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September 2008
- September 24-26, 2008: 2008 Yankee Conference on Environmental Health

- September 18-19, 2008: Mid-Atlantic Center
for Children’s Health and the Environment (MACCHE) Children’s Environmental
Health Conference

- September 9, 2008: Teleconference:
Children's Health and Environmental Pesticide Exposures

- September 12, 2008: Toxics, Public Health &
the Environment Conference

August 2008
- August 11-15, 2008: 2008 Florida Environmental Health Association
Annual Education Meeting

- August 14, 2008: Lead Poison Prevention

July 2008
- July 2008: July is UV Safety Month

June 2008
- June 2008:
Home Safety Month

- June 23-27, 2008: National Tribal Conference on Environmental
Management

- June 9-13, 2008: EPICOH-NEUROEH 2008 Conferences:
Multiple Exposures, Multiple Effects

- June 10, 2008: Clinical Directors Network Webinar: Chemical Exposures - Integrating
Environmental and Occupational Health into the Primary Care Setting

May 2008
- May 2008: Asthma Awareness Month
- May 1-2, 2008: Communities in
Action for Asthma-Friendly Environments National Forum

April 2008
- April 28, 2008: National Healthy Schools Day
2008

- April 22-24, 2008: Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting - Draft Agenda (Word) (5 pp, 101K)
- April 22, 2008: Earth Day
- April 13-19, 2008: National Environmental Education
Week

- April 7-13, 2008: National
Public Health Week

- April 10-11, 2008: WHO
Children's Environmental Health Indicators: Five
Years After the Global Commitment at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development

- April 8, 2008: Environmental Health
Initiative Teleconference on Lead Exposure and
Developmental Disabilities

- April 7, 2008: World
Health Day

March 2008
- March 24-28, 2008: California Environmental Health Association Annual
Education Symposium: Mission San Diego - Changing the Climate of Environmental
Health

- March 22, 2008: World Water Day

- March 16-22, 2008: National Poison Prevention Week
- March 14, 2008: Making the Connection III: Toxics and
Tomorrow's Children

- March 11, 2008: Environmental Health
Initiative Teleconference on Environmental Injustice: Focus on Pediatric
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
February 2008
- February 25-28, 2008: COHAB 2 - Second
International
Conference on Health & Biodiversity

- February 12, 2008: Environmental Health
Initiative Teleconference on Indoor Air Quality and Health
- February 8, 2008: Medical
Approaches in Autism: Clinical Implications of Environmental Toxicology for
Children's Neurodevelopment in Autism

January 2008
- The National Council for Science
and the Environment’s Focus the Nation initiative is organizing a national
teach-in on global warming solutions for America—creating a dialogue at over a
thousand schools, places of worship, civic organizations and businesses, and
engaging millions of students and citizens with the nation’s
decision-makers. Focus the Nation will culminate January 31, 2008 in
educational symposia held across the country. Learn more about Focus the Nation, its
national
webcast, new books on global warming, and more
. - EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month to increase awareness about the dangers of inhaling radon gas. The invisible fumes seep into homes through foundation cracks and can reach harmful levels if trapped indoors. Breathing radon causes nearly 100 times more deaths each year than carbon monoxide poisoning and accounts for the second leading source of lung cancer. EPA hopes to save 12,000 lives in the next five years through radon preventative action. Learn more about radon and how you can mitigate its harmful effects.
- The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is planning to develop a program called the “Partnerships for Environmental Public Health” (PEPH). The program will 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, the NIEHS is seeking input from the public, environmental health researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, policy makers and others with a vested interest in the effects of environmental exposures on public health through a Request for Information (RFI).
- Green Seal, Inc. is in the process of revising GS-37, the Environmental
Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners and seeks public review and
input on the proposed revisions. The revision aims to bring the standard
up-to-date so it more adequately represents current technology available in the
market and ensure that the standard protects vulnerable populations such as
children.
Review the Proposed Revised Standard and background document
.
November 2007
- November 27-29, 2007: Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting - Revised Draft Agenda (Word) (4 pp, 105K)
- November 15, 2007: Webinar - Introducing
HealthySEAT Version 2

- November 13, 2007: American College of Preventive
Medicine free webcast: "Reducing the Risk: Detecting and Preventing Exposure to
Radon and Mold"

June 2007
- June 10-12, 2007: 4th International
Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment

- May 31 - June 1, 2007: Communities in
Action for Asthma-Friendly Environments National Asthma Forum

May 2007
- May 2007: Asthma Awareness Month
- May 20-24, 2007: International Conference on
Developmental Toxicity and Fetal Programming

- May 10-11, 2007: Priming for Prevention: An
Ecological Approach to Research, Education and Policy

- May 1-2, 2007: Voluntary
Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP) Peer Consultation Meeting on
p-Dioxane

April 2007
- April 30, 2007: National Healthy Schools
Day

- April 24-27, 2007: 2007 National Lead Mold
Conference

- April 15-22, 2007: National Environmental Education Week

- April 18-19, 2007: Institute of Medicine's
Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders Workshop: "Autism and the
Environment: Challenges and Opportunities for Research"

- April 22, 2007: Earth Day
- April 13, 2007: Indiana Summit
on Environmental Health

March 2007
- March 29-31, 2007: The State of Environmental Justice in
America 2007 Conference

- March 18-24, 2007: National Poison Prevention Week
- March 16, 2007: Environmental Health Is a
VERB! Building Healthy Children Symposium

- March 13-15, 2007: Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Workshop and Plenary [Word, 125 KB]
- March 3-7, 2007: 2007
Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Conference

- March 5-7, 2007: Western Regional Conference
on Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning, Implementing Healthy Homes Programs,
and Combating Indoor Environmental Hazards

February 2007
- Solicitation Notice for National Children's Study Centers Request for Proposal. NICHD is planning to award up to 20 contracts to organizations having the ability to serve as Study Centers. From the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
- February 1-2, 2007: The
National Council for Science and the Environment’s 7th National Conference on
Science, Policy, and the Environment: Integrating Environment and Human
Health

January 2007
- January 28-30, 2007: 2007 UCSF-CHE Summit on
Environmental Challenges to Reproductive Health and Fertility

November 2006
- November 15 – 16, 2006: Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Workshop and Plenary [Word, 99 KB]
- November 15-17, 2006: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Scientific Advisory Panel
October 2006
- October 12, 2006: Workshop -
Protecting Maine's Children from Environmental Risks: Problems & Solutions

- October 12, 2006: New York Children's Environmental Health Leadership Symposium. For information, email Stephen J. Boese at sboese@healthyschools.org
- October 2, 2006: Child Health Day (Presidential Proclamation)
September 2006
- The Minnesota Department of Health and concerned partners are collaborating
to produce a television program for limited-English speaking populations. The
program, about the dangers of lead, will be broadcast in six different
languages (Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Lao, and Khmer [Cambodian]) –
with English open captioning. Watch ECHO on Twin Cities Public Television’s
"the Minnesota Channel 17" during Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention
Week. For the broadcast schedule, visit the ECHO Web
site
. - September 24-29, 2006: National Forum on Tribal
Environmental Science

- September 22, 2006:
Workshop - Protecting Vermont's Children from Environmental Risks: Problems &
Solutions

- September 19-21, 2006: 2006 Region 8 Children's Environmental Health Summit
- September 14-15, 2006: National Academy of Sciences
Workshop - Exposure to Human Disease: Research Strategies to Address Current
Challenges

- September 16, 2006: Fourth Biennial Scientific Symposium on Children's
Health as Impacted by Environmental Contaminants

- The University of Massachusetts Lowell convened two workshops, in Vermont
and Maine, to provide nurses and other health professionals with the knowledge
and skills to better identify, manage, and prevent environmental health risks
to children and to provide a forum to address the challenges of pediatric
environmental illness. The workshops were geared to health professionals who
serve low-income, immigrant/refugee and minority children in small cities and
rural areas in New England, a population that suffers disproportionately from
the impacts of environmental contaminants. This project was supported by a
grant from EPA. Learn more about the Vermont workshop
or the
Maine workshop
. - On September 8, 2006, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), in partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department, called on the public to stop using the cosmetic black powdered substance called Surma (kohl). This material may contain very high levels of lead and may be applied to the eyes of children. It is also used as a teething powder for infants. The Baltimore City Health Commissioner is issuing an order barring the sale of Kohl-containing cosmetic products in the city. View more information about MDE’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.
- On September 5, 2006, EPA ordered five national retail chains to pull cans of illegally imported confetti string products from their shelves that contain banned hydrochlorofluorocarbons that deplete the ozone layer and increase the risk of skin cancer. Read the EPA news release.
August 2006
- August 21-25, 2006:
DIOXIN2006 - 26th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic
Pollutants

- August 6-11, 2006: International
Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant

- EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission sponsored the First National Environmental
Health Survey of Child Care Centers to better understand pesticide-use
patterns, the concentrations of pesticides on surfaces, and the distribution of
pesticides in child care centers. The study assessed the potential for
children's exposure to lead, allergens, and pesticides in places where children
spend time. The study indicates that there is the potential for exposure to
pesticides in child care centers because pesticide residues were measured on
surfaces and in the soil. However, the presence of pesticide residues does not
indicate that the occupants were at an increased risk.
View an abstract of a manuscript presenting the pesticide measurements from the
Health Survey
(full manuscript available for a charge).
July 2006
- July 17-19, 2006: Indoor
Environmental Quality: Problems, Research and Solutions

- July 19-21, 2006: Alabama Environmental Health
Association's
Annual Education Conference

June 2006
- A new Surgeon General’s report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. The report says the only way to protect nonsmokers from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking indoors. View the report and related materials.
- Just updated and re-released: The ANA/ANF's Children's Health and the
Environment Series was developed in 2001 in collaboration with the University
of Maryland School of Nursing's
Environmental Health Education Center and grant-supported by the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Children's Health Protection. The
purpose of this series is to introduce the foundations and issues associated
with environmental-health risks to children
in schools, homes and community, and hospitals. Available now are the three
modules:
- Safe Workplaces and Healthy Learning Places: Environmentally Healthy Schools
- Environmental Health in Health Care Setting
- Environmental Health: Homes and Communities
.
Each costs $10 or less, depending on whether you are a member of the ANA.
Information on the re-release of the ANA/ANF CE on Children’s Health and the Environment can be found on the Nursingworld Web site
. It was a joint project with the University of Maryland’s SON
and the EPA.
- The Collaborative on Health and the Environment recently announced the
newly enhanced and updated CHE Toxicants and Disease
Database
, a scientifically based, web-interactive database summarizing
the evidence of exposure to chemical contaminants and over 180 associated human
diseases or conditions. It is a useful tool for researchers, health
professionals, health-affected groups and others interested in reviewing the
weight of evidence between associated toxicants and diseases. - Upon analysis of Food and Drug Administration data, Consumer Reports
found that canned tuna sometimes harbors at least as much mercury as white tuna
does. That finding raises new concerns about the safety of canned tuna for
pregnant women. Read the Consumer Reports article on the safety concerns of canned
tuna
. - EPA developed two brochures about its Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) Chemicals in Schools: Solutions for Healthy School Environments that give school personnel and community partners the information they need to protect students and staff from chemical accidents. View the SC3 brochure for school personnel (PDF/290K) and the SC3 brochure for community partners (PDF/312K).
May 2006
- May 2006: Asthma Awareness Month
- On May 24, 2006, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a study that
grades all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their school bus fleets'
pollution and cleanup programs. The School Bus Pollution Report Card
2006 found that some strides have been made to reduce school bus emissions
but more investments need to be made in replacing polluting old
buses and retrofitting more recent models.
Learn more about the Report Card
. Learn about EPA's Clean School Bus USA, which
strives to reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust and the amount of air
pollution created by diesel school buses. - May 24, 2006: Workshop for nurses and other health professionals serving
children, "
Protecting Connecticut's Children from Environmental Risks: Problems
and Solutions
" - May 22-29, 2006: Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week
- May 22-23, 2006: National Asthma Forum

- Seven of EPA's Regional Pollution Prevention (P2) Program offices anticipate having up to $163,000 available, per region, in fiscal year 2006 to fund projects supporting source reduction/pollution prevention and/or resource conservation activities. View information about the request for proposals. EPA Regions 1, 8, and 9 have developed independent grant announcements. Visit their respective web sites for information on their solicitations: Region 1, Region 8, and Region 9.
- EPA's fifth annual Science Forum, entitled "Your Health, Your Environment, Your Future," was held May 16-18 in Washington, D.C. EPA collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to focus on environmental issues that impact public health. The Forum was free to the public. Visit the Forum’s Web site or download the Forum's flyer (PDF/197K) to learn more.
- As a result of EPA's evaluation to ensure that all pesticides meet current health and safety standards, the manufacturer of insect pest strips containing the organophosphate pesticide DDVP (or dichlorvos) has asked EPA to remove certain uses and further restrict where the pest strips can be used in homes. Specifically, the larger strips could not be used in homes except in garages, attics, crawl spaces, and sheds that are occupied for less than four hours per day. For the smaller pest strips, use in the home would be limited to closets, wardrobes, and cupboards. EPA reminds consumers of the importance of reading and following all label directions to ensure pesticide products are used correctly. The pest strips are sold as Alco(r) No-Pest Strip, AMVAC Insect Strip, Alco(r) Pest Strip, AMVAC No-Pest Strip and Swat Pest Strip. Learn more about DDVP.
- An international EPA-funded study of over 400 asthma programs, completed by
the University
of Michigan School of Public Health, has found that asthma programs that
address environmental triggers work best when closely connected to front-line
health care providers and local communities. The three-year study, called the
Asthma Health Outcomes Project, found that the asthma programs used a variety
of approaches, such as educating health care providers
or intensive home visits with follow-up support to families, to address
environmental triggers that make asthma worse.
Learn more about the Asthma Health Outcomes Project and read the report
. - On May 3, 2006, the Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics met on
Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, to make Congress aware of important issues for
families living with asthma, allergies, and related conditions. The event
included a congressional briefing, asthma screenings, and an Educational Expo.
Learn more about Asthma Awareness Day Capitol Hill
. - May 2, 2006: World Asthma Day
April 2006
- On April 27, 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) released new
international Child Growth Standards for infants and young children that prove
that differences in children's growth to age five are more influenced by
nutrition, feeding practices, environment, and healthcare than
genetics or ethnicity. View the WHO Child Growth
Standards
. - April 22, 2006: Earth Day
- April 20, 2006: 2006 Children's Environmental Health Awards Ceremony
- On April 19, 2006, scientists from the National Institutes of Health reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) the results of the first-ever randomized clinical trials to evaluate the safety of placing amalgam fillings, which contain mercury, in children's teeth. Both studies independently reached the conclusion that children whose cavities were filled with dental amalgam had no adverse health effects.
- On April 13, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement regarding benzene in soft drinks. FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition initiated a survey of benzene levels in soft drinks that indicated that the vast majority of beverages sampled contain either no detectable benzene levels or are well below the U.S. water standard. The results of this survey indicate that the levels of benzene in these beverages do not pose a safety concern. View the FDA statement.
- April 3-8, 2006: National Public Health Week
- Various Dates 2006: Half-day public meetings, "Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program"
- April 4-6, 2006: First public meeting of the Human Studies Review Board (HSRB)
March 2006
- Recall: Beaded Photo Charm Bracelet
- March 19-25, 2006: National Poison Prevention Week
- March 13-15, 2006: TestSmart DNT (Developmental
Neurotoxicity) Open Registration Meeting

- Recall: Little Tikes Co. Animal-Shaped Flashlights Sold at Target
- EPA is offering a new online course that features information on mold prevention and remediation. The free course, "Introduction to Mold and Mold Remediation for Environmental and Public Health Professionals," is based on EPA’s voluntary guidance document Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.
- On March 8, 2006, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published its Fiscal Year 2006 "SuperNOFA," a notice that officially makes available approximately $2.2 billion in grants through 39 individual programs. View HUD's Fiscal Year 2006 SuperNOFA or read the Department's step-by-step registration guide.
- EPA’s March 2006 Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) Project Plan outlines EPA's approach to activities for this group of brominated flame retardants. PBDEs have been used in many manufactured products, including foam cushioning in furniture and plastics in televisions and computers. In the event of a fire involving these products, PBDEs slow ignition and rate of fire growth, allowing more time for people to extinguish or escape the fire. However, findings that PBDEs are widely distributed in the environment and are present at increasing levels in people have raised concerns about the potential risks of PBDE exposure to human health and the environment. The Project Plan describes four objectives and the key activities undertaken to achieve those objectives. View the Project Plan and other materials related to PBDEs.
February 2006
- February 28-March 2, 2006, Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting View the draft agenda in Word format [105 KB]
- Recall: Art Accentz™ Changlz™ Metal Charms
- On February 20, 2006, EPA announced that it will provide local communities around the country with $7.5 million in grants to reduce kids' exposure to harmful exhaust from their school buses. The grants will help fund the cleanup of more than 500 tons of diesel emissions from 4000 school buses nationwide. The 37 grants were awarded as part of the Clean School Bus USA program, which reduces children's exposure to diesel exhaust. View more information and a list of grantees.
- On February 10, 2006, EPA announced the availability of $2.7M to support community-based partnerships to reduce toxic risks in local communities through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. A range of community groups may apply for funding, including county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities. For additional information, visit the CARE Web site.
- On February 8, 2006, EPA announced the release of the final document, "Guidance on Selecting Groups for Monitoring and Assessing Childhood Exposures to Environmental Contaminants (2005)." This document provides guidance to EPA scientists on selecting age groups to consider when assessing childhood exposure and potential dose to environmental contaminants.
January 2006
- January 2006: National Radon Action Month
- January 26-27, 2006: 6th National
Conference on Science, Policy, and the
Environment: Energy for a Sustainable and Secure Future

- On January 26, 2006, EPA announced the development of the “3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Childcare Facilities Toolkit,” which contains materials to help schools and childcare centers reduce lead in drinking water.
- On January 24, 2006, EPA Regions 9 and 10 announced the availability of $3 million in grant monies for projects aimed at reducing diesel emissions on the West Coast. EPA is seeking grant proposals for projects that demonstrate new, innovative or experimental approaches to reducing diesel emissions. Past grant projects included electrifying truck stops and cruise ship terminals, converting restaurant waste oil to biodiesel fuel and a establishing a revolving loan fund to reduce locomotive emissions. To learn more, visit http://yosemite.ep a.gov/R10/airpage.nsf/grants/wcc+rfp.
- Recall: Mizuno USA, Inc. Recalls "Gamer" Baseball Gloves
- On January 13, 2006, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson announced the release of a new tool to help schools identify and prevent health, safety and environmental problems before they arise, building on the agency's voluntary school indoor air quality program. The Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT) is a free software tool that school districts can customize to assess potential issues such as mold, asbestos and lead paint, then evaluate and manage information on conditions at each school. Schools can download HealthySEAT at: www.epa.gov/schools.
- January 9-11, 2006: National Leadership Summit on
Eliminating
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health

December 2005
- Due
to
the holidays
and overwhelming requests to extend the
deadline to apply for the 2006 Children’s Environmental Health
Excellence
Awards,
EPA extended the deadline until January 2, 2006.
The awards are designed to recognize ongoing and sustainable dedication to, and notable leadership in, protecting children from environmental health risks at the local, regional, national, and international level. To learn more about the application process, view the awards' application instructions (PDF/1,020K).
- On December 29, 2005, EPA proposed new requirements for contractors and construction professionals when working in homes that contain lead-based paint. The proposed requirements seek to reduce lead poisonings in children across the country. EPA is proposing that contractors must be trained in the use of lead-safe work practices, renovators and firms be certified, providers of renovation training be accredited, and renovators follow protective work practice standards. EPA will take public comment for 90 days following publication of the proposal in the Federal Register. For more information or to obtain copies of the proposal and supporting materials, visit: www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovat ion.htm.
- December 9, 2005: Mid-America
Pediatric Environmental Hazards Conference

- December 7-8, 2005: Midwest
Regional Lead and Mold
Conference

- On December 6, 2005, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released "The Decontamination of
Children: Preparedness and Response for Hospital Emergency Departments," a
27-minute video that trains emergency responders and hospital emergency
department staff to decontaminate children after being exposed to hazardous
chemicals during a bioterrorist attack or other disaster. A short clip of the
video can be found online at www.ahrq.gov/resear
ch/deconVideo/decon512k.ram
. A free, single copy of the video may be ordered by calling
(800) 358-9295 or by sending an e-mail to ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov.
November 2005
- Recall: Stravina Children’s Metal Necklaces and Zipper Pulls
- November 29-30, 2005: National Children’s Study Assembly Meeting
- On November 28, 2005, OCHP added new information to its Web site for health care providers. View Children's Environmental Health: Online Resources for Health Care Providers.
- Recall: Certain Cribs Sold at Toys R Us Stores
- November
17-18,
2005:
Western Regional Lead and Mold
Conference

- A study described in the November 2005 issue of Environmental Health
Perspectives took a close look at in utero exposure to dioxins and
polychlorinated biphenyls. The results of the study suggest routine screening
of thyroid
hormone
levels and thyroid function in newborns. View
the
article
. - In November 2005, OCHP developed fact sheets in English and Spanish about the North American network of Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU’s). The fact sheets provide background on the critical role of the environment in child development, describe the function of PEHSU’s, and provide useful Web site addresses. Download Children's Environmental Health and the North American Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PDF/71K) or La Salud Ambiental De Los Niños Y Las Unidades Norteamericanas Especializadas De Salud Medioambiental Pediátrica (PDF/88K).
- On November 9, 2005, EPA launched a new Spanish Web page dedicated to providing information on different environmental issues and their effects among Hispanics residing in the United States. The new page, "El medio ambiente y su salud," The Environment and Your Health, will focus on a different issue every month. This month’s key issue is asthma and includes general information about the disease, its environmental triggers, asthma FAQs, and environmental health studies of Hispanics and asthma.
- Announced November 3, 2005, EPA’s Office of Policy Economics and Innovation is seeking applications from communities that want assistance with implementing Smart Growth through policy analysis or public participatory processes. Assistance will be provided through an agency contract vehicle, not a grant. Learn more about this opportunity or related grant opportunities on our Grants Management page.
- On November 3, 2005, The National Environmental Education & Training
Foundation (NEETF) released Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma:
Guidelines for Health Care Providers. The guidelines are designed to help
pediatric primary care providers advise families about environmental
interventions to help reduce or eliminate triggers for children diagnosed with
asthma, the
nation’s
leading pediatric
chronic illness. View the complete
guidelines
. - On November 1, 2005, EPA awarded seven grants to build health professional capacity to address children's environmental health. The grants will help increase the number of physicians, nurses, and public health workers who are able to address the broad spectrum of children's environmental health issues in their practices, in the institutions in which they work, in their communities, and in academic settings. View a summary of the awards or the EPA press release announcing the awards.
October 2005
- October 23-29, 2005, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
- October 24-26, 2005, Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting at Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C. View the draft agenda in PDF format [28 KB]
- New data released October 11, 2005 from a two-year study supported by the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences suggest
that a
home-based
environmental intervention program is a cost-effective way to improve the
health of
inner-city
children who have moderate
to severe
asthma. The program,
which included the use of allergen-impermeable
covers on the child's mattress,
box spring and pillows, air purifiers with high efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters, vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA filters, and professional
pest control, successfully decreased allergen levels in the home and reduced
asthma symptoms. View
a National
Institutes of
Health press release about the study
. - Congratulations to the DC Safe Kids Coalition, the 2005 recipient of the Safe Kids Worldwide Coalition of the Year Award, which uses EPA's Live, Learn and Play: Tune Into Your Health and Environment to educate its constituents about environmental health.
- October 2005, Children’s Health Month
September 2005
- On September 29, 2005, the National Children's
Study
awarded
contracts to
six Vanguard Centers to pilot and complete
the
first phases of
the
Study. The
planned Study is the largest long-term study of human health and development
ever
conducted
in
the
United States.
By following the development of 100,000
children from before birth to age 21, Study researchers hope to better
understand how children’s genes and environments interact to affect their
health.
The Study is led by a consortium of federal agency partners: the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (including the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at NIH, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To learn more, visit the National Children’s Study Web site
. - Recall: Necklace and Earring Costume Jewelry Sets
- National Pollution Prevention Week was September 19-25, 2005. This year’s theme at EPA was "Environmental Stewardship Begins at Home."
- September 18-21, 2005, Fish Forum sponsored by EPA and the Maryland Department of Environment
- Floodwaters from multiple locations across the New Orleans area were sampled by EPA and analyzed for chemicals and bacteria. These initial results represent the beginning of extensive sampling efforts and do not represent the condition of all flood waters throughout the area. Preliminary information indicates that bacteria counts for E. coli in sampled areas greatly exceed EPA's recommended levels for contact. At these levels, human contact with water should be avoided. View a news release about the floodwater contamination or visit EPA’s Hurricane Katrina response Web page at www.epa.gov/katrina.
- On September
7,
2005,
EPA announced a new proposed rule in the
Federal
Register regarding Protections for Subjects in Human Research. This
new rule
contains
some of the strongest protections for human subjects
ever
proposed by
the federal government, including a ban on any
testing
of pesticides
that
involves
intentional
dosing
of pregnant
women or
children. The
proposed rule
was published in
the
Federal Register
on September 12,
2005. View the Federal Register notice
. - On September 6, 2005, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued
a new report
outlining
the
dangers of
well water
in
infant nitrate
poisoning
. - Recall: Disney Children’s Red Sunglasses
August 2005
July 2005
- A study, "Acute Illnesses Associated With Pesticide Exposure
at
Schools,"
published July 27, 2005 in the Journal of the American Medical
Association underscored the
risks of
pesticide use in and around
the
nation's schools. The study analyzed 2,593 reported pesticide
poisonings in
schools and childcare centers from 1998 – 2002 and reported several
troubling
findings: incidence rates among children increased significantly from
1998 to
2002; drifting pesticides applied off site were responsible for 31%
of reported
poisonings; and insecticides and disinfectants were the pesticides
most
frequently
at
fault.
View a free abstract
of the study
. - July 26-29, 2005, Children's World
Summit
for the Environment

- July 12-14, 2005, Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting at Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C. View the draft agenda in PDF format [27 KB] or Word format [60 KB]
- EPA’s Pesticide Fate Database, which provides information about what happens to pesticides after they are used in the environment, is now available online. The database allows you to search, sort, and retrieve up-to-date pesticide fate and chemistry information. This information can be used to assess pesticide exposure for ecological risk assessments and drinking water exposure assessments.
June 2005
- On June 15, 2005, EPA and several of its partners signed an agreement to reduce lead levels in drinking water in schools and child care facilities. The partners agreed to encourage schools and child care facilities to test drinking water for lead; disseminate results to parents, students, staff, and other interested stakeholders; and take appropriate and necessary actions to correct problems. To learn more, view a press release on the agreement.
May 2005
- EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are conducting a two-year study of the effectiveness of sealants in preventing leaching of arsenic from CCA-treated wood. The study is attempting to determine whether or not the application of different wood sealants on CCA-treated wood has effects on the amount of CCA residues to which an individual may be exposed. For more information about the study and interim results, visit EPA's Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) page.
- May
2005,
Melanoma
and
Skin Cancer Awareness Month

April 2005
- Children’s
Environmental Health
Award
Winners
Announced!
Fifteen Excellence Awards were presented to groups or individuals that exemplify invaluable leadership in the protection of children from environmental health risks at an awards ceremony on April 21, 2005. Recognition Awards were presented to groups or individuals who demonstrated commitment to protecting children from environmental health risks.
- April 27-28, 2005, National
Children's
Study
Federal Advisory Committee Meeting

- Learn how you can protect the environment on Earth Day and year-round and see what EPA is doing to ensure a healthier environment by visiting EPA's Earth Day Web page at http://epa.gov/earthday/.
- April 22, 2005, Earth Day
- April 21, 2005, Children's Environmental Health Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.
- April 17-19,
2005, Health
Effects
Institute Annual Conference

March 2005
- On March 29, 2005, EPA issued "Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment" and "Supplemental Guidance on Risks from Early-Life Exposure." The documents provide principles and procedures to guide EPA scientists assessing cancer risk from exposures to environmental pollutants. To learn more, view a press release on the documents.
- EPA Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool Beta Version
Now Available for Testing
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is developing a new, completely voluntary, and fully customizable tool to help school districts conduct self-assessments of their school facilities for potential environmental health and safety hazards. The heart of the tool is a powerful database file that will let school districts customize the tool to manage all aspects of a facility assessment program. The tool comes pre-loaded with a checklist that integrates all of EPA's voluntary and regulatory programs for schools, and is designed so that states and school districts can incorporate their own policies and programs, producing a customized checklist and reference guidebook. To learn more about the draft Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool and download the Beta Version for testing, visit: http://www.epa.gov/schools. EPA is accepting input from organizations and individuals on the draft tool until May 5, 2005. - New results from a nationwide study on factors
that affect
asthma
in
inner-city
children
show
that cockroach allergen
appears to worsen
asthma
symptoms
more
than either dust
mite
or pet allergens.
This research,
funded by the National
Institute
of Environmental
Health
Sciences
and the
National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is the first
large-scale study to
show marked geographic
differences in
allergen
exposure and
sensitivity in
inner-city children. To
learn more,
visit
www.niehs.nih.gov/oc/news/cockroach.htm
. - EPA has improved its chromated copper arsenate (CCA) Web page to make information easier to find. CCA is a chemical wood preservative containing chromium, copper and arsenic. Visit the new CCA page at www.epa.gov/pesticides/antimicrobials/reregistration/cca/.
February 2005
- February 22-24, 2005: Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee Meeting at Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C. View the agenda. [PDF, 26 KB]
- February
19-23, 2005: 2005
Association of Maternal
and Child Health Programs
Annual
Conference (AMCHP)

January 2005
- EPA launched a new Spanish Web site as part of its ongoing effort to provide environmental information both in Spanish and English. The 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 also offers educational resources for students and teachers, information about EPA grants, small business opportunities, and environmental jobs at EPA. To view EPA's Spanish site, visit www.epa.gov/espanol.
- January
12-13, 2005: Surgeon General’s Workshop
on Healthy Indoor
Environment

- Recall: Children's Costume Bracelets
December 2004
-
Product Recall: Children’s
Necklaces

- December 2-4: EPA’s 5th Annual
Indoor
Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium

November 2004
- On November 30, 2004, EPA released a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) for its proposed Clean Air Mercury Rule. The NODA summarizes the more than 680,000 public comments received during the comment period and solicits further comment on new data and information to help EPA evaluate which regulatory approach will best reduce mercury emissions from power plants. The NODA is part of the EPA process toward delivering a final mercury rule by March 15, 2005. Initially proposed on Jan. 30, 2004, the Clean Air Mercury Rule would reduce mercury emissions from power plants for the first time ever. For more information, view an EPA press release on the NODA.
- On
November 16, 2004, the Department of
Health and Human
Services entered
the implementation
phase of the National
Children’s Study, which will
track
100,000 children in 96
locations
across
the U.S. from
birth through
age 21. The
study will follow
the children as
they grow up, looking at their
genetics,
neighborhoods, schools, and
environment
to develop important
information that
will
safeguard children’s
health.
To learn more, visit www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov
. - Product
Recall: Toy Jewelry
Sold in Vending Machines

- A
settlement
with Toyota Motor
Corporation is providing
$20
million to
school districts for filters and ultra-low sulfur fuel for their
school bus
fleets.
Districts can get
up to $750,000 to retrofit their school
bus fleets.
School districts ONLY
can
apply. School
districts in nonattainment
areas for
particulate
or ozone will
have first priority. For more information,
visit
www.cleanbusesforkids.com
. - Toxicity and Exposure Assessment for Children's Health (TEACH) is an EPA project that complements existing information on health risks to children from exposure to chemicals in the environment. TEACH consolidates children's health information from scientific literature and improves access to that information through an interactive Web site. The Web site includes a searchable database and Chemical Summary Forms.
- EPA supported the WHO effort
to create "Inheriting
the
World: the Atlas of
Children's Health and
Environment
" launched
at
the
Fourth
Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in
Budapest. - November 9-10:
2004 Indiana Lead-Safe & Healthy Homes
Conference

- November 6-10:American Public Health Association Annual Meeting
October 2004
- EPA
Launches
First Annual
Children's
Environmental Health Awards
To raise awareness and highlight the importance of protecting children from environmental risks, EPA is pleased to announce the launch of its first annual children's environmental health awards. These awards are designed to recognize and highlight the exemplary achievements of organizations or individuals who have demonstrated a level of commitment and leadership in protecting children from environmental risks.
We encourage you to apply for these awards to earn your organization recognition for their commitment to protecting children from environmental hazards and for setting a good example for others to follow.
Download the awards description and application (PDF/769K)!
Press Release - A Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee meeting was held on October 27-28, 2004 at Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C. View the agenda for the meeting. (PDF/64K)
- October 18-19: EPA and NIEHS Joint Research Workshop on Asthma Induction
- October
9-13:
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference
&
Exhibition

September 2004
- EPA and National
Urban
League Kick
Off
Children's
Health
Month by Joining
Forces To Protect Children from
Environmental
Health
Risks
On September 29, 2004, EPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Urban League to work together on protecting children in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities from environmental health risks. Children in these communities may be disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. Each October, EPA commemorates Children's Health Month, which is designed to increase public awareness and provide tools that the general public, health care providers, environmental professionals and businesses can use to help protect children from environmental health risks. Learn more about the EPA and National Urban League partnership or download the Memorandum of Understanding (PDF/687K). - The EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Regulatory Enforcement dedicated the September 2004 issue of "Enforcement Alert" (PDF) to the protection of children from exposure to asbestos at school. To learn more, call the Toxic Substances Control Act Assistance Information Service at (202) 554-1404 or the Asbestos Ombudsman at (800) 368-5888.
- September 24-25: Biennial Scientific
Symposium on Children's Health as Impacted
by Environmental
Contaminants

- September 13: Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, Healthy Environments – A Nurse’s Role in Assessing and Addressing the Health Risks to Mothers and Babies from Environmental Exposures
- September 11:
Conference on Children's
Health
and
the Environment

August 2004
- Photo, Essay,
and Poetry Contests
Announced June
14,
2004
Two photography and writing contests highlighting older Americans will take place this summer. The Environmental Protection Agency's Aging Initiative has announced a Photo, Essay, and Poetry Contest entitled "What I did to improve the environment and protect health this summer." Selected submissions will be highlighted on the EPA Aging Initiative Web site in the fall. Each submission must show older adults working to improve health through the environment. The deadline is Aug. 27.
July 2004
- A new Children's Environmental Health
Center
at Harvard School of Public Health
will
develop
an integrated approach
to the study of the
mixture of toxic
metals at the
Tar Creek Superfund Site
in Oklahoma
and their
potential
effects
on the neurological,
behavioral, and mental development of children
living in
the area.
For more information, visit: www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul20
04/nie
hs-07.htm
. - Generations United, with support from MetLife Foundation's Healthy Aging Initiative, is holding a 2004 Intergenerational Photography Contest. The contest is for the best intergenerational photo taken by a younger or older person, of younger and older people together. Entries must be postmarked by July 31.
April 2004
- The Mercury Medical and Public Health Issues Symposium will be held from April 28-30.
- On April 21-23, 2004, the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) will hold their annual meeting at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. The meeting will include sessions on exploring new ideas/strategies for enhancing the promotion and outreach activities of the PEHSU program and exploring the latest information on best practices, research, and emerging science in pediatric environmental health. For more information, contact Paula M. Davis, PEHSU Program Coordinator, at 1-888-347-AOEC.
March 2004
- On March 19, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced their joint consumer advisory on methylmercury in fish and shellfish for reducing the exposure to high levels of mercury in women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children. The FDA and EPA want to emphasize the benefits of eating fish - consumers should know that fish and shellfish can be important parts of a healthy and balanced diet. However, as a matter of prudence, women might wish to modify the amount and type of fish they consume if they are planning to become pregnant, pregnant, nursing, or feeding a young child. To view the new advisory, visit www.epa.gov/ost/fish.
February 2004
- February 22-25, 2004, Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor Hotel. EPA's National Air Quality Conference provides a unique opportunity to learn the latest information on fine particle and ozone mapping, air quality forecasting, the Air Quality Index (AQI) and your health, and innovative outreach programs. This year's conference will have a special emphasis on year-round forecasting, mapping, and outreach activities. Come share your experiences and learn about more effective ways to provide the information needed by the public to make healthy choices, every day of the year.
January 2004
- On January 22, 2004, Denver unveiled a unique, new art mural that will help protect children from lead poisoning. The mural features photographs of 44 children and serves as a reminder that lead poisoning can harm children. EPA, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, the City of Denver, and the Northeast Denver Housing Center worked together to make the mural -- a public awareness tool which will reach as many as 500,000 people each day. For more information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/region8.
- A Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee meeting will be held January 14-15, 2004 at Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C. View the agenda [PDF 48KB] for the meeting.
December 2003
- The Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP), a group of independent scientists that advises EPA on critical science issues, will evaluate and provide comments to further refine EPA's draft risk assessment on pressure-treated wood on Dec. 3-5. The draft assessment evaluates the potential risks to children who play on playsets and decks made with wood pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). EPA is also conducting a study on whether sealants can reduce or eliminate exposure to arsenic in CCA-treated wood as a way to help consumers make informed choices around their home. Results from this study are expected in 2004. View the draft risk assessment.
October 2003
- The Office of Children's Health Protection, in coordination with other EPA program offices, has developed a new children's environmental health brochure titled, "Protect Children, Protect Our Future."
- The Children's Health Valuation Handbook is a reference tool for people conducting economic analysis of EPA policies that affect children's health. The handbook is a companion document to "EPA's Guidelines for Preparing Economic Analysis" (2000) and provides information on ways to incorporate the unique environmental risks to youth. It also describes EPA's criteria for valuing children's health effects and will encourage research among economists and other experts.
- During October, nurses can learn to
create environmentally
healthy
homes
and communities by
using the Medscape
Web site
.
"Children's Health and the Environment:
Environmentally
Healthy Homes and Communities"
will help nurses identify, prevent
and
manage
environmental health risks
to children where they live and
play. - On October 2, EPA's SunWise School Program and the Curt and Shonda Schilling Melanoma Foundation of America (SHADE) received the 2003 Excellence in Cancer Awareness award from the Congressional Families Action for Cancer Awareness. The award honored EPA and SHADE Foundation for their partnership to eliminate skin cancer and melanoma. First launched nationally in May 2000, the SunWise School Program tools teach children and their caregivers how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can cause serious health effects, including skin cancer. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/sunwise or contact John Millett at (202) 564-7842 or millett.john@epa.gov.
- October is Children's Health Month! Visit the Children's Health Month Web site to discover the rewards of healthy children and take advantage of a special October calendar that includes an action step for each day of the month - topics ranging from nutrition and school health, to environmental safety, to injury and disease prevention.
- On October 26-28, 2003, EPA will host its 4th Annual Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC.
- October 19-25, 2003 is the fifth annual Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. This year's theme is "Partnering for Prevention," emphasizing the large number of lead poisoning prevention resources available. Events being held across the country include free blood-lead tests for children, opportunities for education and outreach to families, and workshops on lead education and safety. Low-level lead poisoning, due to the existence of lead paint in older homes, continues to be a concern for as many as three million American children under the age of six and can trigger learning disabilities, decreased growth, hyperactivity, impaired hearing and even brain damage. For more information, contact your local health department, call 1-800-424-LEAD or visit EPA's Web site at www.epa.gov/lead/.
- On October 20-21, 2003,
EPA will host
its second
"Workshop
on
Valuing
Environmental
Health
Risk
Reductions to
Children"
at the
Washington Plaza
Hotel in Washington, D.C. For
the workshop's agenda, registration
information,
and logistics, visit
the
workshop's Web site.

- EPA's Office of Solid Waste announces an art contest for students. By entering, students can help EPA save natural resources and protect our environment by promoting waste prevention. Students from kindergarten - 6th grade are invited to enter an Earth Day 2004 Poster Contest and students from 7th - 12th grade are invited to enter a CD Cover Contest. For details, rules, and prize information visit www.epa.gov /epaoswer/osw/specials/artcontest/index.htm.
September 2003
- On September 29, 2003, EPA unveiled a new Web site, www.epa.gov/highschool/, to help high school students explore and learn about their environment and ways to protect it. The Web site contains information about air and water issues, waste and recycling, conservation, health and safety, ecosystems, and community environmental conditions. It also links interested students to internship and scholarship opportunities, environmental careers, and community involvement projects.
July 2003
- OCHP has added a fourth paper to its Paper Series on Children's Health and the Environment, titled Asthma-Related Medical Expenditures in the United States: Distributions and Trends.
- A Children's
Health Protection
Advisory
Committee
meeting will be
held July 15-17 at
Hotel Washington
in
Washington, D.C. View the agenda for the
meeting
[PDF
139KB]. To view documents in PDF format,
the
free
Acrobat Reader
is required.
June 2003
- EPA has completed draft final Guidelines for Carcinogenic Risk Assessment, which has Supplemental Guidance for Assessing Cancer Susceptibility Resulting from Early-Life Exposure to Carcinogens. The Supplemental Guidance contains an analysis of studies and a possible approach for how quantitative scientific data could inform risk assessments when exposure to carcinogens occurs during childhood is considered. The EPA's Scientific Advisory Board has reviewed the Supplemental Guidance and a draft report of the review is available [PDF 235KB].
- EPA Administrator Christie Whitman announces the availability of a $5 million grant program to make school buses cleaner for the 24 million children who travel on a bus to and from school every day. The grants are under EPA's Clean School Bus USA initiative, which is designed to limit children's exposure to the harmful effects of diesel exhaust from school buses.
- Upcoming teleconference meeting (June 20, 2003) to discuss the draft report of the Supplemental Guidance for Assessing Cancer Susceptibility from Early-life Exposure to Carcinogens (SGACS) review panel.
May 2003
April 2003
- Earth Day 2003 Helps Protect Children and the Aging
- April 7 is World Health Day: Shape the Future of Life - Healthy Environments for Children
- President Extends Executive Order for Task Force on Environmental Risks to Children
- Partnership to Reduce Children's Exposure to Emissions from Diesel School Buses
February 2003
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