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“Environmental Threats to Children’s Health” March 1, 2007

INFORM kicked off our Menus for Change series on March 1, 2007, with a thought-provoking luncheon addressing how toxins commonly found in the environment have highly detrimental impacts on children’s development. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an expert on environmental threats to children’s health from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Carol Westinghouse, INFORM’s Cleaning for Health specialist, captivated the audience with their eye-opening presentations.

Dr. Trasande’s talk focused on the links between common environmental toxins, such as lead and mercury, and the incidence of disease and developmental problems in children, including cancer, obesity, asthma, and learning disabilities. Growing evidence supports the link between environmental factors and disease in children, a fact which is not surprising given that children are far more vulnerable to toxins than adults.

Dr. Trasande spoke with hope and excitement of a landmark study, set to begin in 2007, that will track its subjects from birth to age 21. This study, titled National Children’s Study: Epidemiological Study of 100,000 Children from Birth to Age 21, will finally gather the data necessary to fuel change in the way toxins are treated before they end up in products and medications. Dr. Trasande pointed out that many toxic ingredients are approved for products and medications without being tested for toxicity and are only tested after a serious problem is brought to the attention of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is one of many policies that need to be changed. The lack of knowledge in the medical profession about environmental causes of children’s illnesses is also a major stumbling block that needs to be dealt with.

Carol Westinghouse, INFORM’s Cleaning for Health specialist, spoke of the program she launched in New England to implement green cleaning programs and practices in schools and other facilities. Based in Vermont, Ms. Westinghouse’s Cleaning for Health model involves making human health a priority. She educates key constituencies on the use of environmentally preferable chemicals, state-of-the-art cleaning methods, and the use of advanced technology cleaning equipment that reduces the use of chemicals.

With 20 percent of the US population occupying elementary and secondary schools, INFORM’s Cleaning for Health program has direct, measurable impact on the health of children, as well as the well-being of janitorial staff and other building occupants. By working directly with schools, making site visits, taking inventory of cleaning products, recommending product changes, and teaching relevant personnel how to implement these changes, Ms. Westinghouse demonstrates the positive impacts that education, outreach, and direct engagement can have in crafting a more healthy and safe environment for everyone.

About Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP - Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Dr. Trasande is an Assistant Professor of Community and Preventive Medicine and the Assistant Director for the Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Trasande has a master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He completed a pediatrics residency at Boston Children’s Hospital.

About Carol Westinghouse - Cleaning for Health Program, INFORM

Ms. Westinghouse is the Program Manager for INFORM’s Cleaning for Health program in the northeastern United States. She has worked as an environmental consultant and citizen activist for the past 12 years, administering health and safety programs for workers and investigating issues such as indoor air quality in schools and alternatives to pesticide use.

About Our Host

INFORM would like to thank Linklaters, an international legal consulting firm, for hosting our Menus for Change luncheon at its Manhattan offices on 6th Avenue in New York City.

PDF Trasande presentation
PDF Carol Westinghouse presentation

Download INFORM's Green Cleaning Toolkit for Schools