EPA Region 6-South Central
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
EPA Region 6—South Central March 2022
Issue 9
March 2022, Issue 9
Helping Kids Learn in a Pollution Free Environment
25th Anniversary of the Children's Environmental Health Program!
EPA is celebrating the 25th Executive Order requiring is to make the resources for the
anniversary of our all federal agencies to environmental health classroom below!
Children’s Health Program. assign a high priority to protection of children a
Children’s environmental addressing health and fundamental goal of public
health refers to the effect of safety risks to children, health and environmental
environmental exposure coordinate research protection in the United
during early life: from priorities on children's States and around the
conception, infancy, early health, and ensure that world.
childhood, and adolescence their standards take into
until 21 years of age. account special risks to Join EPA in celebrating
children. In May 1997, EPA this milestone anniversary
On April 21, 1997, the established the Office of with a focus on children’s
president signed an Children's Health environmental health this
Protection, whose mission spring! Check out our
April 22 Is Earth Day! Do You Know the history?
remained largely oblivious to Groups that had been Environmental Policy Act,
environmental concerns and fighting individually against the Occupational Safety
how a polluted environment oil spills, polluting factories and Health Act, and the
The Earth Day 2022 theme threatens human health. and power plants, raw Clean Air Act. Two years
is “Invest In Our Planet.” sewage, toxic dumps, later Congress passed the
What will you do? However, the stage was set pesticides, freeways, the Clean Water Act. A year
for change with the publication loss of wilderness and the after that, Congress
Every year on April 22, of Rachel Carson’s New York extinction of wildlife united
Earth Day marks the passed the Endangered
Times bestseller Silent on Earth Day around these Species Act and soon after
anniversary of the birth of Spring in 1962. The book
the modern environmental shared common values. the Federal Insecticide,
represented a watershed Earth Day 1970 achieved a Fungicide, and Rodenticide
movement in 1970. In the moment, selling more than
decades leading up to the rare political alignment, Act. These laws have
500,000 copies in 24 enlisting support from protected millions of men,
first Earth Day, Americans countries as it raised public
were consuming vast Republicans and Democrats, women and children from
awareness and concern for rich and poor, urban disease and death and
amounts of leaded gas living organisms, the
through massive and dwellers and farmers, have protected hundreds
environment and the business and labor leaders. of species from extinction.
inefficient automobiles. inextricable links between
Industry belched out smoke By the end of 1970, the first
pollution and public health. Earth Day led to the creation We invite you to be a part
and sludge with little fear of of Earth Day and help write
the consequences from of the United States
Earth Day 1970 would come many more chapters—
either the law or bad press. Environmental Protection
to provide a voice to this struggles and victories—
Air pollution was commonly Agency and the passage of
emerging environmental into the Earth Day book.
accepted as the smell of other first of their kind
consciousness and put
prosperity. Until this point, environmental laws,
environmental concerns on
mainstream America including the National
the front page.
Page 2 Healthy Schools March 2022, Issue 9
Learning Links—National Environmental Education
Week—2022 and Beyond
For more than 16 years, education outside of the educators to incorporate
the National classroom, now is the time environmental education
Environmental Education to move environmental into their lesson plans.
Foundation brought education beyond EE
Environmental Education Week. We hope you find this new
(EE) Week to life with direction in environmental
events, projects, Instead of packing all education exciting.
resources, and stories educational resources and
Environmental education that help inform and events into a handful of Sign up for environmental
increases public awareness celebrate the critical work days in late April, EE education resources at the
and knowledge about educators are doing materials will be offered National Environmental
environmental issues or across the country to throughout the year. Education Foundation at
problems. In doing so, it instill a passion for https://www.neefusa.org/
provides the public with the science and the This means more high- education/eeweek.
necessary skills to make environment in their quality materials can be
informed decisions and take students. shared and will align EE
responsible action. offerings with a traditional
However, just as the school year schedule—
COVID-19 pandemic led making it more intuitive for
Notes for Nurses—May is Asthma Awareness Month
May is Asthma Awareness During Asthma Awareness org. Encourage your
Month—a time to educate Month, EPA provides ready stakeholders to list any
friends, family, and patients -to-use tools and resources outreach activities or virtual
about asthma and for promoting asthma events on the network in
promote awareness awareness in your the Event Listings section.
about how this community.
serious, sometimes Social Media content will
life-threatening, We are continuing to be posted throughout the
chronic respiratory promote Asthma month on EPA’s Facebook
disease can be Awareness Month on and Twitter accounts.
controlled. asthmacommunitynetwork.
The Four Rules of Custodian’s Closet—Waste Reduction in Schools
Waste Reduction • Reduce—Purchasing, they can be used materials from the
consuming, and again. Earth.
throwing away less.
Source reduction • Recycle—A series of • Buy Recycled—
actually prevents the activities that includes Purchasing products
generation of waste in collecting recyclable made of recycled
the first place, making materials that would materials.
it the most preferred otherwise be
considered waste, Preventing waste and
method of waste
sorting and processing recycling can decrease
management.
recyclables into raw disposal costs. Schools
• Reuse—Reusing items materials such as might be able to bring in
by repairing, donating, fibers, and additional revenue by
or selling them. Reuse manufacturing the raw selling recyclables that
is even better than materials into new have financial value.
recycling because products. Recycling
items do not have to be prevents the need to
reprocessed before harvest new raw
Healthy Schools March 2022, Issue 9 Page 3
March 7-11 Is National Groundwater Awareness Week
National Groundwater factors, is responsible for cycle, and it is our nearby?
awareness week is aimed the lack of access to clean responsibility to ensure
at increasing knowledge water that many people water does not get Be mindful. Household
of the importance of face in today’s world. contaminated whenever pollutants can lead to
groundwater in society. possible. groundwater contamination.
According to It is a common myth that Consider using less of these
www.charitywater.org, it is contaminating one source Protecting sources of chemicals and purchasing
currently estimated that of water will not affect other groundwater is up to you! more environmentally friendly
771 million people live sources. This is not the There are three steps to products to limit potential
without access to clean case, due to the hydrologic follow when considering groundwater contamination.
water. This amounts to cycle. Water is always on protecting sources of
the move! It evaporates, groundwater: Use Less. Track what the
nearly 1 in 10 people
condenses, and main sources of water are in
worldwide, or twice the
precipitates back to the Be aware. Do you know your household and change
population of the United
Earth. Pollution in one where the tap water in your your habits accordingly. Your
States. Easier access to
body of water can lead to house comes from? Is it state water resource agency
clean water means
contamination in other groundwater or surface will have recommendations for
improved education,
water bodies. There are water? What body of water best conservation practices in
income, and health –
many possible changes does it come from? Are your area.
especially for women and
that water can go through there potential sources of
kids. Contamination of
during this continuous contamination located
groundwater, among other
May 2-8 Is Air Quality Awareness Week—What is AirNow?
AirNow is your one-stop source for air quality data. The recently redesigned site highlights air quality in your local area
first, while still providing air quality information at state, national, and world views. A new interactive map even lets you
zoom out to get the big picture or drill down to see data for a single air quality monitor.
AirNow reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), a color-coded index designed to communicate
whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy for you. When you know the AQI in your area, you can take steps to protect
your health. AirNow is a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control, and tribal, state, and local air
quality agencies. Complete list of AirNow partners.
May 1-7 Is Drinking Water Week
For the past 40 years the sources are rivers, need for complex treatment contaminants that have
American Water Works streams, lakes, reservoirs, at the water system facility been detected in the water,
Association and its springs, and groundwater before the water is including those by EPA,
partners have used that provide water to public distributed to the and whether the system
Drinking Water Week as drinking water supplies and community. meets state and EPA
an opportunity for both private wells. Protecting drinking water standards.
water professionals and source water can reduce About 150,000 public water The EPA sets legal limits on
communities to recognize risks by preventing systems provide drinking more than 90 contaminants
the vital role that drinking exposures to contaminated water to most Americans. in drinking water. The legal
water plays in our daily water. Public water Customers that are served limit for a contaminant
lives. systems are responsible by a public water system reflects the level that
for meeting the can contact their local protects human health and
The United States enjoys requirements set by the water supplier and ask for that water systems can
one of the world's most EPA and state drinking information on achieve using the best
reliable and safest water programs under the contaminants in their available technology.
supplies of drinking water. Safe Drinking Water Act. drinking water and are
Congress passed the Protecting source water encouraged to request a
Safe Drinking Water Act in from contamination helps copy of their Consumer
1974. The water you drink reduce treatment costs and Confidence Report. This
starts from a source. The may avoid or defer the report lists the levels of
Sustainable Management of Food, Disposal of Batteries, Electronics,
EPA Region 6— and Electronic Appliances and Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs:
South Central Stephen Sturdivant, sturdivant.stephen@epa.gov, 214-665-6673
1201 Elm Street, Recycling and Reuse: Deanna Debose, debose.deanna@epa.gov, 214-
Suite 500 665-6461
Dallas, Texas 75270
Safer Choice, Pollution Prevention, and Sustainable Materials
Management: Melanie Lillard, lillard.melanie@epa.gov, 214-665-7588
EPA Region 6 Children’s Health Team Lead Based Paint: Mikeal Adams, adams.mikeal@epa.gov, 214-665-6711
Virginia Vietti, Children’s Environmental Health Integrated Pest Management: Ken McPherson,
Coordinator mcpherson.kenneth@epa.gov, 214-665-6754
Vietti.virginia@epa.gov
214 665-7431 Pollution Prevention and Source Reduction Assistance Grant
Programs: , Stephanie Cheaney, Cheaney.stephanie@epa.gov, 214-665-
Cathy Gilmore, SEE for Healthy Schools 8057
Newsletter
Gilmore.cathy@epa.gov Radon, Asbestos, and Indoor Air Quality: George Brozowski,
214 665-6574 brozowski.george@epa.gov, 214-665-8541
Ground Water: Scott Ellinger, ellinger.scott@epa.gov, 214-665-8408
Protecting human health and the
environment. Drinking Water: Angela Restivo, restivo.angela@epa.gov, 214-665-7123
Trash Free Waters: Rachel Renz and Renee Bellew,
renz.rachel@epa.gov and bellew.renee@epa.gov, 214-665-3129 and 214-
665-2793, respectively.
HELPFUL HINT: Click on the
pictures or logos for more
information!
ODDS AND ENDS This page may provide links
Upcoming In our next issue, the Region 6 Protection Agency Region 6 - to non-EPA web sites that
Newsletters Healthy Schools Newsletter in South Central in Dallas, Texas. provide additional
June 2022 will highlight the Region 6 includes the states of information about topics that
following: Arkansas, Louisiana, New may be of interest to schools
Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas and school districts. EPA
Contact • Home Safety Month,
as well as 66 Tribes. For cannot attest to the accuracy
• Water Sense Challenge general information about of information on any non-
Month, and Healthy Schools, to provide EPA page. Providing links to
feedback on this newsletter, or a non-EPA web site is not an
Disclaimer
• Indoor Air Quality to be added or removed from endorsement of any non-
Awareness Week. the distribution list, please government website,
contact Cathy Gilmore, Senior company or application; nor
Feedback Other topics will include Environmental Employee (SEE) does EPA recommend
National Oceans Week, for Healthy Schools at membership in, donations to
Sunwise and Extreme Heat, Gilmore.cathy@epa.gov. or commercial sales from
and Research for a Healthy non-government
Environment Month in addition We would love your Feedback organizations. Also, be
to the quarterly columns on on this newsletter or aware that the privacy
Notes for Nurses, Custodian’s suggestions for future topics. protection provided on the
Closet, and Learning Links. Please email EPA at EPA.gov domain (see
Healthy Schools is published Gilmore.cathy@epa.gov. Privacy and Security
by the U.S. Environmental Notice) may not be
available at the external link.
Disaster Recovery Workshop
The Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health (SWCPEH) and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences
Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso) Department of Emergency Medicine is proud to sponsor a Disaster Recovery Work-
shop. This educational workshop will take place virtually via WebEx with the date and times specified below. This
workshop is for parents, teachers, health care providers, community members and anyone interested in pediatric en-
vironmental health. A certificate of attendance will be given to every registered participant who attends the entire
workshop.
The workshop will cover the following topics:
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Session 1—9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. MT
Environmental Health Conditions in the Home and School: Hazards Associated with Flooding
Presented by:
Erica Guerrero, PA-C
Session 2—10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. MT
Children’s Emotional Health and Natural Disasters
Presented by:
Marisa B Nowitz, MSW, LCSW-S
Session 3—11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MT
Children’s Health Risks Associated with Flooding
Presented by:
Sarah Watkins, DO
Please use the link below to register:
https://ttuhscep.webex.com/ttuhscep/onstage/g.php?MTID=e679e375cf331ea7d205a412d06186be4
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Moraima Barron at mobarron@ttuhsc.edu or
915-215-6110.
You can also read
