Title: Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging Protecting Health through Personal Actions and through Policy Change
1Environmental Threats to Healthy AgingProtecting
Health through Personal Actions and through
Policy Change
Sarah Uhl, Clean Water Action Coordinator of the
Coalition for a Safe Healthy Connecticut
2The Coalition for a Safe Healthy Connecticut
The Coalition is a growing alliance of over 50
organizations health, labor, faith, scientific,
environmental, and community groups. Toget
her we are working to prevent harm to human
health and the environment from toxic chemicals.
3CSHC continued
- Science has Sounded the Alarm
- Over 180 diseases and disorders linked to toxic
chemicals, including many diseases of the aging - Newborns cord blood contains on average 200
synthetic chemicals - Aging begins at conception
4The Environment
- Exposure to environmental chemicals and
infectious materials - Physical activity
- Social interactions
- Nutrition
- Education
- Intellectual stimulation
- Socioeconomic circumstances
- Stress
5Time to Modernize our Safety Standards
- Our federal law is outdated
- U.S. is falling behind other countries
- Safer alternatives approach
6Chemicals of Concern
- Pesticides
- Mercury
- Dioxin
- PCBs
- Flame Retardants
- Bisphenol-A
- Phthalates
- Perflurocarbons
- (etc.)
(routes of exposure)
7 Toxins linked to diseases of the aging
- Neorodegenerative disorders
- Alzheimers (air pollution, solvents, heavy
metals, and other oxidative-stressors) - Parkinsons (pesticides, oxidative-stressors)
- The Western disease cluster
- Diabetes (PCBs, pesticides, endocrine disruptors)
- Cardiovascular disease (endocrine disruptors, air
pollution) - Metabolic syndrome (endocrine disruptors, PCBs
and other persistent organic pollutants) - Obesity (obesogens, endocrine disruptors,
mutagens)
8Some Good News Safer Chemicals
- Green chemistry takes human and environmental
health into consideration when designing new
molecules - Leading companies are finding
- innovative new approaches and
- shifting to safer alternatives
9Our Campaign Goals
- Immediate action on the worst chemicals
- Require basic information for all chemicals
- Protect the most vulnerable
- Use the best science and methods
- Hold industry responsible for demonstrating
chemical safety - Ensure environmental justice
- Promote safer alternatives
- Ensure the right to know
10Out Strategies
- Municipal Resolutions
- State Policies
- Executive Orders
- Legislation
- Corporate Policies
- And ultimatelyfederal policies and international
agreements
11- 2009 Chemical Policy Legislation
- Phase out Bisphenol A from food and beverage
containers (HB 6572) - --passed!
- Phase out Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers from
Consumer Products (SB 919) did not pass - Require Green Cleaning in Schools (HB 6496)
--passed!
12- 2010 Chemical Policy Legislation
- Establish Chemical Innovations Institute
- (HB 5126) --passed!
- Enable our state agencies to phase out the
worst-of-the-worst chemicals from childrens
products (HB 5130) ) did not pass - Phase out cadmium from childrens jewelry (HB
5314) --passed!
13What is happening at the federal level?
- The Coalition for a Safe Healthy Connecticut is
part of a new national campaign to reform federal
chemical policy! - (help by sending postcards to your members of
Congress)
14Recent Fun Tactics
15Tactics Continued
16Tactics Continued
Study finds toxic chemicals in health-care
workers
Posted 8 October 2009 MERIDEN A study
released Thursday shows that, of 20 doctors and
nurses tested across the nation, all of them have
toxic chemicals in their bodies. Advocates say
the results show theres a need for more
stringent regulation of chemicals found in
everyday products...
Blood Tests Show High Toxin Levels Doctors From
Across Country Reveal High Levels Of
Toxins POSTED 323 pm EDT October 8, 2009
17Tactics Continued
18Tactics Continued
19How are People Getting Involved?
- Inviting speakers to tea talks, luncheons, and
forums - Sharing information with others in their
community - Submitting letters to the editor
- Writing and calling their legislators
- Attending events
- Providing testimony at public hearings
- Giving Presentations
- Speaking to the media
- Telling their stories
- Recruiting others to get involved
20Safe products, made safely
21- Program Contact
- Sarah Uhl
- 860-232-6232