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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

CT Department of Environmental Protection - Lists programs, services and publications, among other resources, including updates and advisories.

http://dep.state.ct.us/ourenvir.htm

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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

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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/

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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

The Institute for Children's Environmental Health

http://www.iceh.org/cgi-bin/searchresources.cgi
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Learn about asbestos in toys

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/341381_asbestos28.html?source=mypi
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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
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The Consumer Action Guide to toxic chemicals in toys

www.healthytoys.org

Health Care Related Links

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

http://www.noharm.org/goingGreen

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Mercury in health care issue

http://www.mercuryfreehealthcare.org 

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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

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The WHO Mercury in Health Care Policy Paper.

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

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

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

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

http://www.cleanmed.org/

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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/
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Great source for safer cleaning products
thegreenguide.com
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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

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Plastic Recycle Codes

http://www.ides.com/resources/plastic-recycling-codes.asp
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Environmentally focused media, event and marketplace company

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

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

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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
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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/
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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

For Nurses

Maryland Nurses Association site

Please note the first page on environmental health.

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

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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/

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

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

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University of Maryland
www.envirn.umaryland.edu

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

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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/

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A link to Clean Water Action

http://www.cleanwateraction.org

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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/

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Science and environmental health network based around adopting a precautionary principle approach to environmental health.

http://www.sehn.org/precaution.html

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National Environmental Education Foundation

www.neefusa.org
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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/

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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
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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

 

Web sites for Environmental Health: Our Children, Ourselves and Our Community:

 

Bromated Fire Retardants and Phthalates

www.cehn.org

www.checnet.org

www.chemicalbodyburden.org

www.cleanmed.org

www.cleanproduction.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

 

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

http://www.pharmecology.com Best practices for managing pharmaceutical waste
http://www.nodrugsdownthedrain.org/ Los Angeles County's very aggressive public education site regarding household medication disposal--Exemplar
http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazwaste.htm EPA's haz waste site
http://www.h2e-online.org/ Hospitals for a Healthy Environment
http://www.newmoa.org/Northeast Waste Management Officials Association

Pesticides

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/index.
http://epa.gov/oppbead1/htmpestsales/01/ pestsales//usage
http://beyondpesticides.org/schools/sepa/SEPA_  fact & figures.htm
www.organiclandcare.net

 

 

 

Plastics

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
pollutionpeople.org
www.watoxics.org
www.healthobservatory.org
www.thegreenguide.com
www.epa.gov
www.pvcfree.org

www.ct.gov - (CT bill information, citizens guide to political action)
www.psr.org – (Physicians for Social Responsibility
www.sierraclub.org - (Influential grassroots organization on environmental issues)

 

 

Social Change

Household Cleaning

www.dienviro.com/index.aspx

www.epa.gov/kidshometour

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join the Connecticut Nurses' Association here or contact info@ctnurses.org.