Going Green with the NLM: Environmental Health and Toxicology Information Central MA AHEC Outreach Worker Training Institute

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Going Green with the NLM Environmental Health
and Toxicology InformationCentral MA
AHECOutreach Worker Training Institute

• Michelle Eberle
• Consumer Health Information Coordinator
• NN/LM New England Region
• January 7, 2010

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http//nnlm.gov/ner/
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What is the NLM?
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http//www.nlm.nih.gov
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2007

• According to TIME writer, Bryan Walsh, 2007 will
  be remembered as the tipping point when public
  understanding of the existential threat of
  climate change reached critical mass.

Source Antonelli, Monika. The Green Library
Movement An Overview and Beyond. Electronic
Green Journal. 1(27) 2008.
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• What influences your
• environmental health?

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Disclaimers caution statements

• Be sure to check with your physician/health care
  provider too!
• NLM resources are not a substitute for medical
  advice.

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Where can kids learn about environmental health?
http//toxmystery.nlm.nih.gov/
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Helping Kids Be Eco-Friendly

• Recycling
• Composting
• Grow vegetables at home instead of going to the
  store
• Use everyday household cleaners vinegar, baking
  soda
• Turn off the lights
• Have a stop a leak day at home
• Give away used toys to charity instead of
  throwing them away
• Plan outdoor activities to help instill
  appreciation for the earth
• Adopt an endangered animal at the local zoo or
  other charity

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Where can teens learn about environmental health?
What book inspired this resource?
http//toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/
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Richard Scarrys Great Big Air Book
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Green living in your community

• Recycle
• Reduce
• Reuse

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Where can I learn about health effects of
products I might use at home?
http//hpd.nlm.nih.gov/
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Green cleaning

• The non toxic trio
• Baking soda
• Castile soap
• White vinegar
• Source Gavigan, Christopher, Healthy Child
  Healthy World, Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer
  Home, 2008.

• Other agents
• Lemon
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Essential oils

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How green is my job?
http//hazmap.nlm.nih.gov
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Where can I learn about the environment where I
live?
http//toxmap.nlm.nih.gov/
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TOXNEThttp//toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/

• Cluster of databases that cover
• Toxicology
• Environmental and occupational health
• Hazardous chemicals
• Releases of toxic chemicals
• Chemical names, synonyms structures
• References to scientific literature

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LactMed

• http//toxnet.nlm.nih.gov
• Free online database with information on drugs
  and lactation
• Over 500 drugs
• Data mined from scientific literarue
• Fully referenced
• Links to PubMed citations
• Breast feeding links

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LactMed
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http//ghr.nlm.nih.gov
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Where can I find info. about public health?
http//phpartners.org
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How might you use these resources in your
work?
Questions?
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Do you know 25 ways to go green?
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25 ways to go green

• 1. Clean kindly
• 2. Be wise with laundry
• 3. Choose natural personal care and products
• 4. Go for recycled toilet paper, paper towels and
  tissues
• 5. Use unbleached coffee filters
• 6. Install a water filter
• 7. Get a low flow toilet or make your existing
  toilet low flow
• 8. Dont be a drip fix leaky faucets and
  toilets
• 9. Kick off your shoes
• Bring in houseplants

• 11. Plant a tree every year.
• 12. Opt out of getting junk mail.
• 13. Go veggie one day a week.
• 14. Energy efficient light bulbs save energy,
  money and emissions.
• 15. Turn the thermostat down 2 degrees F.

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25 ways to go green

• 16. Set your water heater at 120 degrees F.
• 17. Smarten your fridge and freezer. Turn their
  thermostats up and make sure seals are tight.
• 18. Use power strips and unplug appliances.
• 19. Choose green residential services.
• 20. Buy local
• 21. Go organic
• 22. Take a cloth bag to the store
• 23. Inflate your tires to the proper pressure to
  save gas and money
• 24. Get a travel mug!
• 25. Recycle your cell phone.

• Source
• Loux, Renee. Easy Green Living.
• The Ultimate Guide to Simple, Eco-Friendly
  Choices for You and Your Home. New York
  Rodale, 2008.

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Reflection

• Think of
• one step you can take for your community, your
  family, and yourself to protect your
  environmental health
• one step you can take with your work to go green
  and support the global environment
• three people you teach about resources from this
  class

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Thank you!!

• Michelle Eberle
• Consumer Health Information Coordinator
• NN/LM New England Region
• michelle.eberle_at_umassmed.edu
• [phone] / [phone]
• This project has been funded in whole or in part
  with Federal funds from the National Library of
  Medicine, National Institutes of Health,
  Department of Health and Human Services, under
  Contract No. N01-LM-6-3508 with the University
  of Massachusetts Medical School.