Case studies, online tutorials, and resources to help you integrate environmental health into nursing curricula.
For students and educators
EHP Science Education Program A library of 91 high-quality science and interdisciplinary lessons based on selected articles and scientific research published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Aligned with National Science Education Standards, these programs are targeted for high school students.
EPA Educational Resources Educational resources and activities from the Environmental Protection Agency for kids K-12 as well as resources for teachers, grants, and training information.
The Green Flag Schools Program Students, teachers, and community members can participate in this program sponsored by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice to make their schools healthier places to work and learn.
The 2011 AACN Sustainabilty Recommendations for Greening SON’s
Training Manual on Pediatric Environmental Health: Putting it into Practice This manual has been designed by the Children’s Environmental Health Network to assist you in incorporating pediatric environmental health into your teaching program. Modules include case studies, discussion questions, and suggested assignments.
Columbia University Climate Challenge and NOAA Kahoot! quizzes and games to use as educational technology in schools and other educational institutions.
Online modules and tutorials
ATSDR Medical Management Guidelines for Acute Chemical Exposures These guidelines were developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to aid emergency health care personnel in managing acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.
Toxicology Tutorials by the National Library of Medicine Basic principles of toxicology, toxicokinetics, and cellular toxicology.
University of Pittsburgh Supercourses Courses and training materials on a variety of environmental health topics including global warming, emergency preparedness, endocrine disruptors, air & water pollution, and a variety of other topics.
Case studies
ATDSDR Case Studies in Environmental Medicine A variety of case studies by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Continuing education credit available.
Older adults face increased risks from exposure to environmental health contaminants. Part of the normal aging process, our bodies become more susceptible to environmental health threats which may worsen chronic conditions. Additionally, the bodies of older adults have accumulated a lifetime of environmental and occupational contaminants.
EHP – Aging Society and Environmental Health Challenges: “With advancing age of the population, the prevalence of age-related diseases tends to increase dramatically. Thus, to reduce the burden of age-related diseases, it is important to identify and avoid potential risk factors for diseases such as cancer, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disorders. Among the many factors that affect the aging process, environmental exposure is one of the modifiable risk factors. Therefore, we need to better understand the risks to the elderly from environmental exposure. Environmental pollutants and chemicals adversely influence the homeostatic status of aging, frequently resulting in development of certain diseases at an earlier age than expected.”
Environmental toxins and heart disease The EPA has great online resources to help you teach your patients and community members about the links between environmental pollutants and heart disease. These resources are available in multiple languages and include how to find your Air Quality Index, get your drinking water tested, and reduce environmental exposures both indoors and outdoors.
Environmental Health and Nursing See Unit II
Indoor Air Repair The Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics has created a useful educational piece called the Indoor AIRepair at Home, School and Play Kit. The kit helps children with asthma, their parents, relatives, school administrators and other community members recognize the correlation between good indoor air quality and improved asthma symptoms. It’s available in English and Spanish.
Air Pollution and Pregnancy: Information for Prenatal Health Care Providers This informative document contains tips for pregnant women on how to best avoid air pollution and promote a healthy pregnancy.
State of the Air Report The American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air Report offers local air quality rankings, including a listing of the “25 dirtiest cities.” Enter your zip code on the State of the Air Web site to find out how your city measures up and what you can do to help improve it.
AIRNow Provides easy access to national air quality information, daily Air Quality Index forecasts as well as real-time AQI conditions for over 300 cities across the US.
Healthy air at home, school, work, and outdoors The American Lung Association’s resource for understanding air pollution and what you can do to improve air quality.
Carbon monoxide poisoning prevention toolkit CDC has released a toolkit for carbon monoxide poisoning prevention. It features free downloadable and easy to use resources that organizations can include in their own awareness materials and communication channels. The toolkit includes: Web banner ads, flyers and posters, print PSAs, B-roll video, and bill inserts that can be re-formatted into magnets. The content of the toolkit also provides strategic approaches and suggestions to use and distribute these resources.
Community
Community Assessment Tool: This tool assesses community sources of exposure: air, water, land, waste, and safety. Download: EH Community Assessment Tool
Home
Home Environmental Health and Safety Assessment Tool: This tools assesses sources of exposure in the home across ten different areas and provides information on the standards of practice if an exposure is found. Download: Home Environmental Health & Safety Assessment Tool
Hospital
Hospital Environmental Health Assessment Tool: This tool can be used to assess sources of exposure in the hospital as well areas of sustainability, such as transportation. Download: Hospital Environmental Health Assessment Tool
General
Envirofacts: The Envirofacts search application is designed to provide a cross-section of environmental information based on the user’s location.
Pediatrics
Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit for Primary Health Care Providers and Patients: The Toolkit is a combination of easy-to-use reference guides for health providers and user friendly health education materials on preventing exposures to toxic chemicals and other substances that affect infant and child health.
Pediatric Environmental Home Assessment: Tools for Public Health and Visiting Nurses: Public health nurses and visiting nurses often visit a client’s home to help them resolve a particular illness. Since many illnesses are linked to environmental hazards in the home, the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) believes nurses can provide better care and support if the nurse identifies those hazards and takes action to reduce the health threats. To assist nurses (and others who do home visits), NCHH has developed a tool to make it easier to identify potential hazards and the actions needed to address those hazards. Download: Pediatric Environmental Home Assessment
Schools
EPA Tools for Schools IAQ Program: The IAQ Tools for Schools Program is a comprehensive resource to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting, and preventing IAQ problems.
Women
Preconception-Prenatal Environmental Health Assessment: This assessment assesses sources of exposure across 11 different areas and provides information on why it’s important to assess for the exposure and how to reduce exposures. Download: Preconception-Prenatal Assessment
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Assessment Tool: The assessment tool is available in both English and Spanish and there are accompanying information sheets on the different assessment topics.
English
- Environmental Health Assessment Form
- Cleaning Products
- Fish
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Lead
- Personal Care Products
- Pesticides
- Plastic
- Tobacco Smoke
Spanish
A
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) AAID has launched an environmental health initiative to promote good health and reduce disability by forging ground breaking partnerships among the developmental disabilities networks and the environmental health communities.
American Association of Occupational Health Nursing (AAOHN) The vision of AAOHN is for Occupational Health Nursing to create a positive economic impact through worker health and well being leading to optimal performance.
American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) The mission of ACNM is to promote the health and well-being of women and infants within their families and communities through the development and support of the profession of midwifery as practice by certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives.
American Lung Association Asthma information including school programs, education on smoking cessation programs, IAQ. Resource for data, statistics, research, graphs & charts.
American Nurses Association The national professional organization for nurses which works to promote the nursing profession, advocate for nurses in the workplace, and lobbies legislative and regulatory agencies.
American Public Health Association APHA is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world. APHA represents a diverse array of health professionals, educators, environmentalists, policy makers, and other professionals working to protect the health of Americans and their communities.
- Environment Section The Environment Section at APHA serves as a multi-disciplinary “home” for professionals, leaders and students involved in environmental health.
- Public Health Nursing Section The mission of the PHN/APHA Section is to enhance the health of population groups through the application of nursing knowledge to the community.
American School Health Association Multi-disciplinary association of professionals working in schools committed to safeguarding health of school-age children including administrators, counselors, health educators and school nurses.
Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE) ACHNE provides a meeting ground for those committed to excellence in community and public health nursing education, research, and practice.
Association of Occupational and Environmental Health Clinics AOEC is committed to improving the practice of environmental and occupational health through information sharing and collaborative research.
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) AORN is the national association committed to improving patients safety in the surgical setting.
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) The mission of ASTHO is to protect and promote the health and safety of the public through public policy efforts, leadership development, and advocacy for the preparation, practice, and role of public health nursing.
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) AWHONN is a nonprofit membership organization that promotes the health of women and newborns.
B
Biosphere 2 Serves as a center for research, outreach, teaching, and life-long learning about the earth, its living systems, and its place in the universe.
Breast Cancer Prevention Partners BCPP (formerly Breast Cancer Fund) is a science-based advocacy organization that works to prevent breast cancer by eliminating exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation.
C
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition effort launched in 2004 to protect the health of consumers and workers by securing the corporate, regulatory and legislative reforms necessary to eliminate dangerous chemicals from cosmetics and personal care products.
Center for Health, Environment, and Justice Citizen’s clearinghouse for information on toxic wastes. Community organizing around environmental health issues. Sponsor of Childproofing our Communities campaign, coalition of parties interested in school environmental health issues.
Children’s Environmental Health Network CHEN is a national multi-disciplinary organization whose mission is to protect the fetus and the child from environmental health hazards and promote a healthy environment.
Clean and Healthy New York CHNY’s mission is to advance policy and market changes to promote safer chemicals, a sustainable economy, and a healthier world.
Clean New York Clean New York is a project of Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) that creates an opportunity to enhance important work at the intersection of the environmental health and justice movements in the eastern and western parts of the US.
Clean Water Action Clean Water Action is a national organization of diverse people and groups working together for clean water, pollution prevention, and an environmentally sustsainable economy.
Collaborative on Health and the Environment CHE is a diverse network of individual and organizational Partners worldwide working collectively to advance knowledge and effective action to address growing concerns about the links between human health and environmental factors.
Connecticut Nurses Association (CNA) The CNA speaks with a unified voice for nurses across all specialties and works through education, legislation, and compensation to protect and advance the practice of nursing.
D
Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) DDNA is a not-for-profit nursing specialty organization that is committed to advocacy, education, and care for nurses who provide services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
E
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) EDF brings together experts in science, law and economics to tackle complex environmental issues that affect our oceans, our air, our natural resources, the livability of our man-made environment, and the species with whom we share our world.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) EWG’s mission is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.
H
Health Care Without Harm An international coalition working to promote ecological sustainability in health care and prevent harm to patients, staff, and communities worldwide.
Healthy Schools Network The nation’s leading voice for children’s environmental health at school.
Healthy Child Healthy World Healthy Child Healthy World is dedicated to protecting the health and well being of children from harmful environmental exposures by educating parents, supporting protective policies, and engaging communities.
J
The JustGreen Partnership The JustGreen Partnership seeks to build a healthy economy that provides good jobs producing clean products and services, in which our workplaces, schools, homes, communities andbodies are free of toxic chemicals.
L
Lowell Center for Sustainable Production The Center develops, studies, and promotes environmentally sound systems of production, healthy work environments, and economically viable work organizations.
The Luminary Project The Luminary Project is a web-based effort to capture the illuminating stories of nurses’ activities to improve human health by improving the health of the environment.
M
Maryland Nurses Association The Maryland Nurses Association is the only state-wide, non-profit, multipurpose professional membership organization for Registered Nurses in Maryland. The also have an Environmental Health Task Force that works on environmental issues in Maryland.
Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) The MNA makes it possible for nurses to take an active role in the decisions made in practice, health care reform, legislative and economic arenas.
Michigan Association of Occupational Health Nurses The mission of MAOHN to promote, support and advance the profession of Occupational Health Nursing (this includes environmental health).
Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN) MCN empowers clinicians and communities to strengthen clinical care and health care infrastructure for migrants and other mobile poor populations. Training and technical assistance provided by MCN affords many of the key elements needed to foster knowledge, creative solutions and improved care. Clinically relevant information is disseminated via a number of sources including MCN’s bi-monthly clinical publication Streamline, peer-reviewed publications, workshops at conferences and on-site at clinics and health departments, via MCN’s website, and through our partners. Concern for a large population of patients working in agriculture and other high-risk occupations supports a strong environmental health initiative within MCN.
N
NASA – Global Climate Change: Vital signs of the planet. This resource is a great place for educators to get ideas and information about climate change and how to present that information to students.
National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) NAHN is a non-profit professional association committed to the promotion of the professionalism and dedication of Hispanic nurses by providing equal access to educational, professional, and economic opportunities for Hispanic nurses.
National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) NANN is the professional voice that shapes neonatal nursing through excellence in practice, education, research, and professional development.
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) Promotes optimal health for children through leadership, practice, advocacy, education and research.
National Association of School Nurses The National Association of School Nurses improves the health and educational success of children and youth by developing and providing leadership to advance school nursing practice.
National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) NBNA’s mission is to provide a forum for collective action by black nurses to investigate, define and advocate for the health care needs of African Americans and to implement strategies that ensure access to health care, equal to, or above health care standards of the larger society.
National Center for Healthy Housing The National Center for Healthy Housing brings the public health, housing, and environmental communities together to combat our nation’s epidemic of childhood lead poisoning.
National Environmental Education Foundation Research and initiatives designed for the community, health professionals, and business managers.
Natural Resources Defense Council An environmental action group whose mission is safeguarding the Earth: its people, plants, animals, and ecosystems.
NJ State Nurses Association The mission of the New Jersey State Nurses Association is to promote the profession of nursing; advance the practice of nursing and advocate for nurses.
O
Ohio Nurses Association Works to advance professional nursing in Ohio through: evolving evidence-based practice, influencing legislators, promoting education, improving economic and general welfare, and advocating for quality health care.
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU) A network of experts in reproductive and children’s environmental health
Pesticide Action Network of North America PANNA works to replace pesticide use with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives.
Physicians For Social Responsibility PSR is a non-profit advocacy organization that is a medical and public health voice for policies to stop nuclear war and proliferation and to slow, stop and reverse global warming and toxic degradation of the environment.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America For more than 90 years, Planned Parenthood has promoted a commonsense approach to women’s health and well-being, based on respect for each individual’s right to make informed, independent decisions about health, sex, and family planning. PPFA has also developed a program on environmental health – Green Choices.
Practice Greenhealth Practice Greenhealth’s mission is environmental sustainability in health care. The organization educates health care professionals about pollution prevention opportunities and provides a wealth of practical tools and resources to facilitate the industry’s movement toward environmental sustainability.
Poison Control Center Directory List of state Poison Control Centers
S
Science & Environmental Health Network SEHN is a leading proponent in the United States of the Precautionary Principle as a new basis for environmental and public health policy. SEHN works to implement precautionary policies at local and state levels.
Society for Public Health Education SOPHE is a professional organization that provides global leadership to the profession of health education and health promotion and to promote the health of all people by: stimulating research on the theory and practice of health education; supporting high quality performance standards for the practice of health education and health promotion; advocating policy and legislation affecting health education and health promotion; and developing and promoting standards for professional preparation of health education professionals. SOPHE is the only independent professional organization devoted exclusively to health education and health promotion across all settings.
T
Trust for America’s Health TFAH is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority.
U
US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), takes on powerful interests on behalf of the American public, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being. The organization researches a wide variety of issues including clean air, ocean conservation, and food and toy safety.
W
Washington State Nurses Association – WSNA has taken a comprehensive, multi-purpose approach to: advocate and improve healthcare for patients, foster high standards for nursing practice, promote the economic and general welfare of nurses in their practice settings, provide opportunities for continuous learning lobby, and the Legislature and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues affecting the public and nurses.
Women’s Health and Environment Network – In recognizing the nexus between health and environment, the Women’s Health & Environmental Network (WHEN) is dedicated to: educating about this interrelationship; researching the effects of this link upon women and their families; advocating for policies that minimize or eliminate the exposure of harmful substances at the local, state and federal levels; and developing responses to minimize harm to health and the environment.
The WorldWatch Institute An independent research organization working for an environmentally sustainable and socially just society. Provides fact-based analysis of critical global issues, hosts online discussions, and maintains an up-to-date research library.
The following agencies have a wealth of useful information on their websites. The links will take you to the agency’s homepage as well as selected webpages within the site.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ATDSR serves the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and disease related to toxic substances.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- CDC’s goal is to prevent, monitor and control disease, injury and disability on a national and global level. The agency engages in health monitoring, research, prevention strategies, and policy development to promote health.
- Points of interest within this site: Environmental Health, National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network
Department of Energy (DOE)
- DOE’s overarching mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- The United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- The U.S. EPA is a federal agency that develops laws, regulations, and guidance designed to protect human health and the environment.
- Points of interest within this site: Office of Children’s Health Protection, Envirofacts Warehouse, Concerned Citizens Resources, Integrated Pest Management, Pesticides and Food
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- The agency responsible for ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
- Points of interest on this site: National Center for Toxicological Research
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- HUD’s mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable, healthy housing free from discrimination.
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
- NLM is the world’s largest medical library. Publishes the PubMed and MEDLINE databases which are excellent sources of health information for health professionals and the general public.
- Points of interest on this site: PubMed, MEDLINE, Environmental Health and Toxicology Specialized Information Services
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
- One of the National Institutes for Health, NIEHS focuses on basic science, disease-oriented research, global environmental health, and multidisciplinary training for researchers.
- Points of interest on this site: Environmental Health Perspectives, National Toxicology Program
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- NIOSH is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. It is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- OSHA’s mission is to assure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.
Below are links to many different resources that can be used to start using green cleaning techniques and products in healthcare and in the home.
Cleaning Products and Work-Related Asthma Fact Sheet Cleaning products are used in all workplaces and can cause or trigger work-related asthma. Employers should make sure the safest products and practices are used in the workplace so that people do not get asthma from work.
Risks to Asthma Posed by Indoor Health Care Environments: A Guide to Identifying and Reducing Problematic Exposures This guide has been written for a widespread audience interested in the indoor air quality of health care facilities, specifically as related to asthma. It contains both rigorously researched information about hazard, and practical tools and resources that will promote effective implementation of safer alternatives.
Cleaning products can cause asthma The California Department of Health’s Occupational Health Branch has created a great resource on cleaning products and work-related asthma. This one-stop-shop resource outlines work-related asthma prevention tips, infection control guidelines, green cleaning tips, and guides to start a green cleaning program at your workplace.
Cleaning for Healthy Schools Toolkit The Cleaning for Healthy Schools Toolkit is a free “do-it-yourself” tool on how to find and phase in the use of certified green cleaning products that are proven to work and to save money. Listen to the archived presentations. Then teach others. Create your own handouts by accessing free customizable files.
Green Clean Schools For nearly a decade, Healthy Schools Campaign’s Green Clean Schools program has been changing the way schools clean, with great benefits for students, staff and the environment. This multi-faceted program helps schools clean better, smarter and safer.
More Green Cleaning tools from Women and the Environment
Household Cleaning Products: What Every Woman Should Know
Disinfectant Overkill report, fact sheet, and disinfectant alternatives
MEDLINE Consumer health information presented in an easy-to-understand format.
PubMed Over 16,000 journal citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals.
WISER A system designed to assist first responders in hazardous material incidents, as well as its toxicology and environmental health resources.
Toxicology Tutorials Three college-level tutorials on the basic principles of toxicology, toxicokinetics, and cellular toxicology.
International Toxicity Estimates for Risk Risk information on chemicals from several authoritative organizations worldwide.
Environmental Health and Toxicology Information Portal to numerous NLM databases and resources in environmental health and toxicology.
Household Products Database This database links over 5,000 consumer brands to health effects from Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) provided by the manufacturer.
ToxMap Maps of on-site toxic releases and hazardous waste sites from the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory and Superfund National Priorities List.
HazMap Links jobs and hazardous tasks with occupational diseases and their symptoms.
Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Annual releases of over 600 chemicals by U.S. facilities.
Hazardous Substances Data Bank Comprehensive, peer-reviewed literature on thousands of chemicals.
Disaster Information Health information resources and informatics research related to disasters of natural, accidental, or deliberate origin.
Radiation Emergency Medical Management Designed for health care providers, primarily physicians, without formal expertise in radiation safety or radiation medicine who may provide medical care during an accidental or non-accidental radiation event.
Public Health Partners Information access for the public health workforce.
Pregnant women, infants, and children face a disproportionate risk from exposures to environmental contaminants. These resources will help you educate patients, families and your community about the risks they face and how to best protect themselves and their children.
Pregnancy
Reproductive Roulette Evidence shows that reproductive health is declining as human exposures to toxic chemicals are increasing. Learn more in this self-guided slideshow.
Air Pollution and Pregnancy: Information for Prenatal Health Care Providers Tips for pregnant women on how to best avoid air pollution and promote a healthy pregnancy.
Tracey Woodruff, PhD, Director of the UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, speaks about the startling results of a study of the toxic chemicals found in pregnant women.
Child Health
10 Facts on Children’s Environmental Health WHO’s ten facts on children’s environmental health provide a brief but eye-opening look at global pediatric environmental health issues.
Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns Find out what scientists from the Environmental Working Group learned when they took blood and urine samples from ten Americans. Learn eye-opening information about body burden in children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable populations.
Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit Endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Toolkit contains easy-to-use reference guides on preventing toxic exposures to infants and children.
PBDEs: Information for Pediatric Health Professionals What pediatric health care providers need to know about PBDE (flame retardant) exposures in children.
Vulnerable Populations Part of the E-Textbook Environmental Health in Nursing
Assessment Tools
We have many different assessment tools that can be used with both reproductive age women and pediatrics. Please go to our Assessment Tool page to download.
Just because a product is on the shelf doesn’t make it safe. Learn about the dangerous chemicals found in cosmetics and personal care products and how can you make safer product choices.
The Story of Cosmetics In this video, Annie Leonard and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics expose what the cosmetics industry doesn’t want you to know: “toxics in, toxics out”.
What’s in your products? The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics unveils the truth about what’s really in your medicine cabinet, from bath products to nail products and frangrance.
Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database How safe are your cosmetics and personal products? The Environmental Working Group has compiled this thorough database containing hazard data on thousands of beauty products. Learn which companies are the worst offenders, and get recommendations for safer product purchases.
A few small steps can make an important difference in safeguarding lives and protecting the environment.
SMARxT Disposal Follow your medication prescriber’s instructions and use all medications as instructed. If you do not use all of your prescribed or over-the-counter medication, you can take a few small steps to make a huge impact in safeguarding lives and protecting the environment by disposing of unused medicines properly (SMARxT Disposal, 2011)
DisposeMyMeds.org Information about medication safety and the environmental impact of medication disposal, as well as resources to help you find medication disposal programs near you.
n our role as promoters of health and wellness, it is crucial for nurses to understand the role that healthy, local, and sustainable foods play in optimizing the health of our patients, families, and communities. Here are some resources to help you promote healthy and sustainable eating.
Toxics in our food
Health/toxics: our food Our food and its packaging can contain not only pesticides, but mercury, lead, and industrial chemicals.
Fish facts for health professionals Nurses are often asked by the patients and families about the benefits and health risks of fish consumption. Conflicting media messages coupled with limited health professional training about risks and benefits of fish consumption has led to confusion by health professionals on what to recommend. Clear up the confusion with this great resource.
rBGH: What you can do Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), is a genetically-engineered growth hormone that is injected into cows to increase their milk production. Use of rBGH increases disease rates in cows and creates the potential for human health risks. Nurses have an opportunity to help eliminate this practice by encouraging their hospitals to purchase dairy products from companies that do not use rBGH. Use this rBGH Toolkit to take action.
BPA in kids’ canned food Product testing by the Breast Cancer Fund has uncovered bisphenol A, the estrogenic chemical linked to breast cancer in lab studies, in canned foods marketed directly to children. Learn about the dangers of BPA in food and find safer canned food choices.
Healthy food in health care
Health Care Without Harm’s web resource includes key food issues, the Healthy Food Pledge, food purchasing policies and guidelines, balanced menus, and how to reduce the use of antibiotics in food.
Find local food near you
Local Dirt Find and buy fresh local food directly from family farms.
Local Harvest Find farmers’ markets, family farms and CSAs in your area.
The Story of Stuff Project, a non-profit organization founded by Annie Leonard in 2007, creates short online movies that explore, in short, our relationship with Stuff: how we manufacture, use (or misuse) and dispose of it. The Project also explores ways we can make things better. These videos are excellent resources for health care professionals, teachers, and communities.
Check out the Story of Stuff Project including:
The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) has developed a number of toolkits on relevant topics in environmental and planetary health nursing:
ANHE Nurses’ Guide to What the Science Teaches Us about Common Solutions to Climate Change and Family Health Problems
Transportation significantly affects environmental and human health in many ways: traffic collisions, air pollution, urban sprawl, and access to healthy food and physical activity are just a few examples.
Green Vehicle Guide How green is your car?
Transportation and Health Toolkit Learn more about transportation issues and how they relate to health.
Designing Healthy Communities How we design our built environment may hold tremendous potential for addressing many of the nation’s current public health concerns, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, asthma, violence, and social inequities. This four-part PBS series address how we can design communities that promote human and environmental health.
Episode 1
Clean drinking water should be a right, not a privilege. Instead, we are exposed to a wide array of chemicals and pollutants every time we take a drink or step into the shower. Learn more, including the truth about bottled water.
Enforcement and Compliance History Online Tool This website from the EPA allows users to search for drinking water violations in U.S. public water systems.
EWG’s Drinking Water Quality Analysis and Tap Water Database Search the largest drinking water quality database in existence to see how your city’s water ranks.
Food and Water Watch A great site on all things water, including pollutants, water privatization, desalination, groundwater, and global water issues.
USGS Water – Quality Information Pages – The U.S. Geological Survey provides scientific and technical expertise, leadership, and coordination in addressing issues concerning the quality of the Nation’s water resources.
Bottled Water
EWG’s Bottled Water Scorecard Check out your bottled water to see where it really comes from, if it’s purified, and what contaminants it contains.
The Story of Bottled Water What the bottled water industry doesn’t want you to know.