EnviRN: February 5, 2008
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Perspectives in Global Health event: February 8, Baltimore, MD
On Friday, February 8th, Nurses for Global Health (NGH), an organization recently formed by students at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, will host its inaugural event focusing on evidence-based research and practice in global health. Titled “Perspectives in Global Health,” this event promises a stimulating, diverse program of expert speakers that includes Dr. Elizabeth Sloand of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing discussing her work in rural Haiti, Chris Bostic of the University of Maryland School of Law speaking about his efforts to achieve international consensus on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, JHPIEGO’s global learning director Dr. Peter Johnson, and the SON's own Dr. Rosemary DiMauro Satyshur, who has been instrumental in promoting international recognition and rights for grandparents and relative caregivers of children.
The event will be held in the Main Auditorium of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (Baltimore, MD) on February 8th from 8:30 to 12:15.
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Fertility and the environment: Research update from CHE
An updated on recent news and emerging science on environmental impacts to reproductive health compiled by the Collaborative on health and the Environment (CHE).
Pregnancy problems tied to caffeine Too much caffeine during pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage, a new study says, and the authors suggest that pregnant women may want to reduce their intake or cut it out entirely.
A little slice of folic acid can help prevent birth defects According to the March of Dimes, a non-profit group that fights birth defects, and the Grain Foods Foundation, an industry-supported group, white bread does have one key benefit: It contains folic acid, a powerful preventer of birth defects of the spine and brain.
Concerns about Bisphenol A rise Concerns regarding whether a chemical called Bisphenol A and whether it is harmful to humans are growing considering the fact that the chemical is used to harden plastic in thousands of consumer products.
For more research focusing on reproductive health and the environment, visit the CHE Fertility Online Library.
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Building capacity to address environmental health issues during pregnancy: grants awarded by EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded over $500,000 in federal grant funds to five state and non-profit organizations in Ohio, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, and Texas to in educate health care providers and women of child-bearing age on environmental health risks. These grants will focus on environmental health issues that include exposure to mercury, lead, environmental tobacco smoke, chemicals, pesticides, drinking water contaminants, and indoor and outdoor air contaminants. The grants are projected to reach approximately 3,000 health care providers and 10,000 women of child-bearing age. For more information visit: http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/prenatalgrants.htm
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Baby toiletries linked to chemical risk
From USA Today, 2/4/08 Parents who use baby powder, lotion or shampoo on their infants may unknowingly expose their children to controversial chemicals with hormone-like effects, a study shows.
Researchers found the chemicals — called phthalates — in the urine of all 163 babies tested, according to the study in today's Pediatrics. Most of the babies, whose average age was 13 months, had seven or more types of phthalates in their urine. Concentrations of phthalates were higher in infants who were exposed to lotion, powder and shampoo than in other infants, the study shows.
Doctors are concerned about phthalates because many animal tests and a few human studies link the chemicals — a broad class of ingredients found in everything from vinyl toys and hospital tubing to cosmetics — to reproductive abnormalities, allergies and eczema, says Sheela Sathyanarayana, acting assistant professor at the University of Washington. Unborn children and infants are especially vulnerable to chemicals that disrupt their hormonal balances because their reproductive systems are still developing, she says.
"It's hard to trace where these chemicals are coming from," Sathyanarayana says. "They could be causing harm, but we don't know to what extent."
For the full article, click here.
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Turn it to the left! Protecting children from noise-induced hearing loss
The American Academy of Audiology estimates that one in eight children suffers from Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), which will accelerate hearing loss with aging. Much of the loss could be prevented by simply turning the volume dial to the left, or to a softer sound. The Academy has created an educational campaign to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in children: www.turnittotheleft.com.
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Where do the children play? New PBS documentary
The new PBS documentary "Where Do The Children Play?" is an engaging and eye opening film that is waking people up to the disappearance of outdoor play from the lives of children, and raising a lot of interest in creating new ways to support free play in schools and neighborhoods.
Hooked On Nature collaborated with the Alliance For Childhood to promote this new documentary, and catalyze the creation of play councils across the country. The Alliance for Childhood and Penny Wilson, a play worker from London, presented the film in New York, Detroit, Chicago, San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles.
Want to show the film in your community?
Contact the Alliance For Childhood: www.allianceforchildhood.org.
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Environmental health summer undergraduate internship opportunity
Collegiate Leaders In Environmental Health: Summer Undergraduate Internship 2008
CDC invites qualified applicants to apply for a ten week summer program for in Environmental Public Health at the National Center for Environmental Health /Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (NCEH/ATSDR) in Atlanta, Georgia. This is a 10 week paid summer internship for undergraduate students passionate about the environment, about health, and about the link between the two—this opportunity is for students majoring in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Studies, or related fields. This is a full time summer opportunity for rising collegiate juniors and seniors to get real-world experience in Environmental Public Health activities at the federal level. Students will assist with projects and be paired with mentors to gain experience in the fascinating field of Environmental Public Health. Students that are majoring in Environmental Sciences/Studies or related fields are encouraged to visit our website at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/cleh.
Deadline for application: March 4, 2008
Program dates: June 4 -August 8, 2008 For questions concerning this announcement, please contact Cory Moore at CMoore3@cdc.gov.
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Raising awareness of nurses' health: survey results discussed in Environmental Health Perspectives
Environmental Health Perspectives, the top journal on environmental health, highlighted the results of the Environmental Working Group's survey of occupational health among nurses in its February 2008 issue:
"On 11 December 2007, the Environmental Working Group released the results of a survey of occupational health among nurses. More than 1,500 U.S. nurses participated in the online survey, which assessed workplace exposures to common hazardous substances and other agents as well as the health of nurses' children. As had been seen in earlier studies, nurses who experienced routine high exposures to sterilizing and cleaning chemicals, residues from drug preparation, anesthetic gases, radiation, and other hazardous agents reported higher rates of asthma, miscarriage, and certain cancers, and their children had higher rates of cancer and birth defects (especially musculoskeletal defects). The goal of the survey was to encourage hospitals to minimize risks to nurses and inspire further study."
View article here.
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