Bits and Pieces
Emerging Sources of Information for
the Environmental Health Practitioner
by Thomas H. Hatfield
1. Nanotechnology: EPA scientists are exploring ways to use some very small materials to clean up some very big environmental problems. Research chemist Dr. Souhail Al-Abed and his colleagues have synthesized activated carbon with nanoparticles of iron/palladium bimetallic to produce a new nano-scale treatment to clean up pollutants. The new, tiny technology is offering promise where conventional technologies have been limited in detecting, treating, removing, and preventing environmental contaminants. The research is proving particularly useful in dealing with PCBs.
2. Tracking Air Pollution to Improve Your Health EPA scientists began sampling air across Cleveland, Ohio, to better understand the links between sources of air pollution and adverse health effects. The research will be used to develop new tools and models for air quality managers to reduce and control air pollutants at their source. Air pollution sources are varied, ranging from motor vehicles to industry, power plants, agriculture and home equipment such as lawn mowers. They can also be formed photochemically in the air from different sources.
3. The Dirt on Contaminated Soil EPA researchers are conducting laboratory and field research to estimate how much lead and arsenic humans are exposed to in soil and when these heavy metals are likely to be absorbed into the body after being ingested, a term scientists call “bioavailability.” Some soils can bind up contaminants, preventing them from dissolving or being absorbed, which reduces the exposure risk. Others contaminants are more readily available for absorption. The research will help environmental managers identify those contaminated sites that pose the highest risk to public health so they can be targeted for clean up.
4. Highway Study Sizes Up Pollution In a study published in the November issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, EPA researchers have found for the first time that particle pollutants collected from the same airshed (the air within a particular geographic area) near a highway target either the lungs or heart depending on their size and associated chemical components. The research improves understanding of the health impacts of air particles near roads. “…this is the first indication that particles of varying sizes taken from the same airshed may affect different organ systems.” “Researchers will apply the results to further investigate particulate matter’s (PM) health impact on the heart and lungs.”
5. C-FERST (Community-Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool): Without access to real and relevant information on exposure to pollutants, community groups can sometimes reach conclusions about health risks based on perception. EPA is working to change that with the Community-Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool, or C-FERST. The Web-based tool under development can empower environmental managers and residents of communities to make decisions about environmental issues specific to their area. The computerized model supports EPA’s priority for advancing community-based risk assessments.
6. Climate Change and Ozone Ground level ozone thrives on sunlight. Keeping the pollutant at regulated levels to protect public health, however, may be an even greater challenge for air quality managers in the near future because of global climate change. An April 2009 EPA report compiles and assesses the latest science on the implications of climate change for ozone formation in the United States. The report's findings demonstrate the potential for climate change to make ozone management more difficult. The report also highlights the gaps in science that require further study in this relatively new field of modeling climate and atmospheric chemistry.
7. CDC WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) CDC WONDER furthers CDC's mission of health promotion and disease prevention by speeding and simplifying access to public health information for state and local health departments, the Public Health Service, and the academic public health community. CDC WONDER is valuable in public health research, decision making, priority setting, program evaluation, and resource allocation. The data is ready for use in desktop applications such as word processors, spreadsheet programs, or statistical and geographic analysis packages.
8. CDC Emergency Preparedness & Response Site This site is intended to increase the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. With guide to agents, diseases, and other threats, lab information, emergency preparedness for business, preparation and planning, and surveillance. Categories include bioterrorism, chemical emergencies, radiation emergencies, mass casualties, natural disasters and severe weather, and recent outbreaks and incidents.
9. Outbreak of Human Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated with Contact with Water Frogs: CDC is collaborating with public health officials in many states to investigate a multistate outbreak of human Salmonella serotype Typhimurium infections due to contact with water frogs including African Dwarf Frogs. Water frogs commonly live in aquariums or fish tanks. Amphibians such as frogs and reptiles such as turtles, are recognized as a source of human Salmonella infections. In the course of routine assessment, a number of cases with the same strain have been identified over many months.
10. General Fact Sheets on Specific Bioterrorism Agents: the following is a list of bioterrorism agents for which fact sheets are available. For a comprehensive list of bioterrorism agent information on this website, please see the Bioterrorism Agents page. Anthrax, Botulism, Brucellosis, Plague, Smallpox, Tularemia, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers.
11. CDC Public Health Image Library - PHIL Much of the information critical to the communication of public health messages is pictorial rather than text-based. Created by a Working Group at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the PHIL offers an organized, universal electronic gateway to CDC's pictures. We welcome public health professionals, the media, laboratory scientists, educators, students, and the worldwide public to use this material for reference, teaching, presentation, and public health messages. The content is organized into hierarchical categories of people, places, and science, and is presented as single images, image sets, and multimedia files.
12. CA EPA on Twitter: Hey there! California EPA is using Twitter.
13. US EPA: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is on Twitter
14.
CDC: the Centers for Disease Control is on Twitter. CDC issues Health
Alert Notice for travelers leaving Haiti (avail in French & Creole
15. CDPH: the California Department of Public
Health is on twitter.
16. CDC Facebook: CDC provides social
media tools (widgets, mobile info, online videos, etc) to reinforce &
personalize messages, reach new audiences & build communication
infrastructure based on open information exchange. For official CDC info go to www.cdc.gov
EPA Facebook: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is on Facebook
18. CDPH Facebook: The California
Department of Public Health has a facebook page with
a wide range of links.
19. US PHS Facebook: U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is on Facebook
20. CA EPA: The California Environmental Protection Agency
is on Facebook.
21.
Food Safety Widget The new Food Safety
Alerts & Tips Widget is the first widget that compiles all food
recall information from FDA and USDA in the same place. A widget is an application that displays the featured content directly on your web page. You can view the widget at www.FoodSafety.gov or add the widget to your web site to enable your visitors to view the latest food safety recalls and alerts.
22.
About the
Reportable Food Registry
The Reportable Food Registry (RFR or the Registry) is an electronic
portal for Industry to report
when there is reasonable probability that an article of food
will cause serious adverse health consequences. The Registry helps the FDA
better protect public health by tracking
patterns and targeting inspections. The Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (Pub. L.110-085), section 1005 directs the FDA to establish a Reportable Food Registry for Industry.
23.
FOOD SAFETY
WORKING GROUP: KEY FINDINGS President Barack Obama created a Food Safety Working Group
to coordinate Federal efforts and develop short- and long-term agendas
to
make food safer. He has urged Congress to modernize our food safety laws for
both the Food and
Drug Administration and the Food Safety and
Inspection Service. And he has asked for
public input from around the country, seeking fresh ideas for food safety. In the coming months, at President Obama's
direction, the U.S. government will take long overdue action to protect
American families from foodborne illness. This action
includes new rules and standards to reduce dangerous infections caused by Salmonella
and E. coli O157:H7, better approaches to outbreak response, and
vastly improved Federal coordination of food safety efforts.
24. CDC's Env-Health Listserv was
created to enable environmental health professionals to share information.
25. EPA Listservs: The
Environmental Protection Agency has a web site for its listservs.
26.
CA EPA: the California
Environmental Protection Agency has a variety of listsservs
in such areas as brownfields, education, justice,
news, and unified programs.
Dr. Hatfield, REHS, DrPH is Professor and Chair of the Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health at the California State University, Northridge. He can be reached at tom.hatfield@csun.edu