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Hazards A-Z

A review of environmental health hazards and health effects

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Home » Hazards A-Z » Schools

Schools

Healthy Schools Network

Healthy Schools Report

we.are.anhe

Via @until_justice_data_partners • @centerforenv

Via @until_justice_data_partners • @centerforenvironmentalhealth ☣️ Wildfire smoke is toxic, and the health and safety of people in Canada and many parts of the United States weighs heavily on our hearts and minds.

Wildfires pollute the air with toxic gases, hydrocarbons and oxygenated organics. The pollution created, especially if they are small particles (PM 2.5), can travel deep inside your lungs and cause oxidative stress which damages the lungs. Studies have also shown that wildfires have a direct effect on respiratory diseases; the more wildfires there are, the more people will experience respiratory diseases or a worsening of symptoms (difficulty breathing and more coughing). These situations are even worse for people who already have difficulties, like those living with asthma.

Climate change is also playing a huge role in the number of wildfires and the length of wildfire season. The increasing temperatures that climate change is bringing makes for hotter weather which, in turn, dries out more of the vegetation in an area, making it the perfect fuel for a fire. The increasing temperatures also ensure that the wind blowing in these areas are hot and dry, the perfect type of wind for spreading a wildfire.

For those who have lived near wildfires, mental health is often also affected. Anxiety, fear, and grief are common emotions that are felt during and in the aftermath of wildfires. This is partially due to the unknowns of the fire, but also has to do with the isolation felt from being trapped inside because of air quality considerations and not being able to go about a normal daily routine. This is all on top of the direct worry of how close the fire may be to their home.

To reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke pollutants, here are a few immediate steps you can take:

✅ Stay inside as much as possible
✅ Use an air purifier
✅ Exercise indoors
✅ Wear an N95 mask

N95 masks filter out fine particles, but not hazardous gases. Make sure you have a good seal (not meant for small kids).

#Wildfires #Wildfire #FireSeason #WildfireSeason #Canada #AirQuality #AirPollution #ClimateChange #ClimateEmergency #Climate #Smoke #Asthma

Join the Canadian Association of Nurses for the En

Join the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) and ANHE for a FB Live convo on planetary health!

Learn about our joint efforts and the work we'll be sharing at the ICN Congress in Montreal from July 1-5, 2023. #PlanetaryHealthICN #Nurses4PlanetaryHealth

“We need environmental justice solutions now.”

“We need environmental justice solutions now.”

Multiple generations of the Wilson family are fighting for #CleanAir and #CleanerTrucks for Black and brown communities across North Carolina.

Hear more of their story in this video via Climate Action Campaign and submit a comment to the EPA calling for the strongest possible vehicle pollution standards: https://zurl.co/tzpX

#SolutionsForPollution

Save the Date for ANHE's upcoming June Events! Mor

Save the Date for ANHE's upcoming June Events! More details to come for each event, stay tuned 🤗

🌱 June 5: Second Anniversary Celebration of ANHE Latinoamérica

🌱 June 13: Planetary Health Facebook Live Convo with CANE

🌱 June 21: Nevada Climate Change and Health Webinar with Nevada Clinicians for Climate Action

Celebración Del Segundo Aniversario de #ANHE Lati

Celebración Del Segundo Aniversario de #ANHE Latinoamérica, Junio 5 de 2023!

Invitado Especial: Juan Carlos Santacruz, Director Ejecutivo de la Fundación Colombiana del Corazón y Autor del libro "Aprender a Comer Vitamina N".

Enlace del Evento: https://zurl.co/geR6

Join the Celebration for the Second Anniversary of ANHE Latinoamérica on June 5th!

With Special Guest Juan Carlos Santacruz, Executive Director of the Columbian Heart Foundation and Author of the book “Learn to Eat Vitamin N”.

Register in our Link in Bio!

Let EPA Administrator Michael Regan know we need t

Let EPA Administrator Michael Regan know we need the Strongest Clean Cars Standards Passed as Quickly as Possible! Add your Voice by Signing and Sharing this Petition!

The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gasses in the United States, making up nearly 30% of our country’s emissions. Emissions from passenger vehicles and trucks pollute the air we breathe causing adverse health impacts and contributing to the increasingly urgent issue of climate change. Nurses applaud EPA for finalizing robust clean car standards through model year 2026 and for taking the important next steps to finalize stricter clean car and truck standards through model year 2027.

It is critical that EPA finalized the strongest possible clean car and truck standards to drive a rapid transition to zero emissions vehicles. Numerous studies show that poor health outcomes and higher incidences of chronic conditions, like asthma, lung disease, and cancer, are linked to tailpipe pollution from passenger vehicles. In 2020, the national passenger vehicle fleet represented approximately 94 percent of the nation’s on-road vehicles and generated over one million tons of ozone- and particle-forming NOx emissions, and over 33,400 tons of fine particles annually. Further, freight truck pollution harms especially those who live near highways, ports, freight hubs and other high traffic areas. We know that clean car standards are the most effective policy to reduce dangerous air pollution and protect public health nationwide.

Climate change poses serious threats to the health and lives of all Americans, especially children, older adults, low-wealth communities, communities of color and people living with chronic diseases. When poor air quality due to vehicle emissions coincides with climate-related risks, such as extreme heat or ground-level ozone, adverse health effects are further amplified. By finalizing the strongest possible clean car standards for cars and trucks, EPA will help the communities, who often are more exposed to air pollution and the hardest hit by effects of climate change, and align with the Biden Administration’s environmental justice goals.

Words shared by Atenas Mena during the Kansas City

Words shared by Atenas Mena during the Kansas City #RouteZero relay stop. Atenas is an ANHE Fellow and Co-Executive Director of CleanAirNow. Sign the Clean Vehicle Standards Petition in our Link in Bio!

“The ink from redlining practices bleeds deep in our streets, our homes, and our health. Some of us grew up with clean air and a healthy environment, while others are questioning how much that exposure is going to cost them, how high will the health bills be? How many years is that taking away from my life?”

“We have high risk zip codes where asthma, heart disease, and cancer are above the national average. And they are the same ones that are sliced by highways, living next to the second largest rail system in the nation, and right next to chemical facilities and coal plants.”

“Environmental racism is disproportionately poisoning and sickening people of color and low-income communities because of the overwhelming and unequal distribution of environmental health hazards. I stand here before you in solidarity with my community, demanding for zero emissions now!”

“Diesel dead zones are overburdened environmental justice communities impacted by the freight transportation system. Communities in Kansas City experiencing transportation injustice with limited access to cars, rideshares and buses are experiencing the highest pollution. Yes, the least responsible are apparently the most impacted.”

“In the creation of zero-emissions infrastructure and solutions, we must prioritize those at the fence line. Justice demands holding government accountable for complacency. Nothing less will adequately impact the future of our health and our welfare. The need for justice is urgent. All of us collectively can take a step in the right direction - and that is to protect our fence line communities who deserve justice for far too long already. But everyone else will also benefit by preventing pollution.”

“We all have the right to take a deep breath, inhale clean air that supplies us with oxygen, not toxins. Our communities do not need the false promises of alternative fuels. We need zero emmissions. We are the experts, and our voices need to not just be heard, but listened to.”

Reducing transportation pollution is critical to p

Reducing transportation pollution is critical to protecting #publichealth and addressing the #climatecrisis. Spurred on by historic investments in charging infrastructure, battery manufacturing, and tax incentives for consumers to make the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles, we are on a path to a zero emission transportation future in the United States.

The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is joining with organizations across the country
on a #RouteZero Road Trip, a relay style voyage of EV drivers across the country along parts of
the iconic Route 66. The campaign is aimed at uplifting stories from Americans about how they
would benefit from reduced tailpipe pollution and cleaner air, where they see opportunities for
vehicle electrification, how cities and towns are proactively working toward vehicle
electrification, and more.

Second in a 2-part series, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments will be live on May
31st with Oriana Turley, CMSRN, BA, BSN RN, Analyst and Program Coordinator & Sarah E.
Johnson, BSN, BA, RN-BC RN, Sustainability Program Manager at Providence Health to
discuss how hospital and healthcare facilities can advance initiatives that move us towards a
zero emissions transportation future.

Oriana Turley is a mother, adventurer, nurse, entrepreneur and sustainability healthcare professional. She works as an analyst and program coordinator for environmental stewardship at Providence, where she supports the systemwide goal toward Carbon Negativity by 2030.

Sarah E. Johnson has been working to support healthy people, communities, and planetary health for over 10 years. Drawing from a background in sustainable agriculture and integrative medicine, Sarah works within Providence St. Patrick Hospital and the Montana region to educate and engage staff, patients, and community members on environmental stewardship in healthcare.

What a great way to conclude the 2023 Nursing Summ

What a great way to conclude the 2023 Nursing Summit on Environmental Health - ANHE Executive Director, Dr. Katie Huffling, reads a poem by Mary Oliver called Summer Day.

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean—
this one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?
—Mary Oliver

Thank you to so much to our sponsors, to our speakers and panelists, to our attendees, and to our staff for making the 2023 Nursing Summit such an incredible event. We are so grateful for all of you.

Cheers! 💚🌱🐛🦋🌎

Introducing more panelists speaking at the 2023 AN

Introducing more panelists speaking at the 2023 ANHE Summit: Sofia Aragon and Beverly May!

Register for the Summit at our @we.are.anhe Link in Bio or via this link: https://zurl.co/MnD7

Sofia Aragon (JD, BSN, RN) lives with her husband in Burien. As a registered nurse and attorney, she worked in Olympia for over a decade to advocate for affordable and accessible health care, protecting public health, workplace safety, and ensuring differing opinions are included when developing public policy. She moved on to be the executive director of the Washington Center for Nursing, a private nonprofit organization focused on building a strong and diverse nursing workforce. In this role she works with business and education leaders to build a health workforce our communities need. While Burien is moving forward for plans for more growth, planning should include community needs such as strong schools and access to health and social services. Aragon has served on numerous statewide advisory committees under Governors Locke, Gregoire, and Inslee. She currently serves on the board of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance to help solve the homelessness crisis and ensure affordable housing for everyone.

Beverly May, a native of eastern Kentucky, served the region as a nurse for 30 years, 20 of those as a family nurse practitioner focused on rural, uninsured, homeless and behavioral health populations. She received her BSN and Master's in Family and Community Nursing from the University of Kentucky and in 2019 completed a DrPH also from UK. Her epidemiologic research for the UK College of Public Health has focused on respiratory exposures and Healthy Homes interventions, using a community-based participatory approach and public water supply issues. As a community advocate, May documented drowning fatalities during the July 2022 eastern Kentucky "thousand year" flood and their proximity to surface coal mines.

Big thank you to our guests Jill Aquino and Mary C

Big thank you to our guests Jill Aquino and Mary Canales for joining us to talk about the health benefits of transitioning to zero emissions vehicles and the ways nurses can plug into the environmental justice and climate action movements. Here are a few snippets from the conversation - check our Link in Bio to view the full talk! 🚗 🚙 🌱

Follow @actonclimateus for more updates on the #RouteZero campaign!

The Route Zero Road Trip is a relay style voyage of #EV drivers across the country along parts of the iconic Route 66. The campaign is aimed at uplifting stories from Americans about how they would benefit from reduced tailpipe pollution and cleaner air, where they see opportunities for vehicle electrification, how cities and towns are proactively working towards vehicle electrification, and more.

Next stop - Detroit!

“They always seem to fall short of what communit

“They always seem to fall short of what communities actually need. So if you’re wondering if these rules are aggressive enough I would say no because they’re not meeting the minimum standards that we’re asking for. It shouldn’t be that California has more stringent standards than the Federal government...If Federal lets us down it’s going to trickle down and state and local levels are going to continue to be laxed and we’re not going to prioritize the areas that have already been, for generations, most impacted.”

Join ANHE on Facebook for our 2nd “EJ Wednesday” interview series with Atenas Mena, MSN, RN, CPN of “Clean Air Now” for discussion on social determinants of health, the overlap between environmental racism and public health, and policy advocacy for strengthening of Federal safeguards to protect health as a form of nursing care.

#SolutionsforPollution #EJWednesday #EnvironmentalJustice #HealthEquity

Introducing more of our panelists speaking at the

Introducing more of our panelists speaking at the 2023 ANHE Summit: Dr. Laurel A. Royer and Dr. Nelson Tuazon!

Dr. Laurel A. Royer studied at the University of the Virgin Islands, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Purdue University, where she earned a Master of Science degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, and Doctoral degree in Environmental Organic Chemistry. Within the highly specialized area of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), Dr. Royer has more than 15 years combined research and scientific consulting expertise. She’s leveraged an in-depth knowledge of the chemical sciences, timeline of production and market presence to support a comprehensive understanding of the ubiquitous application of PFAS across manufacturing, industrial and consumer product sectors. Dr. Royer, in her work, speaking engagements, and writing continues to be an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, especially as it applies to addressing the challenges of environmental injustice.

Dr. Nelson Tuazon has a successful track record in nursing practice, academia, and executive leadership. As founder of the San Antonio Nursing Consortium (SANC) and Board Member of the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce, he actively participates in public awareness campaigns on environmental health and humanitarian projects related to climate change. His interests in the Environmental Health Nurse Fellowship focus on integrating environmental health and environmental justice into nursing practice, curriculum, public education, and health policy. In 2022, he served as the lead planner for the microgrant on the San Antonio Climate Ready Initiative Dissemination Campaign received by SANC from the San Antonio Office of Sustainability. Dr. Tuazon serves as adjunct faculty at Excelsior University and UT Health San Antonio. He was the inaugural Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (now the Journal of Nursing Practice Applications and Reviews of Research). He serves as a peer reviewer of the Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice.

In partnership with the Minnesota Environmental Ju

In partnership with the Minnesota Environmental Justice Table and Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, AHNE will be co-hosting an event in Minneapolis for environmentally-conscious health professionals to talk about what the public health field can do to improve the health and
well-being of their communities. Hear from AHNE's Fellows as well as learn about the local environmental justice fight against the HERC directly from community leaders.

Nurses who attend this event will be eligible to receive one hour of Nursing Continuing Education (CE) credit for participation.

Learn more and Register at the link below, or in our @we.are.anhe Link in Bio!

https://zurl.co/cHbB

Here’s a photo of ANHE’s Melanie Schimpf @_mel

Here’s a photo of ANHE’s Melanie Schimpf @_melaileen at the @lastchancealliance Big Oil Resistance event in Los Angeles!

The Big Oil Resistance Tour continues. Coming up next this weekend: San Diego and Kern County on May 6 and May 7.

Visit our Link in Bio to get your tickets and join the campaign!

UPDATE: our raffle winner is @mollifar 🙌🏽🤗🥳 congratulations! 🎊

Thank you to everyone who entered, we’ll be reaching out soon to all participants via DM with your discount code for the ANHE Summit, or you can send us a message with your email address 📧

Giveaway Alert!

Hello ANHE community! We will be hosting a giveaway on Instagram starting today May 4, 2023 and ending on May 9, 2023 at 9am PST/12pm EST.

One Winner Will Receive:

🌟 One copy of the book Taking Care by @sarahedigregorio
🌟 One FREE admission to the ANHE 2023 Summit + $100 for ANHE Summit travel expenses

All entrants will receive a $50 discount code for ANHE 2023 Summit Registration!

To participate:

1) Follow @we.are.anhe on Instagram
2) Like this post
3) Tag a friend in the comments

One entry per person please 🙂

Enter by May 9, 2023 at 9:00am PST/12:00pm EST. Winner will be chosen by random draw and announced on May 10, 2023 at 9:00am PST/12:00pm EST. Winner will be notified by IG Direct Message and tagged to @we.are.anhe story posts.

*This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered, or affiliated with Facebook or Instagram.

*Must be 18 years or older and live in the U.S. to enter. Void where prohibited. No Purchase Necessary.

Nurses are advocating for the road to #RouteZero i

Nurses are advocating for the road to #RouteZero in our nation's transportation sector all month!

➡Strengthening standards on greenhouse gas emissions from buses and trucks. 🚌
➡Finalizing proposed emission standards on cars IN 2023. 🚗
➡Speaking to the numerous health and climate benefits of zero emissions vehicles!

Ensuring cleaner air in ALL communities is long overdue and an environmental justice must this year. 45% of residents in counties with high truck traffic are people of color, compared to 38.4% of the total US population with higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions as a result. By passing strong standards this year, the EPA can take one step further to further its commitment to #environmentaljustice and #healthequity.

#EJWednesday #CleanerTrucks #CleanerCars #CleanAirNOW #SolutionsforPollution

The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is

The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is joining with organizations across the country on a Route Zero Road Trip, a relay style voyage of EV drivers across the country along parts of the iconic Route 66. The campaign is aimed at uplifting stories from Americans about how they would benefit from reduced tailpipe pollution and cleaner air, where they see opportunities for vehicle electrification, how cities and towns are proactively working toward vehicle electrification, and more.

First in a 2-part series, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments will be live on May 4th at 12:30 pm ET to talk with Dr. Mary K. Canales, Ph.D., RN, nursing professor, and Jill Aquino, RN, CSN, MS, community coordinator, to talk about the health benefits of transitioning to zero emissions vehicles.

Join our Facebook Live to learn more! #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateActionNow #ZeroEmissions #ANHE #PublicHealth

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, Atlanta Public Schools

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent, and Local Climate Leaders to Celebrate Historic Federal Investments for Electric School Buses

$9.9 M Climate Investments in Atlanta Public Schools Will Protect Georgia Kids and the Air They Breathe

Tuesday, May 2
12 PM ET - 1 PM ET

Tune in via Facebook Live on ANHE’s Facebook page! Link in bio 📺

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) is joining leading public health and climate advocates for a press conference at Dunbar Elementary School to celebrate the unprecedented $9.9 million federal investment in Georgia and Atlanta’s Public School (APS) system to cut climate pollution and bolster the district’s public school transit system.

Stemming from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - supported by Rep. Williams, Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, and several other members of Georgia’s Congressional Delegation - the state won big with major investments to address the climate crisis and advance the clean energy economy.

The event will highlight the tangible benefits of President Biden’s affordable clean energy plan, including electrifying APS’ buses and improving metro Atlanta’s air quality.

The press conference is being organized by the Climate Action Campaign, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Interested reporters should RSVP to Andrew Postal at apostal@cacampaign.org

Agriculture & Climate Impacts: A Discussion on the

Agriculture & Climate Impacts: A Discussion on the 2023 Farm Bill with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments and the Environmental Working Group

May 4, 2023 @ 12 PST/3PM EST

Register via our Link in Bio or at: https://zurl.co/FqRz

The science is clear: If we don’t reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food and farming, we can’t avoid the worst impacts of #climatechange. Agriculture in America could become the leading source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Congress recently provided $20 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act to support farmers who adopt “climate-smart” practices, including changes in fertilizer and manure management. Some members of Congress are seeking to divert this funding. The 2023 #FarmBill is a key opportunity to protect that investment and help make sure funding support is going to farmers and ranchers who are committed to reducing their emissions. Tune in for a discussion with Environmental Working Group on how agriculture impacts climate change, why it matters, and how nurses can get involved in climate advocacy around the 2023 Farm Bill.

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Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
2901 Shepherd Street Mount Rainier, MD 20712
240.753.3729
info@envirn.org

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