Pennsylvania Environmental Health Events

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure takes place in Pittsburgh on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14, 2006. Register online at http://www.pittsburghraceforthecure.org and contact che-penn@comcast.net to volunteer your time at the “ReducingRisk.org” booth.

US Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Michigan) will be at Temple Sinai, 5505 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, on Sunday, May 21, 2006, from 1:30 – 5 PM to conduct a Citizens Hearing on Health Care Reform. Representative Conyers is prime sponsor of HR 676, the “United States National Health Insurance Act,” also known as the “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act.” The hearing will include testimony of local citizens concerning the health care crisis in our region and information on other single-payer solutions, such as PA SB 1085, introduced by Pittsburgh State Senator Jim Ferlo. For more information, contact Sandy Fox, sm2fox@yahoo.com.

Rachel Carson Day is May 27, 2006 and there will be a celebration at the Rachel Carson Homestead from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Join other environmental, conservation and cultural organizations in helping to celebrate the birthday of the author and scientist who helped form the modern environmental movement. Contact the Homestead by going to their website or by calling 724-274-5459.

Noted ecologist and environmental health advocate Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., will lecture at 7 PM on Thursday, June 8, 2006 at the AC-ACLD/Tillotson School, 4900 Girard Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227. Call 412-881-2253 for directions. This free event is co-sponsored by the Healthy Children Project, the AC-ACLD/Tillotson School and CHE-Penn.

The first national conference on precaution, “Taking Precautionary Action: Roadmap for Success,” takes place June 9 - 11 at the University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD. Help build the movement for precautionary action to prevent harm from environmental hazards by registering today! Go to www.besafenet.com/ppconf.html for conference agenda and registration form.Space is limited, so please register soon. Reserve hotel at discount rate by Friday, May 12. Register by Friday, May 26th.

On Saturday, October 21, 2006, the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment (MACCHE) is collaborating with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, CHE-Penn and the Healthy Children Project on a conference on children’s environmental health in Pittsburgh. Mark your calendar now for this exciting event; more information will be forthcoming.

Please send event information to che-penn@comcast.net so we can include it on this page.

CHE-Penn Events Archive

The Rachel Carson Homestead Association hosted a booth at this year’s Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, March 3 – 12, to promote healthy lawn care without pesticides. Working with collaborating organizations, including CHE-Penn, the Healthy Children Project of the Learning Disabilities Association of America, the Center for Healthy Environments and Communities at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Clean Water Action and the Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham College, the booth offered a respite for visitors and a chance to learn about the health risks of common pesticides used on lawns and on safer techniques for controlling weeds and pests.

CHE-Penn Science Advisory Committee founding meeting: 9:00 AM, Friday, December 9, 2005, at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 7th Floor Environmental Health Conference Room of Parran Hall. Contact: Conrad "Dan" Volz, DrPH – sierrakellydan@msn.com.

Dinner meeting for CHE-Penn partners, Thursday, November 17, 2005 at the Mellon Institute in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. After the dinner Andrew Wakefield, Ph.D., presented his controversial research on the MMR vaccine and autism. Please go to the CHE-Penn statement on the event to learn more about our position. CMU chemistry professor Terry Collins, sponsor of the event, has information on the lecture with links to more information about autism, including different opinions on Wakefield’s research at http://www.chem.cmu.edu/wakefield.

Paulette Schreiber, C.R.N.P., Elk Regional Health Center, organized a women's environmental health fair on Saturday, November 5, 2005 in St. Mary’s, PA (Elk County). Sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Pittsburgh Affiliate. For more info call 814-788-8174, or email np_pcs@elkregional.com.

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, “Air Pollution & Your Health”- Residents for A Clean & Healthy (REACH) Mon Valley and Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund hosted a Workshop and Health Fair. at the Jefferson Hills Elementary School, 875 Old Clairton Road, Jefferson Hills, PA.Contact Suzie Brindle at 412-765-3053, ext. 210.

Monday, October 24, 3:45 p.m. - Environmental Session at the Pennsylvania Public Health Association Annual Conference. Presentations by CHE-Penn partners Dr. Robbie Ali, Dr. Conrad Volz, Dr. Devra Davis and CHE-Penn Coordinator Steffi Domike. See http://www.ppha.org/ for more information

Thursday, October 20, Program at UPMC Northwest, Seneca, Venango County. Sponsored by CHE-Penn with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Pittsburgh Affiliate.

Saturday, October 8, 10 a.m., Breakfast Wellness Group at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rankin, PA, sponsored by CHE-Penn with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Pittsburgh Affiliate.

On Saturday, October 8, Conrad D. Volz, DrPH, MPH, spoke on, “Exposure Assessment of Pennsylvania Communities Contaminated by Legacy Iron and Steel Industry Waste” at the historic Pump House on Waterfront Drive in Homestead. Sponsored by CHE-Penn and the Battle of Homestead Foundation.

July 14, 2005: "Effects of Mercury Toxics on Children," presented by Dr. Laura Hewitson. She was joined by Jo Ann Meier, from the event sponsor, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Pittsburgh, Heather Sage from PennFuture, Dr. Devra Davis from the Center for Environmental Oncology and Steffi Domike from CHE-Penn. This forum took place at The Children's Institute, 6301 Northumberland Street, Pittsburgh.

Conference Follow-up Meeting

Pittsburgh 2005: CHE-Penn Conference

Clean Air Task Force presentation at the University of Pittsburgh on Federal clean air legislation and its significant impact on public health

Mercury Testing at SEJ Conference See the PennFuture/Harvard Mercury Study for the results of hair samples tested for mercury.

CHE-Penn Introductory Public Event with Claire L. Barnett, M.B.A. Healthy Schools Network, a national organization centered on children's environmental health and Devra Davis, Ph.D., M.P.H. Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.