Legislation
The American Nurses Association (ANA), supports the “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010”. This legislation brings much needed changes to the 30 year old Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA), requiring publically available safety and health data on chemicals, and putting the burden on the industry to prove that chemicals are safe in order stay on the market.
The text of the "Safe Chemicals Act of 2010" can be found here and a full summary of the bill can be found here.
Free Continuing Education Opportunity for Nurses!
Nurses are often asked by their patients and families about the benefits and risks of fish consumption. Conflicting media messages about health risks and benefits related to fish consumption, coupled with limited health professional training, has led to confusion by health professionals about advising patients and families about safe fish consumption.
Fish Facts for Health Professionals (“Fish-Facts”) is a collaborative effort between environmental, medical, and nursing experts from across the country to develop an educational series for busy health professionals about the risks and benefits of fish consumption.
This media series comprised of four, 3-5 minute media modules was designed for busy health professionals that are interested in learning more about the risks and benefits of fish consumption and methylmercury (MeHg) exposure.
A workbook complements the media series and provides more in-depth information and resources for those seeking additional information.
Here is a “taste” of what the educational media modules will offer:
Trailer for fish-facts.org
The full program of educational media modules, workbook, and registration for CEUs can be found at: www.fish-facts.org
The Fish-Facts Project was funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For more information about this project, please contact Dr. Laura Anderko, Georgetown University at la266@georgetown.edu.
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) has released the Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies to inform the public about choices that are safer for children, the community and the environment.
PVC products often contain phthalates which have been identified as possible carcinogens and endocrine disrupters. ANA urges healthcare professionals to find substitutes to PVC products in their work and home environments as part of ANA’s Principles of Environmental Health for Nursing Practice.
View the Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies.
Environmental Information
Premier's Safety Institute provides safety resources and tools to promote a safe healthcare delivery environment for patients, workers, and their communities.
Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations and religious groups.
Delaware Nurses Association is a member of the Health Care Without Harm.
Nurses Lighting the Way to Environmental Health is a new web-based effort to capture the illuminating stories of nurses' activities to improve human health by improving the health of the environment. The shining stories on this website show how nurses are creatively and strategically addressing environmental problems and illuminating the way towards safe hospitals, communities with clean air, land and water and children born without toxic chemicals in their bodies.
Michelle Lauer, DNA member taking action for the environment
http://www.theluminaryproject.org/story.php?detail=60
Environmental Health Resources
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) has released the Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies to inform the public about choices that are safer for children, the community and the environment.
PVC products often contain phthalates which have been identified as possible carcinogens and endocrine disrupters. ANA urges healthcare professionals to find substitutes to PVC products in their work and home environments as part of ANA’s Principles of Environmental Health for Nursing Practice.
View the Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies.
Brochure for download—Nurses: A Trusted Voice for Environmental Health
American Nurses Association: Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- For fact sheets and information on pesticides and other chemicals >>visit
- Information Center toll-free at 1-888-422-8737 or e-mail ATSDRIC@cdc.gov
- Emergency Response Hotline: 404-639-4270
Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics—good references and resources on the web on occupational and environmental health
Center for Health, Environment and Justice—After winning the federal relocation of residents victimized by toxic waste at Love Canal, Lois Gibbs and other local activists were inundated with calls from people around the country who were facing similar threats and wanted help. CHEJ was founded in 1981 to address this need.
Children’s Environmental Health Network—Has a great resource guide on-line
Clean Water Fund—national 501(c)3 nonprofit, brings diverse communities together to work for changes that improve our lives, promoting sensible solutions for people and the environment.
The Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE)—a network of organizations and individuals concerned about environmental contaminants and their linkages to disease. Here you will find much useful information, as well as options for getting involved with others who share your concerns and goals. They welcome your interest and participation. Join CHE
Haz-Map: Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases by Jay A. Brown, M.D., M.P.H.—an occupational health database designed for health and safety professionals and for consumers seeking information about the health effects of exposure to chemicals at work. Haz-Map links jobs and hazardous tasks with occupational diseases and their symptoms. It is one of the products and services made available by the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program
Health Care Without Harm—an international coalition of hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations and religious groups. The mission is to transform the health care industry worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment.
Hospitals for A Healthy Environment—The primary goal of the H2E effort is to educate health care professionals about pollution prevention opportunities in hospitals and health care systems.
Institute of Medicine-Projects and Reports
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)—National nonprofit organization representing local public health agencies (including city, county, metro, district, and Tribal agencies.)
National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Centers for Disease Control—Provides expertise in environmental pesticide surveillance and disease outbreak investigations.
National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF)—addresses issues such as health, clean water, educational excellence, and global competitiveness through environmental learning. Has created the Health & Environment Partnership, which is a national program designed to improve the environmental education of doctors, nurses, and public health care providers so they can provide better health care and protect the public's health.
Organization of Teratology Information Specialists(OTIS)—Helping to prevent birth defects through science and research. Access to specialists who can provide information about exposures related to reproduction and pregnancy.
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU)—Objective: to increase knowledge base of pediatric environmental medicine by providing a forum for environmental specialists and pediatricians to combine knowledge.
Physicians for Social Responsibility/Environment & Health—Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is a leading public policy organization with 24,000 members representing the medical and public health professions and concerned citizens, working together for nuclear disarmament, a healthful environment, and an end to the epidemic of gun violence.
The Science and Environmental Health Network—Advocates the wise application of science to protecting the environment and public health. SEHN serves as both network and think tank for the environmental movement, helping environmental organizations use science in their work, guiding scientists to public interest research and public service, informing public policy with science grounded in ethics and logic.
TOXNET—a cluster of databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas.
Trust for America's Health—a national non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the health and safety of all communities from current and emerging health threats by strengthening the fundamentals of our public health defenses.
University of Maryland School of Nursing—a one-stop shop created by the University of Maryland School of Nursing for nurses interested in environmental health.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
