This guide was created by the Great Lakes Center for Children’s Environmental Health in Region 5. It is for community members who are concerned about environmental exposures in their neighborhoods. The information and resources found here will help you take steps to figure out if contamination is affecting the health of members of your community.

 

The Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health (SWCPEH) is very pleased to announce the release of additional short videos (less than 5 minutes), aimed at education and prevention of pesticide exposure, have been placed on YouTube.

 

Pest X follows Pepin as he learns about the safe use and storage of pesticides. He also learns how important it is to follow the instructions for each pesticide in order to keep his family safe!

 

English Versions:

Spanish Versions:

CDC health communicators and scientists have created a series of childrens' activity books that follow a cartoon, Ready Wrigley, in preparing families for emergencies. These books cover a variety of topics, such as mosquitos, hurricanes, extreme heat or cold, tornadoes, and flu season. Many of these books are also available in Spanish. 

 

The latest activity book explains to children how mold can occur after major flood events such as hurricanes. The book stresses that children should not take place in disaster clean-up and that adults should take precautions when remediating flood-damaged homes.

 

 

 

The Western States PEHSU, along with partners Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment, have developed a project “Improving Environmental Health Literacy of Young Adults”. It is intended to create awareness of the role of pre-conception and prenatal environmental influences on the development of childhood leukemia and other diseases including developmental disabilities, asthma, and reproductive health.

As part of this project we have created a ten minute shadow puppet video, "Love in the Time of Toxicants", using a novel format that tells a story about a young couple learning about the risks of toxicant exposure before conception and during pregnancy.

The video is posted in English and Spanish at: https://wspehsu.ucsf.edu/projects/improving-environmental-health-literacy-young-adults/

 

 

This fact sheet for parents and community members provides information about trichloroethylene (TCE), describes the potential routes of exposure for pregnant women and children, explains health effects of TCE exposure, and provides steps for having TCE levels measured in the home. The fact sheet includes guidelines for limits of TCE in air and water in the United States.

 

 

 

[Spanish language abstract forthcoming]

 

 

This fact sheet for the general public defines Phthalates and BPA and discusses how families can be exposed to Phthalates and BPA, the health effects associated with Phthalates and BPA, and recommendations to reduce family’s exposure to these chemicals. The fact sheet concludes with a summary of why it is important to understand Phthalates and BPA potential exposures and additional resources.

 

 

This fact sheet provides information for parents and families regarding natural gas extraction and hydraulic fracturing, their potential environmental and health impacts, and recommendations for alleviating the environmental and health impacts of these activities.

 

 

This fact sheet, aimed at parents and families, explains the unique susceptibilities of children to environmental pollutants and provides a brief overview of oil. Also provided are detailed steps for protecting children from oil hazards. In addition, it provides answers to frequently asked questions about oil exposures and lists additional resources.

 

 

This fact sheet provides information regarding the immediate and secondary health effects of floods as well as long term health consequences of flooding. The fact sheet also provides guidance for optimal health of children before returning to flood impacted areas.

 

 

This fact sheet, aimed at the general public, presents recent research regarding Chinese drywall, its health effects, and data from Chinese drywall off-gassing. This fact sheet also provides a summary of recommendations related to health effects of Chinese drywall. Guidance is given for identifying problems with imported drywall and the differences between imported versus domestic drywall.

 

 

This fact sheet, aimed at parents and families, provides information about chelation therapy - medications that help remove high levels of certain metals from the body. The fact sheet discusses when the use of chelation therapy has been proven effective and non-approved remedies to health problems related to toxicants. The fact sheet also addresses chelation therapy concerns and provides recommendations for addressing those concerns.

 

 

This fact sheet, aimed at parents and families, provides a description of carbon monoxide, the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, concerns of carbon monoxide positioning in pregnancy, as well as sources of carbon monoxide in a disaster setting. The fact sheet includes information on what you should do if there are concerns of a child having carbon monoxide poisoning. A patient fact sheet of preventative tips is also included.

 

 

This fact sheet, aimed at parents and families, describes arsenic, where arsenic is found, the health effects of arsenic, arsenic medical testing, and recommendations if there are concerns about arsenic exposure and more.

 

 

This fact sheet, aimed at parents and families, provides information on formaldehyde, the health effects of formaldehyde and ways to reduce potential exposures. Included are common questions and answers about potential exposures to formaldehyde.