Sustainable Consumption and Public Health: Helping Communities Make the Connection

1
Sustainable Consumption and Public
Health Helping Communities Make the Connection

• Jack Luskin, Ph.D.
• Anne Berlin Blackman, J.D., M.A.
• Toxics Use Reduction Institute
• http//www.turi.org/
• Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
  http//www.uml.edu/centers/LCSP/
• University of Massachusetts - Lowell

2
Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) Mission

• To reduce the generation of hazardous waste by
  reducing the use of toxics

3
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute
Education, Training and Learning
Information and Outreach
Research Policy
4
Production / Consumption Systems
Consumption
Production
Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
5
Sector Stakeholders for a Sustainable Society
SUSTAINABILITY
PUBLIC
PRIVATE
GOVERNMENT
6
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute
Industry
Public
Government
7
Industry driver
8
Continuing Education Goals for TUR Planners

• Enhance and promote communication between TUR
  Planners
• Provide Information about new technologies and
  processes
• Push the Boundaries

9
Core Chemicals and Industries Actual Quantity
Trends 1990 - 1999
10
34
32
10
1990 - 1999 Trends Indexed for Changes in
Manufacturing Activity
41
55
57
11
1990 - 1999 Trends Indexed for Changes in
Manufacturing Activity

• Total Use 41
• By-product 57
• Shipped 55
• On-site Releases 87
• Transfer off-site 41

12
Toxics Use Reduction Program Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
http//www.ksg.harvard.edu/innovations/index.html
...Not just because the program is innovative,
but because the program achieved actual results.
13
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute
Industry
Public
Government
14
For many people
Environment

.
15
Nature in the Urban Environment??
16

Health Risk
www.turi.org
17

Health Risk

Less Risk
18
Sample Public Efforts

• TURN Grants
• Worcester Project
• Data Access

19
Toxics Use Reduction Networking (TURN) Grants

• Purpose To provide financial support to
  community organizations and municipalities to
  conduct projects that raise the level of
  awareness and understanding and implementation of
  toxics use reduction at the local level, and to
  promote collaboration with other key stakeholder
  groups (industry, etc.) to promote toxics use
  reduction.

20
Toxics Use Reduction Networking (TURN) grants
FY 2001

• Springfield Toxics Awareness and Reduction
  (STAR) Project

End Products TUR Training Manual for Community
Health Advocates,

• Health and Beauty Go Hand in Hand TUR in the
  Putnam
• Vocational Cosmetology Department

End products Curriculum, factsheets, reference
materials, and self inspection checklist.

• Promoting Healthy Schools in Milton

End Products Trained EHS Sub-committee
toxics use reduction policy recommendations
strategies.
21
Worcester Project

• to facilitate the design and implementation of a
  community-based, urban initiative pilot project
  to reduce the use of toxics in Worcester
• to educate city residents about the negative
  health effects of mercury-containing products and
  to recommend (and in some cases provide)
  alternative products

22
Worcester Project

• Unique to this model is the linkage it provides
  among civic and government environmental
  organizations, neighborhood grassroots
  organizations, and health providers
• The long term goal is to build community capacity
  around toxics identification and reduction in
  consumer products.

23
http//www.turi.org/turadata/
24
Sample Government Efforts
Conference for Public Health Officials
25
Reduce Toxics, Improve Public HealthTools and
Resources for the Public Health Community

• Purpose This event will provide public and
  environmental health professionals valuable
  information, resources, and networking
  opportunities with members of community-based
  organizations and representatives from local,
  state, and federal agencies.

26
Conference Sessions
Improving Indoor Air Quality Through Green
Building Design and Renovation Health Effects
of Toxics on Adults and Children Chemical
Management in Public Facilities Reducing
Pesticides in Communities Toxics in Small
Business and Industry Interactive Resource
Session
27
Learning
Networking Collaboration
Change
Action
28
Benefits to Networking for CP ?
29
(No Transcript)
30
For many people
Environment

.
31
Other U.S. Public / Environmental Health
Efforts

• Pew Environmental Health Commission
• Beyond Pesticides National Coalition Against the
  Misuse of Pesticides Healthy Ecosystems,
  Healthy Children
• EPA - Americas Children and the Environment A
  First View of Available Measures