| September/October 2013 I. Announcements, News, and Blogs II. Research Findings and Reports IV. Pharmaceuticals in the Environment VI. Intergenerational Activities and Life Course Research VII. Funding Opportunities and Resources VIII. 2013 Calendars of Events and Call for Abstracts
I. Announcements, News, and Blogs The EPA proposed Clean Air Act standards to cut carbon pollution from new power plants in order to combat climate change and improve public health. In addition, EPA has initiated broad-based outreach and direct engagement with state, tribal, and local governments, industry and labor leaders, non-profits, and others to establish carbon pollution standards for existing power plants and build on state efforts to move toward a cleaner power sector. The proposal achieves the first milestone outlined in President Obama’s June 25 Memorandum to EPA on “Power Sector Carbon Pollution Standards,” a major part of the President’s Climate Action Plan. “Climate change is one of the most significant public health challenges of our time. By taking commonsense action to limit carbon pollution from new power plants, we can slow the effects of climate change and fulfill our obligation to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our children,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. “These standards will also spark the innovation we need to build the next generation of power plants, helping grow a more sustainable clean energy economy.”
Power plants are the largest concentrated source of emissions in the United States, together accounting for roughly one-third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, nearly a dozen states have already implemented or are implementing their own market-based programs to reduce carbon pollution. In addition, more than 25 states have set energy efficiency targets, and more than 35 have set renewable energy targets. While the United States has limits in place for arsenic, mercury and lead pollution that power plants can emit, currently, there are no national limits on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit. The agency is seeking comment and information on the proposal, including holding a public hearing, and will take that input fully into account as it completes the rulemaking process. EPA’s comment period will be open for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. In a separate action, EPA is rescinding the April 2012 proposal. More information: http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards FDA AND NIH CREATE FIRST-OF-KIND TOBACCO CENTERS OF REGULATORY SCIENCE Research from new program to inform potential tobacco regulatory activities The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) today, as part of an on-going interagency partnership, have awarded a total of up to $53 million to fund tobacco-related research in fiscal year 2013 to create 14 Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS). Despite decades of work to reduce tobacco use in the United States, it continues to be the leading cause of preventable death and disease. A new, first-of-its-kind regulatory science tobacco program, TCORS is designed to generate research to inform the regulation of tobacco products to protect public health. Using designated funds from FDA, TCORS will be coordinated by NIH's Office of Disease Prevention, directed by David M. Murray, Ph.D., and administered by three NIH institutes -- the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. New NRDC Report: Food Expiration Date Confusion Causing up to 90% of Americans to Waste Food Wed, Sep 18, 2013NRDC & Harvard Reveal Costs of Mass Consumer Confusion; Offer New Plan for Commonsense Food Date LabelingU.S. consumers and businesses needlessly trash billions of pounds of food every year as a result of America’s dizzying array of food expiration date labeling practices, which need to be standardized and clarified, according to a new report co-authored by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic. One key finding from an industry-conducted survey: More than 90 percent of Americans may be prematurely tossing food because they misinterpret food labels as indicators of food safety.“Expiration dates are in need of some serious myth-busting because they’re leading us to waste money and throw out perfectly good food, along with all of the resources that went into growing it,” said Dana Gunders, NRDC staff scientist with the food and agriculture program. “Phrases like ‘sell by’, ’use by’, and ‘best before’ are poorly regulated, misinterpreted and leading to a false confidence in food safety. It is time for a well-intended but wildly ineffective food date labeling system to get a makeover.”Further Resources· The Dating Game: How Confusing Food Date Labels Lead to Food Waste in America· NRDC's blog series on food waste· NRDC's 2012 Wasted report· Think.Eat.Save - Reduce your FoodprintNRDC and Harvard Law’s study,Read the full issue brief here: http://www.nrdc.org/food/expiration-dates.aspFall is a great time to think about fall prevention“Serious injuries from falls, such as broken bones or traumatic brain injury, are a major reason for the loss of independence among older people,” said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. “This is a significant public health problem, greatly affecting older adults and their families—as well as the health care system. The clinical trial envisioned here seeks to test a comprehensive and practical approach that can make real progress in reducing these injuries.”The Facts: Each year, one in every three adults ages 65 or older falls and 2 million are treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries. And the risk of falling increases with each decade of life. The long-term consequences of fall injuries, such as hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can impact the health and independence of older adults. Thankfully, falls are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, many falls can be prevented. Everyone can take actions to protect the older adults they care about. Prevention Tips from CDC: You can play a role in preventing falls. Encourage the older adults you care about to:
Steps for Home Safety: The following checklist can help older adults reduce their risk of falling at home:· Remove things you can trip over (like papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
EPA Honors 24 Organizations for Green Power Leadership The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented its 13th annual Green Power Leadership Awards to 21 Green Power Partners and three suppliers for their achievements in advancing the nation’s renewable electricity market. Close to one-third of America’s carbon pollution – a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change – comes from power plants. By using green power, communities, businesses and organizations can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support America’s growing renewable energy industry, improve public health, and help transition the United States to cleaner energy sources. EPA defines green power as electricity that is generated from renewable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas and low-impact hydroelectric sources and produces no fossil fuel-based carbon pollution. The winning organizations are recognized for dramatically increasing their green power purchases, installing large-scale solar panel arrays, and leading innovative renewable energy procurement efforts, among other actions. The 2013 Green Power Leadership Award winners are listed below in the following categories: Sustained Excellence in Green Power: Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.); Kohl's Department Stores (Menomonee Falls, Wis.); Staples (Framingham, Mass.) Green Power Partners of the Year: Cisco Systems, Inc. (San Jose, Calif.); Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.); Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.); The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio) Green Power Communities of the Year: Cincinnati, Ohio; Mercer Island, Wash. Green Power Purchasing: Accredo Packaging, Inc. (Sugar Land, Texas); Dell Inc. (Round Rock, Texas); Pearson (Upper Saddle River, N.J.); Powdr (Park City, Utah), The North Face (Alameda, Calif.); U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, D.C.); UW Credit Union (Madison, Wis.); Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium (Pittsburgh, Pa). On-site Generation: Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.); County of Santa Clara, Calif.; Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.); Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC (Chattanooga, Tenn.) Green Power Suppliers of the Year: 3Degrees (San Francisco, Calif.); Dominion Virginia Power (Richmond, Va.); Sterling Planet (Atlanta, Ga). EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with partner organizations to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Nearly two-thirds of partners use 100 percent green power. All together, the partners are voluntarily using more than 28 billion kWh of green power annually, equivalent to avoiding carbon pollution created by the electricity use of more than three million average American homes each year. More on the Green Power Leadership Awards: http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm
II. Research Findings and Reports Particulate Matter and Cardiovascular Disease: Researchers Turn an Eye toward Microvascular Changes Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/ehp.121-A282 Julia R. Barrett, MS, ELS, a Madison, WI–based science writer and editor, has written for EHP Particulate matter (PM) has been consistently associated with cardiovascular disease development and progression and is believed to contribute to development either indirectly through the autonomic nervous system or inflammatory responses, or directly via entry into systemic circulation and subsequent damage to blood vessels. However, it’s unclear whether changes in the microcirculation—the small veins (venules) and arteries (arterioles) that compose the majority of the circulatory system—might also contribute. A new study in EHP explores the impact of PM on small blood vessels by studying the retina. “Researchers suspect that air pollution may cause heart disease, in part, by limiting the blood vessels’ ability to bring blood to the heart. This hypothesis has been difficult to test since looking at the very small blood vessels in people’s hearts is challenging,” says Sara Adar, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, who was not involved in the current study. “By using photographs of the tiny, hair-like blood vessels in people’s eyes, researchers are able to get a direct look at how air pollution may affect other very small blood vessels in the body like those that bring blood to our hearts.” Adar and her colleagues used this approach in a previous analysis of data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a multicenter prospective investigation of cardiovascular disease. They found that both short- and long-term exposure to elevated levels of fine PM was associated with narrowing of the arterioles and widening of the venules, measured as central retinal arteriolar equivalents (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalents (CRVE), respectively.
Examining the associations of perceived community racism with self-reported physical activity levels and health among older racial minority adults. Edwards MB, Cunningham G. Source Dept of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. Abstract Background: Racial health disparities are more pronounced among older adults. Few studies have examined how racism influences health behaviors. This study's purpose was to examine how opportunities for physical activity (PA) and community racism are associated with older racial minorities' reported engagement in PA. We also investigated how PA levels influenced health. Methods: We analyzed survey data obtained from a health assessment conducted in 3360 households in Texas, USA, which included items pertaining to PA, community characteristics, and health. Results: Our sample contained 195 women and 85 men (mean age 70.16), most of whom were African American. We found no direct relationship between opportunities and PA. Results suggested that perceived community racism moderated this association. When community racism was low, respondents found ways to be active whether they perceived opportunities or not. When community racism was high, perceived lack of opportunities significantly impeded PA engagement. We found the expected association between PA and health. Conclusions: Results suggested that negative effects of community racism were counteracted through increased opportunities for PA.
Retinal Microvascular Responses to Short-Term Changes in Particulate Air Pollution in Healthy Adults Tijs Louwies, Luc Int Panis, Michal Kicinski, Patrick De Boever, and Tim S. Nawrot Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/ehp.1205721 Background: Microcirculation plays an important role in the physiology of cardiovascular health. Air pollution is an independent risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, but the number of studies on the relation between air pollution and the microcirculation is limited. Objectives: We examined the relationship between short-term changes in air pollution and microvascular changes. Methods: We measured retinal microvasculature using fundus image analysis in a panel of 84 healthy adults (52% female), 22–63 years of age, during January–May 2012. Blood vessels were measured as central retinal arteriolar/venular equivalent (CRAE/CRVE), with a median of 2 measurements (range, 1–3). We used monitoring data on particulate air pollution (PM10) and black carbon (BC). Mixed-effect models were used to estimate associations between CRAE/CRVE and exposure to PM10 and BC using various exposure windows. Results: CRAE and CRVE were associated with PM10 and BC concentrations, averaged over the 24 hr before the retinal examinations. Each 10-µg/m3 increase in PM10 was associated with a 0.93-µm decrease (95% CI: –1.42, –0.45; p = 0.0003) in CRAE and a 0.86-µm decrease (95% CI: –1.42, –0.30; p = 0.004) in CRVE after adjusting for individual characteristics and time varying conditions such as ambient temperature. Each 1-µg/m3 increase in BC was associated with a 1.84-µm decrease (95% CI: –3.18, –0.51; p < 0.001) in CRAE. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the retinal microvasculature responds to short-term changes in air pollution levels. These results support a mechanistic pathway through which air pollution can act as a trigger of cardiovascular events at least in part through effects on the microvasculature.
EPA and Appalachian Regional Commission Invite Applications for Technical Support/Implementation Assistance Appalachian communities interested in revitalizing their downtowns, promoting local food systems, and using other smart growth approaches to improve human health and the environment are invited to apply for technical support and implementation assistance through the Sustainable Communities in Appalachia partnership. The partnership is a program of EPA and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). EPA and ARC have committed up to $200,000 for technical assistance and implementation in four Appalachian communities. Funds will be used to develop action plans and provide small cash grants for first-step implementation efforts. Learn more on the ARC website. · Community interest in food systems, including the production and distribution of healthful local food as a means of boosting economic competitiveness and economic diversification; · The potential to address the community’s development challenges through the strategies described in the Partnership for Sustainable Communities 2011 publication Supporting Sustainable Rural Communities; Submit letters of interest to Wilson Paine at wpaine@arc.gov by October 4, 2013. Letters of interest should indicate a primary point of contact and, if possible, other members of the community who will participate in the technical assistance process. Questions about this solicitation may be addressed to Wilson Paine at wpaine@arc.gov or Ed Fendley at Fendley.Ed@epa.gov.
13th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference Denver defies the ordinary. The gateway to the Rocky Mountains, Denver is one of the nation’s most walkable and bike-friendly cities. Nestled along the Front Range, Denver was founded as a mining boomtown and later established itself as a center for rail transportation and agriculture. The city now flourishes with an entrepreneurial spirit increasingly focused on technology industries and a green economy. Where once the region was known primarily for precious metals and fossil-fuel extraction, it is now an international model of how to balance both the old and new energy economies. From the early days of the City Beautiful movement, Denver has fostered a strong sense of place with urban parks, eclectic architecture and distinctive neighborhoods. Built on a system of interconnected parks and tree-lined parkways begun in the 1870s, Denver today is a green oasis with over 5,000 acres of urban parkland, another 14,000 acres of adjacent mountain parks and more than 80 miles of city trails, many along urban waterways. Connected by watersheds, forests, sensitive ecosystems, trails and scenic drives, the Denver Mountain Parks system even has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The program will span three full days with optional pre-conference events scheduled for Wednesday, February 12th and post-conference events scheduled for Sunday February 16th. The main program will kick off on Thursday morning, February 13th, and continue through Saturday afternoon. The schedule includes a dynamic mix of plenaries, breakouts, implementation workshops, specialized trainings, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and coordinated networking activities. It will also feature exciting tours of local model projects in and around the greater Denver region. There will be something for everybody, from veteran experts to smart-growth novices, with close to 100 sessions and workshops to choose from. Learn from hundreds of speakers who cross disciplines to share insights, valuable tools and strategies for making smart growth a success in your community. The program will be infused with sessions and case studies focusing on important social equity and environmental justice issues.
United Nations General Assembly Declares 2014-2024 Decade of Sustainable Energy for All The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared the decade 2014‑2024 as the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All, underscoring the importance of energy issues for sustainable development and for the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda. In adopting the resolution, the General Assembly reaffirmed its determination to make sustainable energy for all a reality. The text calls upon Member States to galvanize efforts to make universal access to sustainable modern energy services a priority, noting that 1.3 billion people are without electricity and 2.6 billion people in developing countries rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating. It expressed concern that even when energy services are available, millions of poor people are unable to pay for them. In September, the Secretary-General announced that Kandeh Yumkella, Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Chair of UN-Energy, will serve as Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Chief Executive of the effort. “Sustainable Energy for all is essential for achieving our Millennium Development Goals and for opening up new opportunities for growth and prosperity in every country of the world,” Mr. Yumkella said. “It is also central to discussions on the post-2015 development agenda and proposed new sustainable development goals.” He continued: “We warmly welcome the General Assembly’s declaration of the Decade and stand ready to support Member States and all stakeholders in making sustainable energy for all a reality on the ground.” http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/ga11333.doc.htm
IV. Pharmaceuticals in the Environment October 26, 2013. (10AM to 2PM)--The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Please check back on October 1, 2013 to locate collection sites near you.
Safe, convenient drug take-back law passed by Board of Health in King County The King County Board of Health (Washington State) took a significant remaining step towards reducing preventable deaths from drug overdoses by passing a Rule & Regulation to create a drug take-back system for King County residents. The program promotes the safe disposal of unused prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and will be funded and operated by the drug manufacturers who produce the medications. Under the new program residents may dispose of unwanted medicines at pharmacies and other secure locations across the county for no charge. The new law will create only the second such system in the country. "Today's vote makes us the second jurisdiction in the nation to provide a safe and convenient way for residents to get rid of their unneeded medicines. I am proud of my fellow board members for passing this historic Rule & Regulation," said Board of Health Chair Joe McDermott. "The Board took strong action today to close a gap in the comprehensive response to misuse and abuse of medicines." Board members recognized that more people die from overdoses due to prescription medicines than from heroin and cocaine combined and that most abusers of medicines get the pills from a friend or relative's medicine cabinet. In fact, 32% of child poisoning deaths in Washington were caused by someone else's prescription medication, and 26% were caused by over-the-counter medicines. "The more effective solution to the drug abuse crisis is prevention," said Boardmember Dr. Bud Nicola. "Making it easy for residents to use a take-back system means fewer drugs in medicine cabinets, leading to fewer overdoses and poisonings." "Requiring the drug manufacturers to pay for the disposal of their products is good product stewardship," said Boardmember and Seattle City Councilmember Richard Conlin. "A convenient take back system will keep drugs out of the hands of children and teenagers." "This is a common sense solution to a problem we've known about for a long time," said Boardmember David Baker, Mayor of Kenmore. "This program is part of a comprehensive approach to address our community's drug overdose and poisoning epidemic." Under the new Rule & Regulation: Residents will be encouraged to drop, free-of-charge, their leftover and expired medicines in secure boxes conveniently located in most retail pharmacies or law enforcement offices throughout King County; Collected medicines would then be destroyed by incineration at properly permitted facilities; Drug manufacturers selling medicines for residential use in King County would be required to run and pay for the program; and Public Health – Seattle & King County would oversee the program to ensure its effectiveness and safety. Alameda County in California passed similar legislation last year, though PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) has sued to block the law from taking effect. http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/news/2013/13062001.aspx
2013 Rachel Carson Poetry, Essay, Photography, Dance and Music Contest: The 2013 finalists have been chosen and posted on our website. There is still time to vote for your favorite entries. Please help us select this year’s winners by voting for you favorite entry in each category. http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm
Madison (Wisconsin) Children’s Museum SPARK! Program SPARK! is a cultural arts program conducted by the Madison (Wisconsin) Children’s Museum for older adults with memory loss and their loved ones. This intergenerational program encourages participants to both view and make art, often focusing on living in the moment with an emphasis on the five senses. Sessions last 90 minutes and are divided into three 30-minute segments: the first focuses on viewing art, the next on related art-making activities, and the last on encouraging participants to share what has been created at an informal reception, with healthy snacks and tea offered. The program (and parking) is free thanks to generous support from the Helen Bader Foundation. SPARK! is offered two times each month at the Madison Children's Museum, typically the first Tuesday and the last Saturday of the month, from 10:00 to 11:30 am. The Saturday program includes an option in which older participants work on art projects with Girl Scouts. There is also an outreach program for residents of Capital Lakes Retirement Community the first Tuesday of each month from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. All program activities are facilitated by a museum educator who has been trained by both the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the New York Folk Art Museum on how to develop and conduct arts programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. Program History: The Madison Children’s Museum was founded in 1980 by a group of early childhood specialists with the mission to connect children with their families, their communities, and the world beyond through discovery learning and creative play. The founding board of directors and volunteers built traveling exhibits that were displayed at neighborhood centers, parks, and playgrounds. For more information see http://www.creativeaging.org/creative-aging-program/6591
VI. Intergenerational Activities and Life Course Research 2014 Best Intergenerational Communities Awards MetLife Foundation and Generations United are searching the nation for communities that place immense value on intergenerational connections and quality of life for all. If your community fits that description, apply for the third annual Best Intergenerational Communities Awards program. Deadline to apply: Nov. 8, 2013. Learn more at: http://www.gu.org/OURWORK/Programs/BestIntergenerationalCommunities.aspx. New Funding Alert: Jumpstart Youth-led Intergenerational Programs
Why should people of all ages get vaccinated against the flu? Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. Over a period of 31 seasons between 1976 and 2007, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 years and older. The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population. An annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community. Who should get vaccinated this season? Everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. This recommendation has been in place since February 24, 2010 when CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu vaccination in the United States to expand protection against the flu to more people. While everyone should get a flu vaccine this season, it’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated. Those people include the following: People who are at high risk of developing serious complications (like pneumonia) if they get sick with the flu. People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. Pregnant women. People younger than 5 years (and especially those younger than 2), and people 65 years and older. A complete list is available at People Who Are at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications. People who live with or care for others who are at high risk of developing serious complications. Household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. Household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old. Health care personnel. For more information see: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
VII. Funding Opportunities and Resources U.S. EPA Funding Opportunities Healthy Schools: Environmental Factors, Children’s Health and Performance, and Sustainable Building Practices-- EPA the STAR program, is seeking applications proposing research that will inform school (K-12 educational facilities) building design, construction and operation practices in order to foster safe and healthy school environments and maximize student achievement and teacher and staff effectiveness. The goal is to understand the relationship between environmental factors defined broadly and the health, safety and performance of students, teachers and staff. In addition to health-related concerns, the school environment may similarly impact the performance of students, teachers and staff, including lowering student achievement outcomes, and reducing teacher effectiveness. Deadline: October 8, 2013. New-- FY 2014 National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program | |||||||||||
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