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Perspectives on Public Health & the Environment
Mini Profile
For her ELP Activity Fund project, Tracey Woodruff initiated a dialogue among scientists about the public health implications of current trends in environmental health policy, particularly in the area of risk assessment. In describing the need for her project, Tracy notes: "There is substantial literature and public speaking arguing that scientific tools used for environmental health policies, particularly those from EPA, are not based on the best available science and produce regulatory standards which are overprotective for public health and overly strict on the regulated community. There is less literature and public discourse on the potential for current risk assessment tools to under-predict health risks to the public from environmental contaminants (children's health being the exception)." As part of a larger series of gatherings and discussions, Tracey used ELP funding to hold a small meeting at the November 2000 American Public Health Association conference in Boston. The meeting brought together a group of twelve scientific experts in environmental health, all of whom who were familiar with the policy process, to discuss specific and general issues related to science, environmental health policy and public health. The meeting aimed to solicit thoughts on the topic, stimulate information sharing, and evaluate the level of interest for further discussions in this area. Participants expressed enthusiasm for continuing discussions on related topics in environmental policy and public health. As a result of Tracey's Activity Fund project, this and future discussions may help identify policies that may under-predict the impact of environmental contaminants on public health, and may promote methods for environmental policy-making that incorporate public health principles.
Mini Profile
Swati Prakash organized a West Harlem Environmental Action (WEACT) conference held in early February entitled "Human Genetics, Environment, and Communities of Color: Ethical and Social Implications," which focused on prioritizing community involvement in a conversation about the science and ethics of genetic research. In describing the need for the conference, Swati notes: "Research into human genetics presents unique opportunities and challenges for environmental justice. As the potential for genetic research as a tool to improve environmental health unfolds, we want to be sure that the benefits accrue to communities of color, which have suffered a disproportionate burden of environmental health problems. But at the same time, we are concerned that growing attention to the genetic basis for susceptibility to environmental exposures could divert attention away from reducing those exposures, or that it might subtly shift the perception of who is responsible for environmental health problems from polluters to the individuals living in polluted environments. This conference was designed to address some of these tough ethical and social issues." In addition to discussion of these social implications, the conference provided accessible information and education about the science of genetic research.
In April 2002, Environmental Health Perspectives published a supplemental issue entitled "Advancing Environmental Justice Through Community-Based Participatory Research," of which Swati Prakash is a co-editor. The issue focuses on how environmental health concerns impact disproportionately on people of color and low-income populations, and how community-based participatory research can provide scientific data and increase community awareness of environmental health hazards. The supplement helps validate community-driven research and brings environmental justice concerns to the scientific community. In October 2002, WEACT will publish a companion journal geared towards community audiences.
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