Committee
on Environmental Health
Mission
The Committee on Environmental Health (COEH) advises
the Board of Directors on issues pertaining to environmental health
and toxic exposure. Committee policy statements address such issues
as radiation disasters, air pollution, lead screening, and secondhand smoke. The committee supports legislative initiatives
designed to protect the health of the fetus, infant, and child from
debilitating or hazardous environmental agents. The committee also authors
and oversees development of the Academy's Pediatric Environmental
Health manual, currently in its second edition.
Nexus on Environmental Health
The Nexus on Environmental Health is the
home for AAP Fellows interested in and concerned about pediatric
environmental health. The Nexus is similar to AAP Sections in its "grassroots" membership and its focus on education, networking, and advocacy. The Nexus governance differs from traditional
AAP Sections, however, in that the Nexus leadership serve as
full, voting members of the Committee on Environmental Health.
Membership is open to all AAP fellows in good standing. The Nexus annual dues are $30. To join the Nexus and support pediatric environmental health issues within the Academy, please complete and return the Nexus application form.
Questions? Please contact Paul Spire at pspire@aap.org for additional details.
Current
AAP Policy Statements Authored by the COEH
Recent "Hot Topics" on AAP.org
Recent
Environmental Health-Related Articles in "AAP News"
Recent
Advocacy Letters
Nexus on Environmental Health Newsletters
Pediatric Environmental
Health, Second Edition
by American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental
Health
Edited by Ruth A. Etzel, MD, PhD and Sophie J. Balk, MD
The
comprehensive AAP guide to the identification, prevention, and treatment
of pediatric environmental health problems puts answers to parents'
questions at your fingertips. Environmental hazards are among parents
top health concerns for their children. Yet little time is spent training
physicians and other caregivers to recognize, prevent, and treat ailments
resulting from exposure to harmful substances and environments. Chapters
address air pollution, mercury, waste sites, environmental tobacco
smoke, DEET use and other pesticides, and dozens of additional topics.
Please click here for a complete list of
chapters.
One free copy is available
to full Fellows upon request while supplies last. To order your free
copy, call toll-free (866) The-AAP1 (866-843-2271). Thanks to the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the National Institute
of Child Health and Human Development, and the US Environmental Protection
Agency for their generous support, which assists in the dissemination
of this publication.
Those not qualifying for a complimentary
copy may purchase the book at the AAP
Online Bookstore or by calling 866-843-2271.
Patient Education Brochures
The following Environmental Health-related
AAP Patient Education Brochures are available for purchase in bulk
quantities by contacting the AAP Bookstore online
or by phone at 888-227-1770:
Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence for Children
AAP Tobacco Initiative
The AAP received a major grant from the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI) for planning and establishing a Center of Excellence to prevent children's exposure to second hand tobacco smoke. The five-year grant for the AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence for Children was announced at FAMRI's Fifth Scientific Symposium in Boston, on May 10th, 2006.
The mission of the Richmond Center is to improve child health by eliminating children’s exposure to secondhand smoke and tobacco through changing the clinical practice of pediatrics. The vision is that all child healthcare clinicians will be active participants in the elimination of tobacco/SHS exposure of children. With the establishment of the Richmond Center at the AAP, child health clinicians will be provided with the education, training, and tools needed to effectively intervene to protect children from the harmful effects of tobacco/SHS.
The work of the Richmond Center is strongly supported by the COEH, with numerous current and former committee members actively involved in the project. Please see the Richmond Center web site for additional information.
Partnership to Establish an
Environmental Health Safety Net for Children
This COEH-developed supplement to Pediatrics
was published in July 2003. Articles include:
- Environmental Risk Communication for
the Clinician
- Interpreting Epidemiologic Research:
Lessons From Studies of Childhood Cancer
- How Environmental Exposures Influence
the Development and Exacerbation of Asthma
- Herbal Remedies and Children: Do They
Work? Are They Harmful?
- Evidence of Effects of Environmental
Chemicals on the Endocrine System in Children
- Antibiotic Resistance: What Is the Impact
of Agricultural Uses of Antibiotics on Children's Health?
- International Environmental Health for
the Pediatrician: Case Study of Lead Poisoning
Articles are available online here.
All articles are available free-of-charge to Pediatrics subscribers.
Non-subscribers may download individual articles for a small fee.
Follow the provided link for prices and details.
Selected Links
AAP Links
Searchable database
of AAP policy documents and parent pages
AAP site on Children, Terrorism,
and Disasters
External Links
Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Cancer Institute
National Center for Environmental
Health
National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences
US
Environmental Protection Agency
US EPA's Environmental Club
for Kids
US Food and Drug Administration
2008/2009 Committee on Environmental
Health Roster
Chairperson
Helen J. Binns, MD, MPH
Committee Members
Joel Forman, MD
Catherine J. Karr, MD PhD, MS
Kevin C. Osterhoudt, MD MSCE
Jerome A. Paulson, MD
James R. Roberts, MD, MPH
Megan T. Sandel, MD
James M Seltzer, MD
Robert O Wright, MD, MPH
Liaisons
Elizabeth Blackburn, RN
-- US Environmental Protection Agency
Mark Anderson, MD
-- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-- National Center for Environmental Health
Sharon Savage , MD
-- National Cancer Institute
Walter J. Rogan, MD
-- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Manager
Paul Spire
Division of Technical and Medical Services
American Academy of Pediatrics
