I apologize for the length of this message...it's just that I know a lot
of you may be interested in this coming event. I am NOT directly
involved with it, but since it seems vitally important, I'm trying to
help publicize it online to those who might be either interested in
attending or in a position to help spread the word to others.
I would very much appreciate *anything* you can do to pass this along,
especially to those in the Pacific Northwest area. Please address any
requests for information ** directly to Carol Dansereau or Jason Everett
of Washington Toxics Coalition at info@watoxics.org ** (as I do not have
any information besides what is in the following).
Thanks!!!
Laurel Ballou
Bothell, WA, USA
P.S. Please excuse any typos!
**************
The Washington Toxics Coalition presents:
*** Protecting Children from Toxic Exposures ***
At school, at home, in the community...
Saturday, November 8, 1997
1:00pm - 5:00pm
Nippon Kan Theatre
Seattle, Washington
Symposium Goals
Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of toxic exposures
because of their size, their habits, and the fact that their brains and
bodies are still developing. Yet every day, children are exposed to
toxic substances in house dust, on lawns and playgrounds, in the air,
and in food. Extensive evidence indicates that children may be paying
the price for these exposures in the form of learning and attention
disorders, asthma and other respiratory ailments, increased rates of
cancer and birth defects, and other health problems.
*** Protecting Children from Toxic Exposures *** will:
* describe the worst of common toxic exposures that children are
experiencing,
* discuss health effects of prenatal and childhood exposures,
* provide practical information about how to minimize children's toxic
exposures, and
* provide an overview of state and federal policy developments
affecting children's environmental health
Who Should Attend?
* teachers
* school officials
* parents and guardians
* grandparents
* pediatricians
* midwives
* school nurses
* other health professionals
* legislators and other policymakers
* environmental and health agency staff members
* architects
* religious leaders
* school maintenance workers
* anyone concerned about children's health
Introduction By
U. S. Congressman Jim McDermott,
7th Congressional District
Keynote Speakers
Ted Schettler, MD, MPH
Dr. Schettler will provide an overview of children's toxic exposures and
explain why children are more susceptible to injury from these exposures
than adults. He will discuss developmental problems, learning
disabilities, and cancers linked to these exposures. Dr. Schettler is a
practicing physician in Boston, Massachusetts where he is active with
Physicians for Social Responsibility. He is a co-author of "Generations
at Risk: How Environmental Toxins May Affect Reproductive Health in
Massachusetts". With a particular interest in how pollutants interfere
with hormones in developing children, Dr. Schettler serves on the United
States Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening
and Testing Advisory Committee.
Mary Oetzel,
Environmental Education and Health Services
Ms. Oetzel will describe common toxic exposures in schools and homes
associated with renovations, new carpets, office equipment, pesticides,
cleaning products, and other sources. She will provide extensive
practical advice on how to minimize and avoid these toxics exposures.
Ms. Oetzel is the president of Environmental Education and Health
Services, Inc., a Texas-based consulting form. She has helped school
administrators, architects, parents and teachers address sick building
problems in schools in Washington state and throughout the United
States. Ms. Oetzel has written numerous articles and other materials on
minimizing toxic exposures including two chapters in "The Healthy School
Handbook", a National Education Association Professional Library
Publication.
Other Speakers
Amy Duggan,
Master Home Environmentalist Program
Ms. Duggan will describe the Master Home Environmentalist program's free
home assessments. These identify environmental health hazards and
develop action plans to reduce toxic exposures. The Seattle-based MHE
program is the first comprehensive, volunteer-based program of its kind
and has received international attention for its accomplishments.
Elizabeth Loudon,
Washington Toxics Coalition
Ms. Loudon will describe the Toxics Coalition's work with several
Washington state schools developing programs that minimize pesticide
use.
Yalonda Sinde,
Sommunity Coalition for Enviornmental Justice
Ms. Sinde will discuss the ways in which toxic exposures tend to be
experienced disproportionately by children of color and children from
low income families. She will also describe assistance she has provided
helping families reduce household asthma triggers.
Philip Dickey,
Washington Toxics Coalition
Dr. Dickey will provide information on common household products that
pose the greatest threats to children's health and safety and discuss
alternatives to thoese products.
Carol Dansereau,
Washington Toxics Coalition
Ms. Dansereau will outline state and federal bills and draft policies
that affect children's environmental health. She will report on the
growing children's environmental health movement and how to become
involved in it.
Endorsers
Washington Education Association
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
League of Women Voters of Washington
Puget Consumers Co-op
Environmental Education Association of Washington
Coalition for Environmentally Safe Schools
Community Coalition for Environmental Justice
Children's Health Environmental Coalition
Seattle Waldorf School
Interagency Indoor Air Council
Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet
American Lung Association of Washington
Well Mind Association
Washington Public Interest Research Group
Forty-Fifth Avenue Clinic
University of Washington---NIEHS Center for Ecogenetics and
Environmental Health, Community Outreach and Education Program
Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington
Bastyr University
This conference is part of the Washington Toxics Coalition's broader
work protecting children's health, which is supported by the Bullitt,
Brainerd, C.S. Mott, W. Alton Jones, Public Welfare, Jennifer Altman,
Kongsgaard, Northwest Fund for the Enviornment, Strong, Seattle, Wallace
Genetic, Horizons, PCC, Tides, One/Northwest, Patagonia, and other
foundations, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other
agencies, and by our major donors and our members.
Directions to the Symposium
The Nippon Kan Theatre is located at 628 S. Washington Street. Take the
James Street exit from I-5. Coming from the north, it will put you on
6th. From the south, you will need to turn left onto 6th. Follow 6th
to Washington, an unmarked street 1 block after Yesler, and turn left.
There is a small free parking lot behind the theatre and a pay lot next
to it.
The theatre area is served by bus nubmers 7, 36, and 14. Call Metro's
Rider Information Line at (206) 553-3000 or visit Metro's wewbsite
http://transit.metrokc.gov/ to determine the best way to reach the
theatre by bus.
*** AS AN ACCOMMODATION TO ATTENDEES WITH ASTHMA AND CHEMICAL
SENSIVITIES,
PLEASE, HELP US MAKE THIS A FRAGRANCE-FREE EVENT. ***
Conference Registration and Information About the Washington Toxics
Coalition
The Washington Toxics Coalition is a non-profit organization promoting
pollution prevention in industry, agriculture, schools, other
institutions, and the home. For our publication list and other
information, contact us at (206) 632-1545 or (800) 844-SAFE, our hotline
for nonlocal calls. For conference registration and questions about the
symposium, please contact Carol Dansereau or Jason Everett. Our address
is: 4516 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 and our email address is
info@watoxics.org. Our website address is
http://www.accessone.com/~watoxics/.
Registration fees:
$25 Individual
$20 WTC Members
$40 Individual Registration Fee plus WTC Membership
(Becoming a member of WTC supports our work, provides you with our
quarterly newsletter "Alternatives", and gives you disocunts on
WTC publications.)
Limited number of partial scholarships available.
WTC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Federal ID #91-1214158