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Collaborative on Health and the Environment's
Fertility/Reproductive Health Working Group
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| E-Bulletin April 28, 2010 |
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| This e-bulletin lists news and journal articles, organizational reports, calls for proposals, upcoming events and other items related to fertility, reproductive health and the environment. E-bulletins are archived and searchable on our website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/fertility |
CHE-Fertility Highlights
| Newly Updated CHE-Fertility Online Abstracts Library!
We are pleased to announce the availability of the newly updated CHE-Fertility Online Abstracts Library, a
representative collection of the peer-reviewed scientific literature
related to fertility, reproductive health and the environment. The
library includes nontechnical summaries of scientific studies that link
environmental exposures to infertility/reduced fertility in addition to other reproductive health problems such as preterm birth, hypospadias, endometriosis, low sperm count, premature ovarian failure, prostate cancer, and others.
** We are currently seeking beta testers. If you are willing to test the library and provide us with feedback about how useful and searchable it is, please email julia@healthandenvironment.org with your input. We greatly value your insights. After all, the library is intended to serve the diverse CHE-Fertility community in all of its various efforts to protect public health from environmental exposures.
Save the date for the upcoming call, "Elevating the Issue: the Emerging CDC National Action Plan on Infertility," scheduled for Tuesday, May 25 at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern time.
Please join CHE-Fertility for this upcoming call that will highlight the emerging
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Action Plan
on the Prevention, Detection and Management of Infertility. Speakers on
this call will cover the background and impetus for this national
action plan, what is currently happening among the working groups, and
what the opportunities are for involvement by CHE colleagues in this
important endeavor. RSVP for this call
Featured speakers include:
Maurizio Macaluso, MD, DrPH, Chief, Women's Health and Fertility Branch, Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, MSc, Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco Steven Schrader, PhD,
Leader, Reproductive Health Assessment Team, Biomonitoring and Health
Assessment Branch, Division of Applied Research and Technology,
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
** An MP3 recording of the April 15 call, Flame Retardants: Emerging Science and Policy Considerations, co-hosted with the Women's Health and the Environment Initiative, is now available. You can also download the speakers' PowerPoint presentation and link to the follow-up blog written by Sarah Dunagan, Silent Spring Institute.
Congressional Briefing - Tackling Toxics: Reforming Chemical Policy and Improving Reproductive Health.
The Center for American Progress co-hosted this event on April 27, 2010 with the Reproductive Health Technologies Project and the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals. The
event featured Daryl Ditz of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
Coalition along with Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO). 75 advocates, science groups, policymakers, and congressional staffers gathered to hear why chemical policy policy reform is a reproductive health issue. Watch the video recording
Landmark Legislation Introduced to Protect the Health of American Families: Safe Chemicals Act of 2010.
As stated by the Reproductive Health Technologies Project and according to many groups, The Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 will provide long overdue reform of the
34-year-old federal law that regulates toxic chemicals, the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA). This new legislation would give the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stronger authority to test and
regulate the 80,000 chemicals on the market today. For information about how to support this bill, please visit the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition website.
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association Briefing.
In recognition of National Infertility Awareness Week, Resolve hosted a special briefing with Honorary Co-Chairs Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Debbie Wassterman Schultz on Capitol Hill today, "Infertility: What's new and what is the federal government doing about it?" The briefing highlighted what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Congress are doing to impact this public health issue now and in the future. Learn more
New Video: Environmental Health and Choice for Earth Day.
Every
day scientists are finding links between the chemicals we encounter in
the environment and our reproductive health. As protectors of
reproductive health, Planned Parenthood is taking a stand on this
critical issue. Check out the video to learn why being Pro-Choice means
caring about our environment too. Link to the video
New Article: BPA-Free and Beyond: Protecting Reproductive Health from Environmental Toxins.
Written
by Sneha Barot, Senior Public Policy Associate at the Guttmacher
Institute. Published in the Guttmacher Policy Review (Winter 2010,
Volume 13, Number 1). Link to the article
New Report: Framing a Proactive Research Agenda to Advance Worker Health and Safety in the Nail Salon and Cosmetology Communities.
Read this new report produced by the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative that provides recommendations from a multi-stakeholder convening in April 2009 that highlighted the state of the science on occupational chemical exposures of cosmetology workers and resulting health effects, with the intention to inform, guide, and build upon current efforts in California and nationally to develop a proactive research and advocacy agenda for the salon sector. Link to the report
Updates from the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE) at the University of California, San Francisco:
- PRHE recently released a DRAFT version of their report, "A Nanotechnology Policy Framework: Policy Recommendations for Addressing Potential Health Risks from Nanomaterials in California," which makes recommendations about how to face the new challenges to the policy and risk assessment process that nanomaterials present because of their unique properties. On May 5, 2010, PRHE will hold a meeting to discuss the document and is requesting public comment. For more information, please visit: http://www.prhe.ucsf.ed/prhe/nanomaterialsreport.html.
- Are you a scientist, community-based leader, public health professional or health care provider with experience in environmental or reproductive health? Join Reach the Decision Makers, a 12-month training program offered by PRHE to increase the number of stakeholders who are actively involved in informing the US Environmental Protection Agency on current and relevant scientific findings impacting their decisions in setting policy. The program begins in June 2010. For more information, please visit: http://prhe.ucsf.edu/prhe/reachdecisionmakers.html.
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Media Spotlight
| Fueling the fire? How flame retardants might be doing more harm than good. By Sarah Dunagan, Staff Scientist, Silent Spring Institute
The history of flame retardants stretches back at least as far as
450 B.C. when, as noted by Herodotus, the Egyptians soaked wood in
alum. But it wasn't until World War II, and the subsequent flush of
highly flammable petroleum-based products into the market, that the
flame retardants so popular today came into widespread use. The
addition of these chemicals to our couches, TVs, and computers has
soared in recent decades in response to flammability standards
developed in the 1970s. Of course, we all want to protect ourselves and
our families from fires. But the very regulations intended to protect
us have unintentionally exposed us to chemicals that may be doing more
harm than good.
Mounting research suggests that flame retardants may cause
neurological and reproductive harm, thyroid disruption, and cancer.
What is the latest evidence from animal and human studies? Are some
people disproportionately exposed? Do less toxic alternatives exist?
How can the emerging research inform chemicals policy reform? We
explored these questions on a teleconference hosted by the CHE-Fertility Working Group and the Women's Health and Environment Initiative (WHEI) on April 15.
Widely used halogenated flame retardants (usually brominated or
chlorinated) are persistent pollutants that can hitchhike the globe,
catching a ride on air and ocean currents, and can accumulate in
wildlife, pets, and people. Foam, fabric, and plastic are soaked or
coated with these chemicals so they won't burn as easily, but because
the flame retardants aren't bound to those materials, they can escape
into the air and dust in our homes and offices where we can breathe or
ingest them.
In 1975, California implemented Technical Bulletin 117 (TB117)-which
requires furniture to be resistant to an open flame for 12 seconds. To
meet this unique flammability standard, manufacturers largely relied on
penta-BDE, a commercial mixture of brominated flame retardants known as PBDEs.
"Research conducted by the Silent Spring Institute
has shown the repercussions of that standard," said Dr. Ami Zota,
Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, San Francisco.
Zota and her colleagues at Silent Spring Institute found levels of
penta-BDE in California house dust that were 4 to 10 times higher than
other areas in the US and 200 times higher than in Europe. The
researchers also found penta-BDE in the blood of California residents
at levels twice as high as the national average; and levels were higher
among people with lower incomes. Read the full blog
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News, Science and Useful Resources
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Below you will find recent news, science, and other resources, gleaned from the CHE Fertility Online Library, hosted by Environmental Health News, and the CHE daily news feed.
Talc link to raised womb cancer risk.
Using talcum powder just once a week to keep fresh can raise the risk of womb cancer by up to 24 per cent, a study has claimed. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom. 28 April 2010.
Non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and risk of endometriosis. Taken in context with other North American studies, our findings
suggest that non-coplanar PCB concentrations consistent within the
range of exposure currently observed in western Washington State do not
contribute meaningfully to endometriosis risk. Environmental Health
Perspectives. 28 April 2010.
Out for the count: Why levels of sperm in men are falling.
Levels of 'viable' sperm in human males are falling - and scientists
believe they now understand the cause. Infertility can begin in the
womb. London Independent, United Kingdom. 26 April 2010.
No link between infertility, rare infant cancer.
Children conceived with the help of infertility treatment are no more
likely than those conceived naturally to develop infant leukemia,
according to the largest study to date to investigate the relationship.
Reuters Health. 24 April 2010.
Heavy girls less likely to develop breast cancer later on.
High birthweight ups breast cancer risk, while being heavy in childhood
and during puberty reduces risk; after menopause, a woman's risk rises
with her body mass index or BMI. Reuters Health. 23 April 2010.
Pre-term babies face lifetime lung trouble.
Children born extremely early -- at 25 weeks or before -- may risk a
lifetime of lung problems, including asthma, British researchers
reported on Thursday. Reuters Health. 23 April 2010.
Grim weather increases risk of prostate cancer.
Scientists believe a combination of cold temperatures and lack of sun
could help explain higher rates of the disease in northerly parts of
the world. Poor exposure to the sun's rays can lead to vitamin D
deficiency, which may increase prostate cancer risk, it is claimed. London Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom. 22 April 2010.
Smokers show lower risk of pregnancy complication.
A new study adds to evidence that women who smoke during pregnancy have
a lower risk of a complication called preeclampsia -- in findings that
may help shed light on how the condition arises. Reuters Health. 22 April 2010.
Processed meat linked to higher ovarian cancer risk.
Women who eat a lot of processed meats, such as salami and hot dogs,
are at a higher risk of ovarian cancer, according to a new Australian
study. Reuters Health. 21 April 2010.
The big test for bisphenol A. After years of wrangling over BPA's chemical's toxicity, researchers are charting a new way forwards. Nature investigates how the debate has reshaped environmental-health studies. Nature. 21 April 2010.
Genetically Modified Soy Linked to Sterility, Infant Mortality in Hamsters. Researchers set out to discover if Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) soy, grown on 91% of US soybean fields, leads to problems in growth or reproduction. "This study was just routine," said Russian biologist Alexey V. Surov, in what could end up as the understatement of this century. Huffington Post. 20 April 2010.
Mothers-to-be who smoke 'can harm son's fertility,' say scientists.
A large-scale review of factors affecting sperm production found that a
man's fertility depends more on his mother's lifestyle than his own. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom. 19 April 2010.
13 parents on one street lose newborns.
The grim total of Butler Drive infant deaths at Naval Hospital beginning in 1953 and ending in 1985 is 380 dead babies. Jacksonville Daily News, North Carolina. 19 April 2010.
Levels of arsenic that are observed in many people around the world
alter cell signals and damage DNA in early stage breast cancer cells,
according to new research. The results suggest that arsenic could
make tumors grow more aggressively in women who have very early stage
breast cancer. 16 April 2010. More...
Late pregnancy multivitamins linked to prematurity.
For a woman eating a healthy diet, multivitamin supplements during late
pregnancy could do more harm than good, a new study suggests. Reuters Health. 15 April 2010.
Oral Bacteria Linked to Intrauterine Infections and Pre-Term Birth. Bacteria in the mouths of pregnancy women can contribute to pre-term birth, according to researchers from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and Hathaway Brown School, Shaker Heights. Science Daily. 15 April 2010.
Scientists have figured out how bisphenol A (BPA) alters an
important gene that guides how the uterus develops in people and
rodents. Rather than causing mutations, the chemical affects the gene's
on/off markers - what is called an epigenetic change. BPA-exposed
female mice had 25 percent higher activity from the Hoxa10 gene in
their reproductive tract than the unexposed mice. The changes remained
even after exposure stopped, suggesting they are permanent. 14 April
2010. More...
In the first study to examine the relationship between dioxin and
likelihood of conception, researchers report that higher dioxin levels
are associated with difficulty in conceiving and higher rates of
infertility. Having high levels of TCDD doubled a woman's chances
of taking more than 12 months to conceive. The results come from
long-term research on the effects of dioxin exposure caused by an
explosion of a chemical plant in Seveso, Italy, in 1976. 9 April 2010. More...
Lead exposure may delay puberty in boys.
Boys with relatively elevated levels of lead in their blood may start
puberty later than their peers with less lead exposure, a new study
suggests. Reuters. 8 April 2010.
Scientists discover link between low birth-weight and diabetes.
Scientists have found a genetic link between low birth-weight and
adulthood diabetes. A team, including experts from the Edinburgh, found
two genetic regions that influence birth-weight, one of which is also
associated with Type 2 diabetes. Edinburgh Scotsman, United Kingdom. 8 April 2010.
Food can chemicals 'could be linked to early puberty in girls.'
Chemicals found in food cans, nail varnish and shampoos could be
triggering early puberty in girls, putting them at greater risk of
cancer and diabetes. London Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom. 7 April 2010.
Mom's exercise may help 'normalize' baby's weight.
Women who work out while they're pregnant have slimmer babies, new research from New Zealand shows. Reuters Health. 7 April 2010.
Drinking a litre of cola a day could reduce male fertility.
Men who drink about a litre or more of cola every day could be causing
harm to their sperm, a study claims. On average, these men's sperm
counts were almost 30 percent lower than in men who didn't drink cola. London Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom. 2 April 2010.
Norway sees tripling of triplet births since 1960s.
There are about twice as many sets of triplets born in Norway every
year compared to 40 years ago -- not including babies conceived with
assisted reproductive technology, new research shows. Reuters Health. 2 April 2010.
The perils of plastic.
Chemicals in plastics and other products seem harmless, but mounting
evidence links them to health problems - and Washington lacks the power
to protect us. Time Magazine. 1 April 2010.
Applying Research to Public Health Questions: Biologically Relevant Exposures. An editorial by Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Environmental Health Perspectives. 1 April
Researchers say gender-bending chemicals are rife but are they just the tip of the iceberg?Dementia, autism, developmental delay, heart disease, lungs and immune
system, diabetes... effects of environmental contaminants are more
widespread than commonly perceived. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom. 30 March 2010.
Breaking News: EPA to investigate environmental impact of BPA.
Declaring it a "chemical of concern," the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency on Monday announced that it is mounting an investigation of the
environmental effects of bisphenol A. Environmental Health News. 29 March 2010.
Research shows for the first time that plastic nanoparticles can
cross the human placenta, possibly exposing the developing fetus to the
tiny materials that are increasingly used in medicines, vaccines and
personal care products. The results confirm that smaller sizes of
the manufactured materials are able to cross the placenta at a time
toward the end of pregnancy when the membrane barrier between mom and
fetus is thinner. The growing brain and other organs may be exposed to
the particles that have unknown health effects. 29 March 2010. More...
Chemicals in drink can trigger weight gain and fertility problems.
Thanks to the possible pollutants that are so difficult to remove from
our water supply, it has been linked to a number of health complaints -
and yes, it may even trigger weight gain. London Daily Mail, United Kingdom. Opinion, 28 March 2010.
Air pollution linked to odds of IVF success.
Among women trying to conceive through in-vitro fertilization, those
exposed to greater air pollution may have a somewhat lower chance of
success, a new study suggests. Reuters. 27 March 2010.
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Announcements
| A daily news feed with these announcements is now
available on CHE's website:
http://www.healthandenvironment.org/news/announce.
Job opening: United Kingdom.
The Peninsula College of Medicine &n Dentistry has several openings for professorships and lectureships in Environment & Human Health. The closing date is April 30th. Read more
Job opening: Washington, DC.
Greenpeace is seeking an up-and-coming campaigner with good writing skills for a position on the Toxics Campaign Chemical Security Project. Applications are due by April 27, 2010. Read more
Job opening: Seattle, Washington.
The Northwest Environmental Training Center is seeking workshop instructors for a variety of courses, including "Mercury Effects on Ecosystems and Human Health." This position is contracted per course with flexible dates in major cities across the country. Read more
Job opening: Washington, DC.The
nationally accredited journalism program of The School of Communication
at American University is seeking an experienced journalist with a
strong record/expertise in health, science, and/or environmental
journalism for a tenure-track position beginning in August 2010. Read more
Job opening: Los Angeles, California.
Occidental
College invites applications for a one-year full-time visiting position
at the assistant professor level for the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011
semesters in the Urban and Environmental Policy (UEP) Program. All
materials are due by April 1, 2010. Read more
Job opening: Wenatchee, Washington.
The Chelan-Douglas Health District has an opening for an environmental health specialist to conduct routine public health inspections, review facility designs for code compliance and more. The position will stay open until filled. Read more
Environmental health in the 2009 state legislative sessions.
In every state, some bill related to environmental health was introduced, totaling 1,333 bills in the 50 states. Doug Farquhar at the National Conference of State Legislatures has put together a concise summary of all environmental health bills introduced and enacted in state legislatures in 2009. Read more
New data added for cancer, reproductive health, birth defects and air. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added new information to the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. Read more
Study charts path for better protection from harmful "chemical mixtures." The EU can and should assess and manage the risks from exposure to chemical mixtures, better known as the "cocktail effect", according to a significant report commissioned by the Environment Directorate General (DG) of the European Commission. DG Environment is inviting comment and questions on the report by April 30, 2010. Read more
Call for comments: EPA's reassessment of PCB Use Authorizations.
The US Environmental Protection Agency requests comments on the issue of EPA's reassessment of PCB use authorizations. Comments must be received on or before July 6, 2010. Read more
EPA's Office of Research and Development launches newsletter.
EPA's Office of Research and Development is now publishing Science Matters, a newsletter devoted to sharing the innovative environmental and human health science conducted by EPA scientists and engineers and our partners. Read more
EPA proposes adding more chemicals to Toxics Release Inventory list. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add 16 chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals, the first expansion of the program in more than a decade. Read more
Combination effects of chemicals. The study entitled "State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicity" was recently completed and will provide input to the Commission work on the recommendations requested by the December Environment Council. Organizations or individuals with interest and relevant experience who would like to comment or ask questions on the report, are welcome to write by April 30, 2010. Read more
EPA releases public database on risk assessments. EPA is releasing the Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO) database, a milestone in transparency. HERO provides access to the scientific studies used in making key regulatory decisions, including EPA's periodic review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six major pollutants. Read more
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Calendar of Events & Submission Deadlines
| Online Calendar. These and more upcoming events and proposal/abstract deadlines are listed in the CHE-Fertility searchable calendar.
1) Training/Workshop: A Larger Dose of Toxicology: How Chemicals Affect Your Health
Thursday April 29, 1020
Seattle, Washington
at Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington, 3501 41st St (south of University Village)
Sponsor: University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
This more advanced course is designed for non-toxicologists who have
attended "A Small Dose of Toxicology" or who have some background in
toxicology. This program will review the basic principles of toxicology
before focusing on state-of-the-art research, risk assessment and risk
communication. Participants will learn about the health effects of
chemicals, why some people are especially sensitive, individual
dose/response curves, current research issues, ethical aspects of
toxicology and hazard communication. This course is based on Steve's
book, A Small Dose of Toxicology, which each participant will
receive. A second-day discount of $25 available to those also taking "A
Small Dose of Toxicology." 6.0 continuing education hours are available.
Price: see the website
Visit the website
Contact: 800-326-7568
2) Teleconference/Webcast: A Scientist's Guide to Talking with the Media
Thursday April 29, 2010
1:00 p.m. Pacific / 4:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: Union of Concerned Scientists
This web seminar is designed to help scientists interact effectively
with the media, with the end goal of promoting accurate and timely
media coverage of important scientific developments.
Price: free
Visit the website
3) Meeting: Public Meeting: FDA Advisory Committees
Friday April 30, 2010
8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Rockville, Maryland
FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Advisory Committee Conference Room, Room 1066, 5630 Fishers Lane
Sponsor: US Food and Drug Administration
The meeting is being held for individuals and groups interested in
nominating or serving as consumer representatives to FDA's advisory
committees and panels. Send an email message or fax to the contact
person listed below no later than April 23, 2010.
Price: free
Visit the website
Contact: Doreen Brandes, Office of the Commissioner, FDA; see the website for phone and fax numbers or Doreen.Brandes@fda.hhs.gov
4) Request for Proposals: Environmental Health Science Innovation Fund
Deadline: Monday May 3, 2010
Sponsor: Passport Foundation
Through its Science Innovation Fund, Passport Foundation provides
modest support for US-based scientific research projects that
demonstrate strong potential for significantly advancing the
environmental health science needed to promulgate effective chemicals
regulation, public health policies and clinical care
policies/practices. Priority in this funding initiative will be given
to research projects that have a significant link to an ongoing or
future policy debate.
Award: $5,000 - $50,000
Visit the website
Contact: info@passportfoundation.org
5) Call for Abstracts: 2010 ASRM Annual Meeting
Deadline: Monday May 3, 2010
Sponsor: American Society for Reproductive Medicine
All abstracts and video descriptive summaries must be received through the electronic submitter program.
Visit the website
6) Teleconference/Webcast: CHE Cafe call with Annie Leonard, author of The Story of Stuff
Tuesday May 4, 2010
11:00 a.m. Pacific / 2:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: Collaborative on Health and the Environment
In December 2007, Annie released The Story of Stuff, a hit
20-minute webfilm that takes viewers on a provocative and eye-opening
tour of the often hidden costs of our consumer-driven culture. The film
has won numerous awards, including a South by Southwest Festival award,
and in 2008 Annie was named one of Time Magazine's Heroes of
the Environment. Annie's films, writing and presentations combine solid
information and first-hand investigative reporting with a profound
sense of hope that we can, indeed must, find a more sustainable way to
meet our material needs.
Price: free
Visit the website
Contact: CHE, info@healthandenvironment.org
7) Teleconference/Webcast: A Scientist's Guide to Talking with the Media
Wednesday May 5, 2010
11:00 a.m. Pacific / 2:00 p.m. Eastern time
Sponsor: Union of Concerned Scientists
This web seminar is designed to help scientists interact effectively
with the media, with the end goal of promoting accurate and timely
media coverage of important scientific developments.
Price: free
Visit the website
8) Training/Workshop: California Green Chemistry Workshop: Indicators of Ecotoxicity Hazards and Exposure Potential
Monday and Tuesday, May 10 - 11, 2010
at UC Berkeley, David Brower Center, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Theatre, 2151 Allston Way
Sponsor: The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, UCLA
Law and Environmental Health Sustainable Technology Policy Program,
UC's Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry, UC Center for Occupational
and Environmental Health, UC Toxic Substances Research and Teaching
Program
Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes
that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.
A key component is product reformulation to replace hazardous chemicals
with less hazardous ones. A major obstacle is the lack of data on
exposure, environmental effects and human toxicity in determining the
safety of a chemical. A 2009 Green Chemistry law (Senate Bill 509)
requires Cal/EPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to
evaluate and specify the hazard traits, toxicological endpoints and
other relevant data to be included in California's Toxics Information
Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse will be constructed by the Cal/EPA's
Department of Toxic Substances Control. Hazard traits for ecotoxicity
and exposure potential will be included. This workshop explores
indicators of ecotoxicity and exposure potential for use when
evaluating chemicals. A March 2010 workshop explored indicators of
human health hazard.
Price: free, but preregistration is required
Visit the website
Contact: elina.nasser@ucla.edu
9) Conference/Seminar: Wisconsin Women's Health Policy Summit
Wednesday May 12, 2010
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 a.m.
Madison, Wisconsin
at the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way
Sponsor: Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health and sponsors listed on the website
Every woman at every age and stage of her life has much at stake in
the policy decisions being made in our state regarding access to
quality health care. Join Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton, DHS
Secretary Karen Timberlake, National Women's Law Center Representative
Lisa Codispoti and Nationally Renowed Keynote Speaker Tamara Wrenn as
they speak about the current state of women's health in Wisconsin and
discuss how we can join together and use the Life Course Model to
improve the status of every Wisconsin woman's health at every age and
every stage of her life. e Summit will feature panel discussions
surrounding diverse topics such as the power of collaboration, story
sharing and personal advocacy, and unique health needs of different
Wisconsin women. Attendees can also look forward to participating in
the creation of a comprehensive Wisconsin Women's Health Policy Agenda
focusing on a variety of issues from cancer to lesbian health, economic
security to violence against women.
Price: $35 or $10 for students; scholarships are available
Visit the website
Contact: Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health, 866-399-WAWH or info@wiawh.org
10) Teleconference/Webcast: Joining the National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposure
Wednesday May 12, 2010
3:00 p.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Central / noon Pacific time
Sponsor: Great Lakes Green Chemistry Network
The speaker will be Ben Gerhardstein, MPH, public health analyst and
presidential management fellow at the National Center for Environmental
Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Price: free
Visit the website
Contact: Rachel Heckl, 716-951-0971 or rheckl@glu.org
11) Call for Abstracts: Special Supplement on Healthy People in a Healthy Environment
Deadline: Saturday May 15, 2010
Sponsor: US Public Health Service
Public Health Reports (PHR) is inviting manuscripts for a
Special Supplement on Healthy People in a Healthy Environment. PHR will
accept submissions based on original, not previously published,
findings on programs, policies, measures, outcomes and strategies that
can be used to improve public environmental health science and
practice. The editors encourage a broad range of manuscripts,
especially those reporting on vulnerable populations and other groups
disproportionately impacted by unhealthy environments or failed
policies.
Visit the website
Contact: Dr. Hugh Mainzer, 770-488-3138 or hmainzer@cdc.gov
12) Conference/Seminar: ACOG's 58th Annual Clinical Meeting
Saturday through Wednesday, May 15 - 19, 2010
San Francisco, California
at the Moscone Center
Sponsor: American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists/American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The plenary sessions for this year's program include the following
topics: 1) the preservation of fertility in cancer patients, 2) current
recommendations for the management of patients with gestational
diabetes, 3) the problem of late preterm birth, 4) the status of
women's healthcare internationally, 5) the current approach for the use
of hormone replacement therapy, 6) the efforts to promote patient
safety internationally, 7) the impact of health care reform on the
future practice of obstetrics and gynecology, and 8) the role of
robotic surgery for treatment of cancer in women.
Price: see the Registration page
Visit the website
13) Conference/Seminar: 2nd All Africa Environmental Health Congress
Monday through Thursday, May 24 - 27, 2010
Lilongwe, Malawi
at the Crossroads Hotel
Sponsor: International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) in
collaboration with the Government of Malawi and the University of Malawi
The conference theme is "Environmental Health - Key to a Better Life
for All", and the vision of this congress is the improvement of the
standards of environmental health in Africa. Objectives are to 1) raise
the profile of environmental health in Africa, 2) share best practices
of environmental health services delivery in Africa, 3) enhance
inter-country collaboration in environmental health practice, 4)
address the training needs of environmental health, 4) promote the
environmental health needs of children in Africa and 5) promote
environmental health research.
Price: see the Registration page
Visit the website
Contact: 265 187 7592 or washted@poly.ac.mw
14) Conference/Seminar: National Environmental Partnership Summit
Tuesday through Thursday, May 25 - 27, 2010
Orlando, Florida
at the DoubleTree Resort Orlando
Sponsor: National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, US Environmental Protection Agency
The summit will include a plenary session by Elizabeth Grossman and
sessions on human health such as on the National Conversation on Public
Health and Chemical Exposures.
Price: see the Registration page
Visit the website
15) Conference/Seminar: 2010 National Tribal Science Forum
Sunday through Thursday, June 6 - 10, 2010
Traverse City, Michigan
at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Sponsor: National EPA Tribal Science Council
The forum theme "Mother Earth: Indigenous Knowledge and Science to
Promote Positive Change" will be explored in the following tracks: air,
water, earth, community health and cross-theme issues.
Price: free
Visit the website
Contact: see the website
16) Conference/Seminar: Our Environment, Our Health: A Nurse's Call to Action
Monday and Tuesday, June 7 - 8, 2010
Baltimore, Maryland
at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 W. Lombard Street
Sponsor: Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
This is the first national conference for nurses addressing the
relationship between human health and the environment. Learn about the
growing movement that is being created by nurses as they "green" their
health care institutions, engage in scientific inquiry, integrate
environmental health practices into nursing assessments and
interventions, and create and support policies that protect human
health and the environment. Come hear about and share in the expanding
roles that nurses are taking in the exciting and critical field of
environmental health. Continuing Nursing Education credits are
available.
Price: see the Registration page
Visit the website
Contact: Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, anhe@son.umaryland.edu
17) Conference/Seminar: Nevada Environmental Health Association Annual Educational Conference
Tuesday through Thursday, July 27 - 29, 2010
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sponsor: Nevada Environmental Health Association Information about the conference will be posted on the website. Price: unknown Visit the website Contact: see the Contact page
18) Conference/Seminar: Reproductive Health 2010
Wednesday through Saturday, September 22 - 25, 2010
Atlanta, Georgia
at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Sponsor: Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP),
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and Society of Family
Planning (SFP) Information will be posted on the website.
Visit the website
Contact: Marlo Polonsky, SFP grants officer, 866-584-6758 ext. 302 or mpolonsky@societyfp.org 19) Conference/Seminar: La Leche League Of Washington Parenting & Breastfeeding Conference
Friday through Sunday, October 15 - 17, 2010
Redmond, Washington
at the Redmond Marriott Town Center
Sponsor: La Leche League Of Washington
The conference theme is "Embrace, Enrich, Embolden!" The conference
offers a unique opportunity to meet other like-minded parents and
professionals while learning about breastfeeding, parenting,
childbirth, discipline, nutrition and child development from parents
and professionals who are experts on these topics. Conference sessions
and schedule will be online May 1, 2010. Registration will begin in
July 2010.
Price: unknown
Visit the website
Contact: Jennifer Wenzel, Wenzel05@live.com
20) Conference/Seminar: American Society for Reproductive Medicine 66th Annual Meeting
Saturday through Wednesday, October 23 - 27, 2010
Denver, Colorado
at the Colorado Convention Center
Sponsor: American Society for Reproductive Medicine
The call for abstracts is currently open on the website.
Price: unknown
Visit the website
21) Conference/Seminar: 138th Annual APHA Meeting & Exposition
Saturday through Wednesday, November 6 - 10, 2010
Denver, Colorado
at the Colorado Convention Center Sponsor: American Public Health Association The conference theme is "Social Justice: A Public Health
Imperative." The social circumstances in which we are born, live, and
work, play a greater role in longevity and overall health in the United
States than genes, health insurance and access to health services.
Annual Meeting sessions will explore why certain populations bear a
disproportionate burden of disease and mortality and what the public
health community can do to better address the causes of these
inequities. Price: see the Registration Fees page Visit the website Contact: APHA, 202-777-APHA
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The Collaborative on Health and the Environment offers this information as a service but does not endorse any of the events, articles or announcements.
Please email Julia Varshavsky, CHE's Fertility/Reproductive Health Working Group Coordinator, at julia@healthandenvironment.org with any questions, comments, or suggestions.
If you would like to join the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE) and the Fertility/Reproductive Health Working Group, please complete the application on the CHE website: http://www.healthandenvironment.org/application. Joining CHE means receiving up to four email messages a month from the CHE National listserv. CHE costs nothing to join and the benefit is shared information and opportunities for further engagement, if you choose. Be sure to mark that you want to join the CHE Fertility/Reproductive Health Working Group at the bottom of the application.
Julia Varshavsky
Collaborative on Health and the Environment
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