Going Green with the NLM: Environmental Health and Toxicology Information

1. Going Green with the NLM: Environmental Health and Toxicology Information Michelle Eberle Consumer Health Information Coordinator NN/LM – New England Region

2. http://nnlm.gov/ner/

3. What is the NLM? • National Library of Medicine • Part of the National Institutes of Health • The world’s largest biomedical library • Creator of PubMed.gov, MedlinePlus.gov and many other useful health information resources!!!

5. 2007 According to TIME writer, Bryan Walsh, 2007 will be remembered as the tipping point when public understanding of the existential threat of climate change reached critical mass. Source: Antonelli, Monika. “The Green Library Movement: An Overview and Beyond.” Electronic Green Journal. 1(27): 2008.

7. What is a good starting point for someone interested in learning more about environmental health?

8. http://medlineplus.gov

9. What will I find on MedlinePlus for environmental health? • RadTown USA, EPA • Choosing Where You Live, EPA • Clinical Trials.gov – Environmental Health • National Children’s Study – NIEHS, CDC, NICHHD • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Glossary of Terms • Toxic Release Inventory, EPA For Kids: • FISH Kids, EPA • TOXMYSTERY, NLM • Your Baby’s Environment, March of Dimes

10. http://www.nlm.nih.gov

11. Environmental Health & Toxicology Portal http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro.html

12. Where can kids learn about environmental health?

13. http://toxmystery.nlm.nih.gov/

14. http://toxmystery.nlm.nih.gov/

15. Helping Kids Be Eco-Friendly • Recycling • Composting • Grow vegetables at home instead of going to the store • Use everyday household cleaners: vinegar, baking soda • Turn off the lights

16. Helping Kids Be Eco-Friendly • Have a “stop a leak” day at home • Give away used toys to charity instead of throwing them away • Plan outdoor activities to help instill appreciation for the earth • Clean up a stream or park • Adopt an endangered animal at the local zoo or other charity

17. 5 easy steps for a cleaner, greener home 1)Manage pests safely 2) Use nontoxic products 3) Clean up indoor air 4) Shop smart 5) Be wise with plastics Resource: Gavigan, Christopher. Healthy Child, Healthy World, Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, 2008.

18. Where can teens learn about environmental health?

19. ToxTown • Provides an interactive guide to the toxic chemicals and environmental health risks associated with everyday life • Uses colors, graphics, sounds and animation to create a user-friendly learning experience for a wide range of audiences

20. ToxTown Content • ToxTown provides information on: • Everyday locations where toxic chemicals might be found • Non-technical descriptions of chemicals • Human health impacts of chemical exposures • Links to chemical information and environmental health topics on the Internet

21. ToxTown Organization • ToxTown contains both location and chemical links • Each neighborhood has mulitple buildings and settings, including interior views of some buildings • Toxic chemicals and health effects associated with specific locations are presented • Chemicals are described in non-technical language and linked to further sources of information about health effects.

22. http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/

23. “Richard Scarry’s Great Big Air Book”

24. Tox Town in Spanish http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/espanol/

25. http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/ Search by Location

26. Link from Tox Town to CDC: Lead Poisoning Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

28. Link from Tox Town to EPA: Clean School Bus USA http://www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/

32. Green living in your community • Recycle • Reduce • Reuse

33. How can college students learn more about environmental health?

34. Toxicology Tutorials • Toxicology Tutorial 1: Basic Principles • Toxicology Tutorial 2: Toxicokinetics Includes chapters on: • absorption • distribution • biotransformation • excretion • Toxicology Tutorial 3: Cellular Toxicology

37. Where can I learn about health effects of products I might use at home?

38. http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/

39. HPD can help answer… • What chemicals are contained in specific brands and in what percentage? • Which products contain specified chemicals? • Who manufactures a specific brand? How can I contact the manufactures? • What are the potential health effects of the chemical ingredients in a specific brand? • What other information is available about such chemicals in the toxicology-related databases of the National Library of Medicine?

40. Product information • Brand information • Manufacturer’s Information • Health Effects from MSDS / Label • Warning from Label • First Aid • Acute Health Effects • Chronic Health Effects • Carcinogenicity • Hazardous Material Information System Raging • Handling/ Disposal • Ingredient from MSDS / Label

41. Lysol Brand Disinfectant Cling Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Country Scent http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=18001147

42. Green cleaning The non toxic trio: • Baking soda • Castile soap • White vinegar Source: Gavigan, Christopher, Healthy Child Healthy World, Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, 2008. • Other agents: • Lemon • Hydrogen peroxide • Essential oils

43. How green is my job?

44. http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov

45. Haz-Map • Relational database containing occupational toxicology information • Includes information on chemicals, jobs, job tasks and diseases • Classifications based on standard industry, occupational and medical classification systems

46. HazMap contents • Agents: chemical and biological agents associated with industrial processes, activities and diseases • Diseases: occupational diseases associated with hazardous job tasks and agents • Jobs: related tasks that could result in exposure to chemical or biological agents

49. Where can I learn about the environment where I live?

50. TOXMAP • Helps users create national, regional or local maps showing where TRI chemicals are released into the air, water or land • Identifies facilities releasing chemical, color codes releases each year and provides multiyear release data since 1987. • Links to the latest US Census data • Links to ATSDR ToxFAQs, public health statements, NLM’s HSDB and TOXLINE