3343.0: Monday, November 17, 2003: 4:30 PM-6:00 PM | |||
Oral | |||
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| Although reducing exposure to toxic substances in our environment is important, it is not enough. New toxic substances (including heavy metals, pesticides, flame retardants and other chemicals) continue to be discharged into the environment. Pollution is both local and worldwide, calling for efforts at all levels to curb new pollution sources. Pollution prevention is primary prevention. Public health policies must support precautionary action to protect human health. This session will highlight five initiatives that strive to reduce the absolute levels of some toxic pollutants, which are known to harm human health. These initiatives include: efforts in the city of Duluth to regulate mercury in products and increase the use green building materials; regulations in California to phase-out toxic perchloroethylene in the dry cleaning industry; statewide initiatives in Michigan to phase-out mercury pollution; Health Care Without Harm, a national model to eliminate toxics used in the health care industry; and the International POPS Treaty, which seeks to eliminate common persistent organic pollutants from the global environment. | |||
| Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: (1) Recognize the public health consequences of local, regional and global pollution; (2)Describe the health risks of mercury, perchloroethylene, dioxin and other persistent organic pollutants; (3) Discuss local and state regulatory approaches to preventing mercury and chemical pollution; and (4) Evaluate national and international strategies for reducing the level of persistent toxic pollutants in our environment. | |||
| See individual abstracts for presenting author's disclosure statement and author's information. | |||
| Kathleen E. Schuler, MPH Rebecca Love Marybeth Smuts Laureen Burton | |||
| Kathleen E. Schuler, MPH | |||
| Getting to the source: Statewide mercury phase-out plan for Michigan to protect human health Felice Stadler | |||
| Getting to the source: California efforts to reduce health risks from perchloroethylene Elaine Chang, DrPH | |||
| Getting to the source: International treaty efforts to reduce persistent organic pollutants in the global environment Sharyle Patton | |||
| Getting to the source: Local and national models for preventing health risks from toxic pollution Jamie Harvie, PE | |||
| Organized by: | Environment | ||
| Endorsed by: | International Health; Occupational Health and Safety; Public Health Education and Health Promotion; Vietnam Caucus | ||
| CE Credits: | CME, Environmental Health, Health Education (CHES), Nursing, Pharmacy | ||