Upcoming event: Nanotech and food products conference: September 8; Rockville, MD
(From FDA website)
Consideration of FDA-Regulated Products That May Contain Nanoscale Materials; Public Meeting
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a public meeting and a request for comments including available data to gather information that will assist the agency in further implementing the recommendations of the Nanotechnology Task Force Report (the Report) relating to the development of agency guidances. The Report's recommendations covered foods (including dietary supplements), food and color additives (including food contact substances), animal drugs and feeds, cosmetics, human drugs and biologics, and medical devices. In addition to requesting comments in response to the questions in this notice and those that will be discussed at the public meeting, FDA is announcing a request for available data and information on the effects of nanoscale materials on quality, safety, and, where relevant, effectiveness of products subject to FDA oversight.
Click here for more information.
Upcoming event: Practice Greenhealth workshops in Louisiana; September 17 - 19
Practice Greenhealth Education Services and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality cordially invite you to our September Workshop Series
September 17 - Mercury Reduction - Baton Rouge
September 18 - Mercury Reduction - New Orleans
September 19 - RCRA Waste Management - New Orleans
All sessions run from 9 am to 3:15 pm
On September 17 and 18, the Mercury Reduction sessions will focus on the issues surrounding mercury and mercury containing devices and will also include a discussion of available alternatives and proper discarding of used devices. The devices range from common instruments such as thermometers and blood pressure cuffs, to laboratory reagents and facility devices like thermostats and flow meters.
On September 19, the focus will be on waste management with a particular emphasis on pharmaceutical wastes. The session will include a "mix and match" workshop activity consisting of simulated pharmaceutical waste items to be disposed and potential disposal routes. Other topics will focus on implementing a Pharmaceutical Waste Management System, and future initiatives of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
TO REGISTER: Send an email to Education@PracticeGreenhealth.org
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Upcoming event: Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium; December 4 - 6; Washington, D.C.
Don't miss this great conference opportunity for pediatric, public health, and school nurses! This conference will bring together leaders in protecting and improving indoor air quality in our nation's schools.
Learn more and register here.
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Continuing education partnership opportunity: Reducing workplace exposure to synthetic fragrance webcast
The American Association of Occupational Health Nurses has created a webcast entitled Reducing Workplace Exposure to Synthetic Fragrance. AAOHN is offering to partner with nursing groups who would like to offer the webcast to their members for continuing education. There is no cost to the partner organization (be it a University or an association). Once a group partners, their members can participate in the webcast and receive CE at a reduced rate ($25).
This webcast is a great educational opportunity, as the issue has become so important in the workplace.
~ Asthma is the most commonly reported workplace lung condition. An estimated 10-23% of all adult-onset asthma cases are due to workplace exposures. (Bresnitzet al, 2004)Occupational asthma accounts for 5 to 37% of all asthmas, allergic or irritant. (Christianiet al, 2005
~ Of the cases of occupationally related, adult-onset asthma, 40% are attributable to health care workers. (NIH, 1997
~ In the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (5-year, 6,837 subjects), researchers found that nurses were twice as likely (RR 2.2) as people with other jobs to develop asthma (Lancet, 2007).
More information on the webcast
More information on the CE partnership opportunity
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Toxic toy ban is in the president's hands
(From OurFuture.org) The Senate passed and sent to the White House legislation that bans lead from children's toys and seeks to ensure that chemicals posing possible health problems will not end up on toys and articles that kids chew on and play with. The Senate put aside partisan differences over the energy crisis momentarily to vote 89-3 for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The House passed the bill Wednesday by 424-1, a reflection of the national outcry over a rash of recalls last years of toys and children's products contaminated by lead and other dangerous elements. The administration has objected to parts of the bill, but said that President Bush would sign it.
Read the full article here "For the first time, our U.S. Congress has banned a chemical based on evidence of harm rather than absolute, definitive proof of harm. Our lawmakers dared to look at how poorly chemicals are regulated in this country-at the fact that toxic chemicals called phthalates are allowed in children's toys-and then they dared to say that it's unacceptable. [On July 31st] the U.S. Senate voted 89-3 to ban six phthalates from children's toys, teethers and other soft, plastic childcare products. The House approved the bill Wednesday, and now our sights are on President Bush." ~ Jeannie Rizzo, Breast Cancer Fund
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Find safer school supplies for your kids
This year, when you send your kids off to school, send them off in style - PVC-free!
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) has created the first-ever Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies so you can make smarter and healthier shopping choices for your kids, family and environment.
Children's school supplies, such as lunchboxes, backpacks and binders, are often made out of PVC -- the poison plastic. These products often contain toxic chemical additives, such as phthalates and lead, that can leach out or evaporate into the air -- posing unneccesary dangers to your children. Children are at risk from even small exposures to these toxic chemicals. That's why it's especially important to purchase PVC-free school supplies.
Download the guide here.
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Case studies in environmental medicine available from ATSDR
(From ATSDR website) The Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) are a series of self-instructional publications designed to increase the primary care provider's knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment and to aid in the evaluation of potentially exposed patients. Continuing medical education (CME) for physicians, continuing nursing education (CNE) for nurses, continuing education units (CEU) for other professionals, and continuing education contact hours (CECH) for certified health education specialists (CHES) are offered in support of this series.
Four new case studies are available: beryllium toxicity, cadmium toxicity, tetrachloroethylene toxicity, and taking an exposure history.
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Application deadline for Epidemic Intelligence Service is September 15
The Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) is a 2-year, postgraduate program of service and on-the-job training for health professionals interested in the practice of epidemiology. Each year, EIS provides approximately 90 persons, who have been selected from around the world, opportunities to gain hands-on experience in epidemiology at CDC or state or local health departments. EIS Officers, often called CDC's "disease detectives," have gone on to occupy leadership positions at CDC and other public health agencies nationally and internationally. However, the experience also is useful for health professionals who want to gain a population health perspective.
More information is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/eis/applyeis/toapply.htm
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Position announcement: California Climate Campaign Director, Union of Concerned Scientists; Berkeley, CA
Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy
environment and a safer world, is seeking a dynamic leader in Berkeley, California for the position of California Climate Campaign Director (CCCD).
Under the direction of the Climate Program Director, the CCCD will develop, lead and manage UCS efforts to advance climate policy in CA and the western region. This includes: effective communication and close collaboration
with UCS staff across programs, as well as CA and Federal Climate Campaign staff working on climate
issues; development of an integrated strategy and annual work plan for the CA Climate Campaign; drafting and management of CA Campaign funding proposals; management and supervision of CA Campaign staff; and membership on the UCS Climate Change Working Group.
Visit www.ucsusa.org for more information.
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Position announcement: Policy Associate, Save The Bay; San Francisco, CA
Save The Bay seeks a creative, experienced Policy Associate to implement targeted campaigns that significantly improve the health of San Francisco Bay. The Associate will manage a regional pollution prevention campaign, and will support efforts to secure and fund 100,000 acres of restored wetlands, prevent Bay fill and inappropriate shoreline development, and increase public access to the shoreline. The Policy Associate will also conduct policy analysis and research, and assist with federal and state advocacy. The successful candidate has experience and skills in advocacy,
organizing, and policy development, is self-motivated and able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. For application information, visit Work for Save The Bay
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Overseas work opportunity for a PhD Nursing Faculty
Are you interested in gaining some experience in another part of this globe? Do you have the dream of giving a 'lift' to nursing education and nurses in a Low- income Country? Check this advertisement of a NEW Nursing Program in the Occupied Palestinian Territory looking to produce Professional nurses of high quality nursing education.
Full-time faculty member-Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Professions
The Department of Nursing at Birzeit University, Ramallah/Occupied Palestinian Territory seeks applications for the full-time positions of Assistant, Associate or Full Professors in Nursing to join the Department starting the first semester of the academic year 2008/2009. The prospective candidate is expected to teach courses in the Bachelors Program of nursing.
While teaching at the Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at Birzeit University is
conducted in English, knowledge of Arabic is a plus.
Applications from faculty members seeking to spend a (Sabbatical) year/semester at Birzeit are also
welcome.
For more information, please send an email to Sahar Al Bitar, CNM, MSN at sahu0il@yahoo.com
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