Topic Areas:

Manuscript Keywords:

Community Keywords:

community resource guide, environmental exposures, environmental health, pollution and health, air, water, soil, federal regulations, federal agencies, federal datasets

Why is this useful?

See abstract for description by authors. This is useful as it helps define air, water and soil pollution -- in the context of our daily activities (not like a textbook). It explains to the users where to find data on each type of pollution including their levels and their sources, using federal databases. It also explains which federal (and some state) agencies are responsible for which types of pollutants -- so people know whom and how to call with their questions.

Citation:

Buchanan S, Szwiec E. Investigating Environmental Contamination: A Guide for Communities. Great Lakes Center for Children’s Environmental Health, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Abstract:

This guide is for community members who are concerned about environmental exposures in their neighborhoods. The information and resources found here will help you take steps to figure out if contamination is affecting the health of members of your community. Using this guide can help you to: Take your concerns about environmental contamination to legislators and policymakers. Know which government agencies to contact about pollutants in your environment. Find out the levels of pollution in your air, water, and soil. Recognize some of the health effects that can be caused by environmental exposures. This guide covers outdoor pollution in the air, soil, and water in your community. There are other exposures you and your family might experience from the air inside your home (molds, chemicals evaporating from furniture stain treatments and electronics); from the food you eat (pesticides in produce, mercury in fish); from your workplace (hazardous materials and chemicals, biological agents); and from the personal products you use on your body (chemicals in shampoo, hair gel, deodorant, lotions). These exposures and their associated health effects are beyond the scope of this guide.

Authors:

Buchanan S, Szwiec E.

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