National Environmental Public Health Tracking Conference:

Tracking in Action: Leading the Way to Better Environmental Public Health

September 12-15, 2011- Ritz Carlton, Atlanta

The 2011 National Environmental Public Health Tracking Conference, "Tracking in Action: Leading the Way to Better Environmental Public Health" will unite the environmental public health community and provide opportunities to:

• Discuss and highlight successes of environmental public health and the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program.
• Share innovative approaches and reflect on lessons learned along the way.
• Discuss the future of environmental public health.
• Build partnerships and identify next steps for environmental public health tracking.

Abstract Submission Deadline - June 20, 2011

Session Topics Include:

      Tracking in Action

      Science in Action

      Informatics in Action

      Communications in Action

Hotel Information:

The conference will be held at the Ritz Carlton, Atlanta.  A block of rooms has been reserved under the ITNITNA group code for a reduced rate of $132.  Register by Monday, August 22, to ensure that you receive the reduced rate.

Regional Asthma Management and Prevention: Bleach Exposure in Child Care Settings: Strategies for Elimination or Reduction Report

http://www.rampasthma.org/2011/03/9258/

In 2008, the San Francisco Asthma Task Force started a pilot project to identify methods for infection control practices that eliminate or reduce child care operator exposure to bleach. The final report and associated materials are available at

http://www.rampasthma.org/2011/03/9258/

The Minnesota Department of Health is pleased to announce the launch of a new, free, online training.  The training was developed as part of an EPA grant and is titled, Reducing Environmental Triggers of Asthma in the Home, or RETA Home.  This training is designed for public health nurses and certified asthma educators and takes about 40 minutes to complete.  It teaches about the triggers of asthma found in the home and suggests simple, realistic interventions that helps limit or eliminate exposure to these triggers.

The program also features a resource section that can be accessed after the training has been completed.

To view this training program, please go to: www.retahome.org

New EPA Lawn Care Videos Encourage Healthy and Environmentally Friendly Practices

The EPA has created a series of new videos to encourage homeowners and communities to adopt healthy lawn care practices as a means of reducing pesticide risk to human health and the environment. Healthy, environmentally friendly lawn and landscape practices can reduce erosion, stream sedimentation, flooding and runoff of pollutants into local waterways as well as risk of pesticide exposure to children, adults, pets and wildlife.

The video series was developed to educate homeowners, garden clubs, civic associations and others seeking a healthy, environmentally friendly lawn. In addition, the video was created as an educational tool to assist federal, state and local government agencies, master gardeners and community-based groups with their existing outreach and education efforts. The series is available in a four-minute format, an extended 11-minute format and several short, topic-specific versions. Topics covered include soil testing, watering, mowing, weed and pest control, fertilizer use, aerating soil and controlling runoff.

To view the EPA's new healthy lawn care practices videos, visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/lawncare/

From Canadian Environmental Law Association

HEALTHY RETROFITS: The Case for Better Integration of Children’s

Environmental Health Protection into Energy Efficiency Programs

March 2011

"This report is a key milestone within a two-year Ontario-focused project of the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment that aims to raise awareness of the risks to fetal and child health from potential exposures to environmental contaminants during and after energy efficiency retrofits. The project also aims to increase awareness among multiple players about measures that can be taken to help reduce these risks.

This report, prepared by the Canadian Environmental Law Association as a contribution to the broader project, provides a review and analysis of key issues, programs, educational and policy tools, and gaps. It describes multiple opportunities where greater integration between the field of children’s environmental health and energy efficiency initiatives can and should occur, and offers specific recommendations for improvement in education, training and policy."

The Executive Summary hits these points:

• Children are at greatest risk from toxic exposures; renovation activities can significantly increase this risk.
• Analysis of energy efficiency programs reveals insufficient attention to indoor environmental health concerns.
• Research reveals a lack of training, awareness among energy efficiency auditors and other building professionals.

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