Since reporting to the Board in November 2002, the Environmental Health Committee has focused on planning and attending a January meeting with CDC's National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

The 2-day meeting in Atlanta was an opportunity to learn about the diversity, breadth, and scope of work at NCEH and ATSDR, and to discuss possible collaborative efforts with ACPM. The Committee discussed such topics as genomics, radiological emergency preparedness and response, asthma, and revitalizing environmental health services in the United States. NCEH Director Dr. Richard Jackson and ATSDR Assistant Administrator Dr. Henry Falk presented each agency’s priorities and key issues. Several longstanding ACPM members employed with NCEH or ATSDR also gave presentations.

The Environmental Health Committee has identified several opportunities for partnership activities.

Leadership:

A) The committee may offer its support to CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding in anticipation of the proposed merger of NCEH and ATSDR, outlining the benefits for the environmental and public health system. The committee, on behalf of ACPM, would offer its expertise if called upon by the CDC leadership to provide input into the merger process.

B) The committee may pursue the creation of Preventive Medicine Fellowship opportunities in partnership with NCEH and ATSDR to boost the pipeline of physicians with environmental health training. Preventive Medicine Residents would develop environmental health knowledge and skills by spending part of their residency training on-site with NCEH and ATSDR.

C) The committee may offer its expertise and support of two NCEH conferences. The first conference, Managing Commensal Rodents and Mosquitoes: A Comprehensive Approach is scheduled for September 12, 2003. The second proposed conference, Environmental Health Services: The Key to Healthy Homes is slated for 2004 (pending approval and funding from HUD). ACPM involvement may include assisting with program planning, suggesting ACPM experts as speakers, and publicizing the events.

During its recent in-person meeting the Committee also discussed producing a number of position statements and guidance for practitioners on emerging environmental health issues. Possible topics include: environmental tobacco smoke; indoor air quality; molds in schools; cancer and/or disease cluster mapping; relaxing of federal air pollution standards; heavy metals; vector-borne diseases; natural and man-made radiation; environmental health tracking and the quality of data; funding of the public health and environmental health infrastructure; and the impact of community design and land use choices on public health.