Farm scene http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/farm/main.html has just been added to the locations to choose from when searching ToxTown.
A new web page that addresses the relationship between lead and human health has been added to the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Enviro-Health Links. This page provides links to selected web sites on exposure, treatment, and prevention of lead poisoning.
http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/lead.html
Lead is a naturally-occurring element that can be harmful to humans when ingested or inhaled. Lead poisoning can cause a number of adverse human health effects, but is particularly detrimental to the neurological development of children. People can be exposed to lead through the air, as well as through accidentally or intentionally eating soil or paint chips, and food or water contaminated with lead.
NLM also offers other Enviro-Health Links on topics such as:
Children's Environmental Health http://phpartners.org/cehir/sampler.html
Indoor Air Pollution http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/indoorairpollution.html
Outdoor Air Pollution http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/outdoorairpollution.htmland
Arsenic http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/arsenicandhumanhealth.html
NLM Enviro-Health Links http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/envirohealthlinks.html
[NLM-TOX-ENVIRO-HEALTH-L NOTICE ]
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_28366.html Wednesday, November 30, 2005
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 6 million children's metal necklaces and zipper pulls from Stravina Operating Co. are being recalled because of a lead poisoning risk, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday.
There have been no incidents or injuries reported with the products, but the jewelry contains high levels of accessible lead, the commission said.
Lead is toxic if ingested by children and can cause ill health effects.
The recalled necklaces are silver-colored with nameplates that hang from a 16-inch black cord. The packages are marked "Personalized Necklace" and "Stravina" with a UPC Code of 0-35203-00039-7.
Consumers should take the jewelry away from children and contact Stravina for a free replacement product at (800) 964-0029.
[posted on National Library of Medicine's This week in Environmental Health]
See the new Spanish Language section of the Environmental Protection Agency's website: EPA en español http://www.epa.gov/espanol/
Hazards in the home can cause physical illness, compromise growth and development and lower school performance in children. Hazards such as mold, radon, tobacco smoke, and household chemicals--occur at all economic levels. However, some health hazards such as lead poisoning, asthma, and fatal injuries--occur at disproportionately high rates in poor quality homes of children in low income families. Research is necessary to understand how hazards affect children's health and to develop interventions that can ameliorate or eliminate them.
Recognizing the importance of housing health hazard research involving children, Ethical Considerations for Research on Housing-Related Health Hazards Involving Children envisions a research oversight system with researchers, institutional review boards, the federal government and other sponsors, as well as the affected community having a role in ensuring the ethical conduct of this type of research.
Read online for free, or order this latest Institute of Medicine Report at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11450.html
[posted on The NETWORK-Black Young Professionals' Public Health Network, Inc listserv]
The National Library of Medicine has compiled a new Hurricane Katrina web page, http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/hurricane.html, on toxic chemical and environmental health information resources for health workers and the interested public. Links are provided to information on chemicals that may be released as a result of the Katrina disaster and on environmental health concerns following the wind and flood damage.
The page includes a link to WISER, the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders. First responders may download the WISER set of information on 400 toxic chemicals and hazardous materials to a Palm, Pocket PC, or laptop/desktop computer that uses Microsoft Windows. WISER is designed to help identify unknown substances and gives ready access to basic emergency haz-mat information.
Links to TOXMAP identify and map locations of facilities that use or transport significant levels of toxic chemicals, and lists the chemicals for each facility. Maps are included for the Katrina-affected states as well as for New Orleans, Biloxi, and Gulfport.
To contact National Library of Medicine:
1-888-FIND-NLM (1-888-346-3656)
Customer Service: custserv@nlm.nih.gov
To contact Specialized Information Services:
(toxicology and environmental health information) Customer Service: tehip@teh.nlm.nih.gov
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_26652.html
New York Times Syndicate
By M.A.J. Mckenna
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
ATLANTA -- The federal government declared a public health emergency in Hurricane Katrina's disaster zone Wednesday, moving the first of up to 40 mobile field hospitals into position and saying it will ask for up to 4,000 medical volunteers.
Within the disaster zone, survivors' needs for clean water, safe food and medical supplies sharpened, with one TV crew broadcasting images of people stranded on a roof next to a sign that said: "Help! Diabetic, need supplies."
But health officials involved in getting help to the Gulf Coast warned that rescuing survivors, rather than protecting them from diseases, would remain their chief priority for the next several days.
Related MedlinePlus Pages:
Disasters and Emergency Preparedness - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disastersandemergencypreparedness.html
Friday September 2, is International Blogging for Disaster Relief Day http://technorati.com/tag/International%20Blogging%20for%20Disaster%20Relief%20Day.
[see more on this at Andy Carvin's Waste of Bandwidth Blog http://www.andycarvin.com/archives/2005/09/sept_2_2005_int.html]
international blogging for disaster relief day
National Hispanic Environmental Council
Glorieta, NM
August 12-21, 2005
The National Hispanic Environmental Council (NHEC) is accepting applications from students to attend the upcoming 5th annual "Minority Youth Environmental Training Institute," to be held August 12-21, 2005, in Glorieta, NM. The Institute is an intensive, hands-on, science based 10-day program for talented teens, aged 16-18, selected competitively from across the country. Using classroom and outdoor settings, the Institute is designed to help create the environmental leaders of tomorrow by introducing, educating, and inspiring youth, especially Latinos and other minorities, to a range of environmental and natural resource topics. It is also designed to provide information on the many college and career opportunities in the environment, and to strongly urge students to pursue these careers in the future. Once selected, NHEC will provide a full scholarship that will cover each student's major costs to attend the 10-day program, including airfare and housing. There is no fee to apply, and only a $35 registration fee if selected.
For application information, visit:
http://www.nheec.org/MYETI-2005/documents/2005_fact_sheet.pdf
For information about the institute, visit:
http://www.nheec.org/MYETI-2005/index.html
[posted on OELA Newsline - July 19, 2005 http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/enews/2005/0719.htm#FifthAnnual]
The Specialized Information Services (SIS) Division of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) is responsible for information resources and services in toxicology, environmental health, chemistry, HIV/AIDS, and specialized topics in minority health. http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/
All the SIS web pages have been re-formatted, including:
Environmental Health and Toxicology (http://tox.nlm.nih.gov)
Chemical Information (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemical.html)
HIV/AIDS (http://aids.nlm.nih.gov)
Outreach Activities and Resources (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/outreach.html)
Directory of Health Organizations (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/dirline.html).
EPA is making available a limited number of scholarships for representatives of tribal and local government to attend the 2005 Community Involvement Conference and Training, July 12-15, in Buffalo, NY. The theme of this year's conference is "Building Bridges Through Strong Partnerships."
Scholarship recipients will be eligible to receive up to $1,000 per person to offset the cost of travel, lodging, meals and registration. Applications for scholarships must be received by no later than 5 p.m. Eastern time on June 17. All applicants must submit proof that they are currently a representative of a tribal government or a unit of local government and agree to attend the conference between July 12 and July 15.
Scholarship recipients will be selected at random from the pool of qualified applicants and notified no later than June 22. For more information, contact the Local Government Environmental Assistance Network at (877) 865-4326, or lgean@icma.org. Visit http://www.lgean.org/scholarship for eligibility criteria, terms and the application form.
Although blood lead levels (BLLs) in children aged 1 to 5 years are decreasing in the United States, the prevalence of elevated BLLs among newly resettled refugee children is substantially higher than children born in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration have developed recommendations to address lead exposure among refugee children.
The complete Recommendations for Lead Poisoning Prevention in Newly Arrived Refugee Children are available online at www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead
Since 1993, The Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) has provided assistance agreements to ensure tribes receive appropriate support as they work to develop and implement air quality management programs. The “Tribal Environmental Education Outreach and Support Program” originally began as part of a larger program grant which provides tribes with comprehensive levels of training and technical support. The program has been in place for several years, and is part of an EPA commitment to work closely with partner tribal governments in recognition of the legal obligations and responsibilities the federal government has to tribes.
Under this funding opportunity, OAR will continue its support for the “Tribal Environmental Education Outreach and Support Program” as an ongoing independent program to ensure American Indian students, educators, and communities are properly informed of, and provided with opportunities to participate in, and pursue environmental careers, particularly in the field of air quality management. The successful applicant will work extensively in Indian country with tribal students to provide the necessary outreach to achieve and demonstrate the desired outcomes.
http://www.epa.gov/air/grants/05-10.pdf
Reuters Health
By Anthony J. Brown, MD
Thursday, February 10, 2005
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Levels of airborne mouse allergen in inner-city homes are often comparable to those seen in animal facilities, new research shows. "We were somewhat surprised at how many homes had detectable levels of airborne mouse allergen," lead author Dr. Elizabeth C. Matsui noted. In many cases, the allergen had reached levels that would likely trigger asthma symptoms in sensitized individuals.
For the complete article, see MedlinePlus Health News at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_22908.html
MedlinePlus Health Topics
Allergy http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy.html
Asthma in Children http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asthmainchildren.html
Environmental Health http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/environmentalhealth.html
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a new consolidated Spanish Web site as part of its ongoing effort to provide environmental information both in Spanish and English.
The new site compiles EPA’s Spanish language materials on a wide variety of areas from lead poisoning prevention to controlling asthma triggers, recycling to proper management of pesticides. The site was developed through a series of focus groups to respond to the environmental needs and interests of Hispanics.
In addition to environmental health information, the site also offers educational resources for students and teachers who often seek Spanish language learning tools on the environment. The site also provides information about EPA grants, small business opportunities and environmental jobs at EPA.
To view EPA’s Spanish site, visit: http://www.epa.gov/espanol .
[thanks to Nanette Bedrosky]
NLM's Division of Specialized Information Services (SIS) has released three new Environmental Health and Toxicology Internet Resource guides on the following topics:
Indoor Air Pollution http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/indoorair.html
Links to information resources on the many sources of indoor air pollution found in homes and other buildings including cleaning and maintenance products, building materials, tobacco smoke, mold, and poor ventilation
Outdoor Air Pollution http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/outdoorair.html
Links to information resources on outdoor air pollution and its possible effects on health
Toxicogenomics http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/toxicogenomics.htm
Links to information on a new scientific sub discipline that combines the emerging technologies of genomics and bioinformatics to identify and characterize mechanisms of action of known and suspected hazardous substances
Please see the complete list of Environmental Health and Toxicology Internet Resource Guides from SIS at: http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/ToxSpecial.html
This National Library of Medicine Web site aggregates resources related to toxicology and environmental health education, its study and teaching, career paths and opportunities, including accreditation, and outreach for the public. http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/Tox/edcotox.htm
The National Library of Medicine (NLM), a part of the National Institutes of Health, announces an interactive Web site that shows — on maps — the amount and location of certain toxic chemicals released into the environment in the United States. The site, called TOXMAP, is free and no registration is required. The Web address is http://toxmap.nlm.nih.gov.
TOXMAP focuses on the geographic distribution of chemical releases, their relative amounts, and their trends over time. This release data comes from industrial facilities around the United States, as reported annually to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). TOXMAP also links to NLM's extensive collection of toxicology and environmental health references, as well as to a rich resource of data on hazardous chemical substances in its TOXNET databases (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/). There are also fact sheets and summaries about the various chemicals, written by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
http://nationalchildrensstudy.gov
The National Children’s Study will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of more than 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM), Division of Specialized Information Services, has released a PDA system designed to assist first responders during hazardous material incidents: WISER (Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders, http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov). WISER provides a wide range of information on hazardous substances, including chemical identification support, physical characteristics, emergency medical treatment, containment and suppression information.
The WISER application extracts related, relevant content from NLM' s Hazardous Substance Data Bank (HSDB http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?HSDB), an authoritative information resource.
Features of WISER
· Rapid access to the most important information for 390 hazardous substances via a PDA
·Comprehensive decision support, including assistance in identification of an unknown substance and, once the substance is identified, guidance on immediate actions necessary to save lives and protect the environment
· Access to NLM's Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), which contains detailed peer-reviewed information on hazardous substances
· Mobile support, providing first responders with critical information where they need it, when they need it
· Intuitive, simple, and logical user interface.
WISER for Palm OS is now available for download at http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov
LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARD CONTROL GRANT PROGRAM
To be eligible to apply for funding under this program, the applicant must be a state, city, county, or similar unit of local government. Multiple units
of a local government (or multiple local governments) may apply as part of a consortium; however, you must identify a lead applicant that will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all requirements specified in this NOFA.
Description: The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program assists states, Native American Tribes, and local governments in undertaking programs for the identification and control of lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately owned rental and owner-occupied housing units. Refer to Section IV.E.3 of this NOFA for "Eligibility of HUD Assisted Housing" that lists the HUD-associated housing programs that meet the definition of eligible housing under this program. HUD is interested in promoting lead hazard control approaches that result in the reduction of elevated blood lead levels in children for the maximum number of low-income families with children under six years of age, for the longest period of time, and that demonstrate
techniques which are cost-effective, efficient, and replicable elsewhere.
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HUD/ODGMO/AT/FR-4900-05%26%23032%3B%26%23032%3B/Grant.html
This link is too long and you will probably have to type in part or all of it by hand because of the length.
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OPERATION LEAD ELIMINATION ACTION PROGRAM (LEAP)
To be eligible to apply for funding under this program, the applicant must be a tax-exempt nonprofit (501(c)(3)), or other non-profit or for-profit entity or firm. For-profit institutions are not allowed to earn a fee. Colleges and Universities are also eligible to apply. National and local parent groups are encouraged to apply. States and units of general local government and their departments are not eligible.
Description
The purpose of the Operation Lead Elimination Action Program (LEAP) is to provide grants to private sector and nonprofit organizations to conduct activities that leverage additional funding for addressing lead hazards in privately owned housing units and eliminating lead poisoning as a major public health threat to young children.
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HUD/ODGMO/AT/FR-4900-N-14/Grant.html
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Lead Outreach Grant Program
Eligible Applicants
State governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Community-based and faith-based organizations, states, Tribes, and units of general local government are eligible. Partnerships are encouraged, including partnerships with educational institutions and other entities such as groups of parents of lead-poisoned children, although the application must be made by a single entity. Forty percent of the available funding will be reserved for states, Tribes, and units of local governments, with the balance available for community-based and faith-based organizations. Applicants must identify whether they are applying as a community-based organization or as a unit of a state, Tribal, or local government.
Description
Award Information: Between approximately 4 and approximately 10 grants may be awarded, ranging between approximately $200,000 and approximately $500,000.
Program Description: The purpose of this lead outreach grant program is to:
1. Increase enrollment of low-income housing units for treatment via the HUD lead hazard control grant program or another lead hazard treatment program;
2. Develop and distribute outreach and educational materials in order to raise public awareness of childhood lead poisoning, its prevention and proper lead hazard identification and control methods for at-risk communities, at-risk populations of children and workers in the housing maintenance or rehabilitation fields; and 3. Encourage occupants to identify potential lead-based paint hazards and report them to property owners and managers, and public health and/or housing officials as appropriate.
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/HUD/ODGMO/AT/FR-4900-N-08/Grant.html
A new listserv on Environmental Health is now available from the National Library of Medicine's (http://www.nlm.nih.gov) MedlinePlus (http://medlineplus.gov/). MedlinePlus provides health information for patients, families and health care providers.
The Environmental Health listserv will be issued every Friday and will include all the environmental health news stories selected for MedlinePlus during the previous week, as well as new web resources added to topic pages related to environmental health. (The news stories are from United Press International; Scripps Howard; Reuters Health; New York Times Syndicate; and Canadian Press.)
To sign up, input your e-mail address at:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/medlineplus/listserv.pl?lang=EN
and specify the "Environmental Health" topic. (Other available topic-specific listservs include Children; Diabetes; Mental Health; Senior's Health; and Women's Health.)
TOXNET's TRI (http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?TRI) now includes all reporting years (1987-2001). Previously, 1995-2001 was available. TRI is a series of databases that constitute the annually published toxic releases files on the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET®). TRI contains information on the annual estimated releases of toxic chemicals to the environment and is based upon data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mandated by the Superfund legislation, TRI's data covers air, water, land, and underground injection releases, as well as transfers to waste sites, and waste treatment methods and efficiency, as reported by industrial facilities around the United States. TRI also includes data related to source reduction and recycling.
Users can check one or more TRI boxes to select the year(s) to search. The first choice (also the default) is the most recent file year available. This is followed by preceding years, which now goes back to 1987, the starting year for collection of this data. A "Select all" option allows all years to be searched simultaneously.