Health Care Without Harm Information

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ANA Related Links Articles Children’s
Environmental Health
For Nurses Health Care
Related Links
Informational Links

Safe Cosmetics

See Video

State of Connecticut
Information
 National and
International
Websites for Environmental Health: Our Children, Ourselves and Our Community
Bromated Fire
Retardants and Phthalates
Breast Milk-
A Sentinel for Exposure

Clean Water Action

Environmental Health

 Pharmaceutical
Disposal
Plastics
Social Change
 Household Cleaning  "The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act"    

Our food, air, water and land are being contaminated. These environmental hazards are a threat to public health and the advocacy for these issues has been usually seen as the work of environmentalists. These professionals have made good strides in increasing awareness but have not always been able to make a clear connection between environmental hazards and our health.

 

Nurses play an important role in advocating for their patients, their communities and their environment. They use their skills, knowledge and advocacy in their homes, their workplaces and their communities. In their practices they see first hand the outcomes related to chronic illness and are in an important position to advocate for improved environmental health. Nurses are a part of a powerful and trusted profession; nurses have the potential to take the lead and  make that connection between the environment and health.

 

Connecticut Nurses' Association's goal is to provide education for nurses and educators. We will provide them with tools to advocate for a healthier environment and to develop curriculum that can be integrated into nursing courses.

 

As a part of the mission of the Connecticut Nurses' Association -- to promote health and well being -- we have compiled the following resources which will be helpful in understanding the issues related to environmental health.  Please return to this site as resources will be added frequently.

State of Connecticut Information

 ATTN: Environmental Health Nurses
The Dept. of Public Health recently published the "Plastics Primer" which is a very useful reference guide, particularly in light of the recent passage of PA 09-103 An Act Concerning Bisphenol-A In Children's Products and Food Products which will become October 1, 2011.
1710/files/PlasticsPrimer071409.pdf  

CT Department of Environmental Protection - Lists programs, services and publications, among other resources, including updates and advisories.
http://dep.state.ct.us/ourenvir.htm


CT Department of Environmental Protection Updates. It has a link to information on daily air quality and mercury as well as what fish is safe to eat among others.

http://dep.state.ct.us/updates/updathme.htm

 

Connecticut Fund for the Environment, founded in 1978, is the state's nonprofit legal champion for the environment. CFE utilizes law, science, and education to better air and water quality, control toxic contamination, minimize the adverse impacts of highways and traffic congestion, protect public water supplies, and preserve the open space and wetlands so crucial to both the state's citizens and its wildlife.

http://www.cfenv.org/

One Thing is a movement to promote energy efficient behavior among all residents and businesses culminating in the One Thing Expo to be held at the Connecticut Convention Center, October 10-12, 2008.
http://www.onethingct.com/


 Children’s Environmental Health

Environmental Health / Clean Water Action?
www.cleanwateraction.org/ct/ ?
www.safehealthyct.org

The Institute for Children's Environmental Health

http://www.iceh.org/cgi-bin/searchresources.cgi

 

Learn about asbestos in toys

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/341381_asbestos28.html?source=mypi

 

The Institute for Children's Environmental Health recently launched a searchable database of resources on environmental health for various audiences.  The database is designed so that users can select not only the medium (books, journals, videos, etc.), the environmental and toxics issues, and the health issues of interest, but also the target audience.  Once users make specific selections, links to online resources are provided.

http://www.iceh.org/cgi-bin/searchresources.cgi
 

The Consumer Action Guide to toxic chemicals in toys

www.healthytoys.org

 

Kids Recycling Zone - One-stop shop for kids to learn about recycling
http://www.kidsrecyclingzone.com/


Health Care Related Links

This website offers a resource kit for pollution prevention in health care.

http://www.noharm.org/goingGreen

 

Mercury in health care issue

http://www.mercuryfreehealthcare.org 

 

H2E - Hospitals for a Health Environment. - H2E is based on the vision of a healthy health care system - embracing safer building products, clean air, energy and water efficiency, safe working practices, and a commitment to public health with emphasis on waste volume and toxicity reduction.

http://www.h2e-online.org

 

The WHO Mercury in Health Care Policy Paper.

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/medicalwaste/mercurypolpaper.pdf

Learn how to properly dispose of medications
http://www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?a=1620&q=396404

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
See Video


Informational Links

For a directory of environmentally friendly products and services

H2E has this area available for searching.

 

http://www.h2e-online.org/directory/search.cfm

CleanMed links to information about conferences. The next one is in 2008. 

http://www.cleanmed.org/

 

Compiled by environmental health sciences the following link gives up-to-date environmental news.  Provides quick access to breaking news about the environment, with scientific results that help link health to the environment and reports by environmental groups.

 

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/

 

Great source for safer cleaning products

thegreenguide.com

 

Household Products Database: Health & Safety Information from the National Library of Medicine

http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/list?tbl=TblBrands&alpha=A  

 

Plastic Recycle Codes

http://www.ides.com/resources/plastic-recycling-codes.asp
 

Environmentally focused media, event and marketplace company

www.allgreen.com


Choose which catalogs you no longer want to receive.  This is a free service.

 http://www.catalogchoice.org/

 

H2E - 10 Step Guide to Green Cleaning Implementation
http://www.h2e-online.org/docs/h2e10stepgreenclean-r5.pdf

 

 

The Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization that specializes in providing useful resources to consumers while also pushing for policy change.

www.ewg.org

 

Women's Health and Environmental Network (WHEN) champions the health of women and their families by reducing environmental exposures through education, research and direct action.

http://www.when.org/

 

From Forecast Earth:  10 Things to Recycle That You Never Thought You Could

http://climate.weather.com/articles/recycle021508.html?from=pif_locallinker_undeclared&cm_ven=MKTG&cm_cat=HousePromo&cm_pla=LocLink&cm_ite=FE

 


Please note the first page on environmental health.

 http://www.marylandrn.org/html/workplaceEnvironmentHealth.cfm


For Nurses

Nurses are selfless and do so much for others. 
This website highlights how nurses are lighting the way to improving environmental health.

 http://www.theluminaryproject.org/

 

A web-based training module for nurses interested in conducting Pediatric Environmental Health Assessments.

 http://www.healthyhomestraining.org/Nurse/PEHA_Start.htm 

 

University of Maryland

www.envirn.umaryland.edu

"Our Environment, our Health: A Nurse’s Call to Action”
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and The University of Maryland School of Nursing
June 7-8, 2010 conference


National/International

Health Care Without Harm is an international coalition of over 440 organizations in more than 50 countries, working to transform the health care industry so it is no longer a source of harm to people and the environment.

http://www.noharm.org/us

 

The Chemicals Policy Initiative, a project of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production (LCSP), has designed this site to provide an outline of chemicals management efforts around the world, as well as other information and links that are relevant to chemicals policy.  

http://www.chemicalspolicy.org/

 

 
A link to Clean Water Action

http://www.cleanwateraction.org

 

Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow is a citizen initiative in Massachusetts to establish new government policies to prevent harm to our health from toxic hazards.

http://www.healthytomorrow.org/


Science and environmental health network based around adopting a precautionary principle approach to environmental health. http://www.sehn.org/precaution.html

National Environmental Education Foundation  
www.neefusa.org

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

www.epa.gov

ANA Related Links

This is the ANA and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health's link.

 

http://nursingworld.org/coeh/rnnoharm/

 

The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing which provides links to numerous articles on environmental health.

 

http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN.aspx

 


Click here for ANA press release on Chemical exposures on the job that may be linked to diseases in nurses

 


Articles

National Geographic article regarding body burden

http://green.nationalgeographic.com/environment/going-green/toxic-people.html?nav=FEATURES

Click here for article on the dangers of DEHP

 

Center for Health, Environment & Justice article on volatile vinyl shower curtains
www.chej.org/showercurtainreport

 

View this powerpoint presentation depicting the effects of plastic on our environment
water-disaster

Websites for Environmental Health: Our Children, Ourselves and Our Community:
Bromated Fire Retardants and Phthalates

www.cehn.org

www.computertakeback.org

www.environmentalhealthnews.org

www.greenpeace.org

 

www.healthybuilding.net

 

www.myhouseisyourhouse.org

www.neetf.org

www.noharm.org

www.ourstolenfuture.org

www.safer-products.org

 

www.checnet.org

 

www.chemicalbodyburden.org

 

 

www.cleanmed.org

www.cleanproduction.org


Breast Milk-A Sentinel for Exposure?

www.aapolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3b108/3/776

www.cfpub.epa.gov/si/osp_sciencedisplay.cfm?dirEntryID=132127&ref_site=SI&kwords

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

Cosmetics-Dying to be Beautiful?
http://www.safecosmetics.org

Pharmaceutical Disposal

Best practices for managing pharmaceutical waste
http://www.pharmecology.com


Los Angeles County's very aggressive public education site regarding household medication disposal--Exemplar

http://www.nodrugsdownthedrain.org/

 


EPA's haz waste site

http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazwaste.htm

 


Hospitals for a Healthy Environment

http://www.h2e-online.org/

 

 

Northeast Waste Management Officials Association Pesticides
http://www.newmoa.org/

 
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/index

http://epa.gov/oppbead1/htmpestsales/01

 

pestsale-usage


http://beyondpesticides.org/schools/sepa/SEPA_fact & figures.htm

www.organiclandcare.net


Plastics

August 2009: Plastics - Back-to-School

 

July 2009: The Dept. of Public Health published the "Plastics Primer" which is a very useful reference guide, particularly in light of the recent passage of PA 09-103 An Act Concerning Bisphenol-A In Children's Products and Food Products which will become October 1, 2011.

1710/files/PlasticsPrimer071409.pdf 

www.checnet.org/healthouse/edcuation
www.besafenet.com/pvcdisposal/Report_2-Column_R6.pdf
www.noharm.org/detailscfm?type=document&ID=493
www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/602_plastic.html
www.wlssd.com?ENRPROG_files/safe.html
www.pollutionpeople.org
www.watoxics.org
www.healthobservatory.org
www.thegreenguide.com
www.epa.gov

CT Bill Information, Citizens Guide to Political Action
www.ct.gov

 


Physicians for Social Responsibility
www.psr.org


Influential Grassroots Organization on Environmental Issues
www.sierraclub.org

 

www.pvcfree.org

 

 

Social Change

Household Cleaning
www.dienviro.com/index.aspx

www.epa.gov/kidshometour


 

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