1 Collaborative on Health and the Environment NAHMMA's 2005 Conference September 18-23, 2005 Tacoma, Washington Elise Miller, M.Ed. Institute for Children’s Environmental Health 1646 Dow Road Freeland, Washington

2 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Overview of CHE  Nonpartisan national partnership established in  Seeks to raise public dialogue on the role of environment contaminants in chronic illness and disability.  Almost 2000 organizations and individuals have joined, including researchers, healthcare professionals, health- affected groups and environmental health and justice advocates.  Chaired by Phil Lee, MD, former U.S. assistant secretary of health and human services, under two presidential administrations.

3 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Consensus statement  The Problem: Chronic diseases and disabilities have reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting more than 100 million men, women and children - more than one-third of our population.  Consensus statement: - The State of the Science - The Need for a Heightened Public Health Response - The Importance of a Precautionary Approach - The Need for New Models of Collaboration in Environmental Health

4 Collaborative on Health and the Environment CHE Activities CHE's primary activities include:  Sharing scientific research on the links between environmental contaminants and human disease.  Fostering interdisciplinary and inclusive collaboration among diverse constituencies interested in those links.  Facilitating appropriate actions to reduce exposure to contaminants and to improve care of those affected.

5 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Research, Information and Resources  Monthly conference call with experts on specific topics.  White papers on various health endpoints.  Spreadsheet and database linking 200 health concerns with what is known in peer-reviewed scientific literature on environmental contaminants.  See - the scientific arm of CHE - for more informationwww.protectingourhealth.org

6 Collaborative on Health and the Environment National Working Groups and Discussion Groups  Asthma and the Environment  Cancer  EMF (Electromagnetic Fields)  Fertility/Early Pregnancy Compromise  Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI)  Parkinson's Disease  Science Working Group

7 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI)  Educating state and national learning and developmental disabilities (LDD) groups about environmental health and brain development.  Translating emerging science into information and fact sheets to be used at workshops and on websites for lay audiences.  Holding meetings nationally and regionally to build collaborative partnerships between LDD groups, researchers, health professionals and environmental health advocates.  Cultivating opportunities for interested groups to educate policymakers on specific bills that would eliminate neurotoxicants.

8 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Regional Working Groups  CHE-Washington (2003)  CHE-Oregon (2005)  CHE-Pennsylvania (2005)  CHE-Alaska (to be launched Dec 2005)

9 Collaborative on Health and the Environment CHE-Washington (CHE-WA)  CHE-WA established in 2003 as CHE-NW (when CHE-OR was established in 2005 CHE-NW became CHE-WA)  Shares mission of CHE national  Currently has almost 300 individual and organizational members  Activities include quarterly meetings, working groups, lecture series, film series and information sharing via listserv  Searchable web site: which links to both CHE-WA and CHE-ORwww.chenw.org

10 Collaborative on Health and the Environment How You Can Get Involved  Join CHE -  Contact CHE-NW/CHE-WA coordinator: Elise Miller, MEd, Executive Director Institute for Children’s Environmental Health Ph:

11 Collaborative on Health and the Environment CHE – WA Working Groups  Research & Information  Precautionary Principle  Environmental Justice

12 Collaborative on Health and the Environment CHE – WA Research & Information Working Group  Membership (20): CHE WA Local and state health and environmental agencies Academics Non-profit organizations Consultants  Meets 2-3 times a year  updates

13 Collaborative on Health and the Environment CHE – WA Research & Information Working Group Draft Goals: 1.To connect and integrate information on health and environmental quality. 2. To interpret, elucidate and disseminate information on health and environmental quality. 3. To identify information needs on health and environmental quality

14 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Target Audiences & Users of Information:  Non-profit health and environmental groups  Community-based organizations  The public  Policy-makers

15 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Activities 2004/05: Information on Health and Environmental Contaminants in WA:  Asthma, cardiovascular disease, 22 types of cancer, 24 reproductive, birth, developmental and neurobehavioral defects  Body burden  Environmental contaminants in air, water, food and soil  The built environment  Report card  Available at:

16 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Activities 2005/06: Economics Study (July):  Asthma, cardiovascular disease, lead exposure, cancer, birth defects, and neurobehavioral disorders  The cost of diseases and disabilities attributable to environmental contaminants in WA is $2-3 billion a year  Available at:

17 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Activities 2005/06 (cont’d): Web-based ‘clearinghouse’ of information on WA: Builds on 2004 report Sources of information on health Sources of information on environmental quality, not just contaminants Some interpretation and national comparisons Going ‘live’ at in

18 Collaborative on Health and the Environment Contact Information: Kate Davies M.A., D.Phil. Antioch University Seattle Elise Miller M.Ed. Institute for Children’s Environmental Health