ANHE Policy Advocacy Forum Monthly Call – June 2024

PFAS: Federal Drinking Water Standards & Opportunities for Nursing Action

Thursday June 6, 2024 3 PM – 4 PM EST

This webinar will be recorded and sent to all those who register. 1 hour of nursing CE will be provided. Registration is required to obtain CE.

Register Here

Webinar Description: The Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized national primary drinking water standards for 6 PFAS. This is the first-ever national, legally enforceable, scientifically supported drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ Most people are exposed to mixtures of PFAS and there is sufficient evidence that certain PFAS are associated with health outcomes including decreased antibody responses and dyslipidemia in both adults and children as well as decreased infant and fetal growth and increased risk of kidney cancer in adults. As public drinking water systems come into compliance with the new standards, nurses and health care providers will likely be asked by patients and those in their communities, about the health effects of PFAS and about PFAS in drinking water. This webinar is intended to discuss resources, including ANHE’s PFAS Toolkit, and advocacy opportunities for the clinician. This will be a 1 hour panel webinar including 4 speakers who are well-established successful PFAS advocates.

Speakers:
Dr. Katie Pelch, Toxics Team in Environmental Health, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Sarah Woodbury, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Defend Our Health
Avonna Stark, Minnesota State Director, Clean Water Action Minnesota
Sophia Longsworth – Clean and Healthy NY

Objectives:

1. Summarize the known and potential health impacts from exposure to PFAS through drinking water.
2. Describe EPA’s most recent national public drinking water standards regarding PFAS.
3. Discuss federal, state and local PFAS advocacy opportunities in which nurses, health workers and clinicians can engage.
4. Review which strategies were successful in passing state-level PFAS legislation noting any barriers.

1 hour of Nursing Continuing Education (CE) credits will be available to participants who complete an evaluation and receive at least 80% on post-test.