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Envirobytes - An Environmental Newsletter
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Weeks Ending October 3, 2008 and October 10, 2008
COMPLIANCE PROGRAM HELPS KEEP MARYLAND FACILITIES GREEN
Maryland transportation agencies have signed an agreement with EPA Region 3 to have 168 of their state transportation facilities (including the airport, highways and port) undergo environmental checks and disclose violations through EPA's self-audit program. "This agreement solidifies Maryland's approach for optimizing its resources so that all its transportation facilities achieve full environmental compliance," said Donald S. Welsh, EPA's mid-Atlantic regional administrator. "We're pleased that Maryland is the first state to sign on to this approach," said Welsh. For information about EPA's audit policy: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/auditing/auditpolicy.html
EPA AWARDS GRANT TO DREXEL UNIVERSITY TO PROMOTE WATER RESEARCH
Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh presented a $599,999 grant to Philadelphia's Drexel University to fund a research project to facilitate the detection of cyanotoxins - a harmful class of toxins produced by blue-green algae linked to fish kills. Drexel will develop a portable sensor device that can monitor and detect cyanotoxins in drinking water in minutes and facilitate preventive action by predicting the onset of algal blooms. For more information, go to http://whyy.org/blogs/healthscience/2008/09/30/detecting-toxins-in-drinking-water 
WORKSHOP AIMS TO IMPROVE ENERGY AND AIR QUALITY ISSUES IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION
EPA staff attended the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA) workshop on Sept. 22 and 23 to discuss regional energy and air quality issues. An EPA representative spoke on "Energy Efficiency: A Low Cost Approach for Addressing Air Quality and Climate Change." The workshop promoted energy efficiency, conservation, and interagency coordination to improve regional air quality planning strategies. MARAMA's mission is to reduce air pollution and find solutions to energy issues in the mid-Atlantic region. For more information and presentations from the workshop, see http://www.marama.org/calendar/events/2008_09Energy.html
EPA WATER PROGRAM RESPONDS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
EPA has officially released The National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change. The document focuses on 40 specific actions for the national water program to take to respond to climate change, and identifies specific response action in five areas: 1) mitigation of greenhouse gases; 2) adaptation to climate change; 3) research related to water and climate change; 4) education on climate change and; 5) water program management of climate change. Information on the strategy can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange/
EPA CELEBRATES CHILDREN'S HEALTH MONTH IN OCTOBER
Each October, EPA celebrates Children's Health Month. This year, EPA launched the Climate Change and Children's Health Education Campaign to encourage middle school and high school students to take action to address global climate change and its potential effect on children's health. As part of the campaign, the Office of Children's Health Protection and Environmental Education (OCHPEE) is also offering The 2008 Children's Environmental Health Report (PDF) (32pp, 1MB), and the October Calendar, with children's environmental health tips for each day in October.
NATIONAL ART CONTEST INSPIRES OCEAN STEWARDSHIP
Coastal America and its partners (including EPA Region 3) recognized 20 students, from kindergarten through college, as winners in a national ocean art contest held at the Smithsonian Institution's Sant Ocean Hall. President George W. Bush offered remarks and presided over the introduction of the Ocean Today Kiosks (interactive learning centers offering ocean news, and video features). More than 2,000 students created art, and wrote essays to inspire ocean stewardship and enhance public awareness of the ocean's plight. To learn more about Coastal America and the Art Contest go to: http://www.coastalamerica.gov/text/calendar.html
EPA-FUNDS GREEN HOSPITALS PILOT PROJECT WORKSHOP IN PHILADELPHIA
The final Green Hospitals Pilot Project workshop (Sustainable Healthcare: Forging a Healthier Future) was presented on Oct. 3 at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The pilot was funded by an EPA grant to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Southeast Regional Office) and two other Philadelphia project partners, the Women's Health & Environmental Network and the Health Care Improvement Foundation (HCIF). Topics included healthcare's dual roles in climate change, energy conservation and financial savings, experience going "live" with a green hospital, environmentally preferable purchasing, pharmaceutical management, toxin reduction in pesticide management, sustainable foods, and implementing a green team for success.
2008 CHILD-SPECIFIC CHEMICAL EXPOSURE HANDBOOK NOW AVAILABLE
The National Center for Environmental Assessment published its first Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook (EPA/600/P-95/002Fa-c) in 1997, which included exposure factors on both adults and children. The current 2008 handbook (an update of the 2002 interim final version) consolidates all child exposure data into one single document and summarizes available and up-to-date statistical data on various factors assessing child exposures. These factors include drinking water consumption, soil ingestion and non-dietary factors, inhalation rates, dermal factors including skin area and soil adherence factors, consumption of fruits and vegetables, fish, meats, dairy products, homegrown foods, human milk, activity patterns, body weight, and consumer products. To read the latest handbook, go to http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=199243
EPA RELEASES ITS 2008 CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS REPORT
EPA released its annual EPA Children's Environmental Health - 2008 Highlights report on national efforts to protect children from environmental risks where they live learn and play. The report describes several highlights in children's environmental health efforts such as the CARE-funded Penn State Integrated Pest Management Program promoting safe pest-control practices for their Spanish and English bi-lingual work with childcare centers and schools in Philadelphia; a grant to the Philadelphia Department of Health for their efforts to educate health care providers and pregnant women on the health risks of prenatal exposure to secondhand smoke and lead poisoning. For more highlights on regional programs and other activities across the nation, visit
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/2008_highlights.htm/$file/OCHP_2008_Highlights_508.pdf
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