402F05004
Indoor Environments Network
Highlights of Network News and Events
In this quarter's update:
• Asthma
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke
• Radon
• Schools
» Grant Resources
• IAQ Publications
April-June 2005
ASTHMA
May is Asthma Awareness Month & World Asthma Day is May 3, 2005!
In support of Asthma Awareness Month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers you an
Event Planning Kit, an Asthma Awareness Month web page, and Event Listing forms. To participate in
Asthma Awareness Month, visit http://www.epa.gov/asthma/awm.html.
The Event Planning Kit is a free resource for community organizers, health care providers, school
nurses, teachers, and anyone committed to raising awareness on environmental management of
asthma triggers. The Kit includes:
• Ideas and tips to organize events,
• Sample proclamations,
• Sample letters to editor, and
• IAQ asthma publications order form.
You may also go to the Asthma Awareness Month web page to see events where you live and post your
own events!
Asthma Media Campaign 2005
Coming soon to media outlets nationwide is the release of the Asthma Media Campaign. The Indoor
Environments Division (IED) of EPA and the Ad Council are in the final stages of producing Wave 3 of
the award-winning childhood asthma media campaign. The campaign uses the icon of a goldfish to
remind parents that no child suffering with asthma "should feel like a fish out of water." This year's
campaign presents surprising things in the indoor environment that might trigger children's asthma
attacks.
The campaign is produced in both English and Spanish for TV, radio, newspapers, magazines,
billboards, the Internet, and other media. The newest public service announcements are expected to be
launched in May. For more information on the campaign, visit http://www.epa.gov/asthma.
National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management
The National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management, one of EPA's newest
environmental awards programs, will honor the first recipients at a May 3, 2005, awards ceremony in
Washington, DC. EPA launched this new awards program in June 2004 to recognize health plans and
healthcare providers for their leadership in addressing the management of environmental asthma
triggers as part of a comprehensive asthma management program. Winners of this award demonstrate
sustained excellence and a strong commitment to improving the health and lives of asthma patients.
Indoor Environments Division
Washington, DC 20005
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
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IEN Quarterly
Page Two
April-June 2005
I_/1
From left to right - Bertram.
NACo; Elizabeth Cotsworth, EPA;
Myer, MN; Stewart, NACo;
Theon, ND; Listner, NY. Fowle,
NJ; Ferguson, NACo
ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE
NACo's Smoke-free Homes Challenge Awards
On March 4, 2005, the National Association of Counties (NACo)
recognized its 2004 winners of their third Smoke-free Homes Challenge
(pictured right). NACo challenges counties across the country to collect
as many Smoke-free Home pledges as the can between the months of
March and May to reduce children's exposure to environmental tobacco
smoke. This year's challenge is currently underway and will continue
through May 2005.
RADON
This year's Radon Action Month was successful in increasing national awareness of radon and its
potential health risks through planned events and activities across the country. A few of these events
included:
* Surgeon General's New Radon Health Advisory- The health risks surrounding radon in
homes is making national news as a result of the Surgeon General's health advisory on radon.
Dr. Richard Carmona states that "radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United
States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all
over the country." Dr. Carmona urges all Americans to test their homes to ensure that their home
is below EPA's action level. The full text of the advisory can be found on EPA's radon Web site
http://www.epa.gov/radon.
* Radon Reinvigoration - EPA announces its Radon Reinvigoration Strategy to increase national
attention and actions on radon risk reduction. As a part of this strategy, the Radon Workgroup
on the Clean Air Advisory Committee presented recommendations to the full committee on
actions EPA should take to reduce the risk to radon. In another effort, IED is collaborating with
the public outreach committee of the State and Territorial Air Pollution Program
Administrators/Association of Local Air Pollution Control
Officials (STAPPA/ALAPCO) to fuel more action in state
environmental programs.
* National Poster Contest Winners - On January 27, 2005, two
child artists were recognized as this year's winners of the
National Radon Action Month Poster Contest (pictured right).
The poster contest is a national event sponsored by EPA, the
National Safety Council (NSC), and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) for middle school-aged children to illustrate
the health effects of radon and to promote radon awareness in
their communities.
From left to right -
Jeff Holmstead (EPA), Carissa
(MN), Abbi (GA), Colein Hefren
(USDA)
Radon Awards Event in Belchertown, Massachusetts -With hundreds of children cheering,
the Belchertown School gave a big thanks to community leaders for their dedication and
determination to protect children from radon. The school system successfully took up the
challenge to reduce the risk of radon in the district's school buildings. EPA's IED Director, Tom
Kelly, participated in the event which recognized the accomplishments of local school system
officials in front of an audience of local dignitaries and more than 600 teachers and children.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
Indoor Environments Division
Washington, DC 20005
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IEN Quarterly ~ April-June 2005
Page Three
Mark your calendars:
• School Building Week -
April 18-22, 2005
• IAQ Tools for Schools Symposium -
January 12-14, 2006
SCHOOLS
High Performance Schools Symposium
On February 4-6, 2005, EPA presented two sessions at the
Council of Educational Facility Planners International's (CEFPI)
3rd Annual CEFPI High Performance Schools Symposium in Scottsdale, Arizona. The conference
brought together architects, school facility managers, school planners, and administrators to focus on the
elements of high performance schools. EPA's sessions covered the latest developments in the Indoor
Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Program and the upcoming release of the new Healthy Schools
Environmental Assessment Tool.
School Building We ek- April 18-22, 2005
School Building Week brings together everyone vested in school facilities to focus on how learning is
associated with healthy, safe and sustainable buildings. More information on School Building Week is
available at http://sbw.cefpi.org/.
GRANT RESOURCES
Tribal Community: Reducing Toxic Air Pollutants Project - RFA# OAR-ORIA-05-07
(Closing Date-May 4,2005)
EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) is soliciting requests for applications (RFA) for concept
proposals and grant applications to conduct education, training, and outreach project(s) that apply risk
reduction activities that effectively decreases human exposure to indoor and outdoor toxic air pollutants.
The goal of this project is to increase the number of tribal communities with awareness and technical
knowledge that are taking voluntary actions leading to healthier indoor and outdoor environments
through cleaner air and reduced risks from toxic air pollutants.
To obtain a copy of the RFA go to: http://www.epa.gov/air/grants/05-07.pdf.
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program - RFA# OAR-IO-05-08
(Closing Date - May 4,2005)
EPA's new grant program, Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE), is a community-
based, community-driven, multimedia demonstration program to help communities understand and
reduce the risk of exposure to toxic chemicals from multiple sources. The program will award $1.65
million in grant funds through two levels of funding.
Level I offers approximately $75,000 and set priorities for reducing toxic risks in local areas. Level II
offers approximately $300,000 to communities to expand existing collaborative partnerships to
implement risk reduction strategies.
EPA intends to award approximately ten projects. For more information about the program or to obtain
an application, visit the CARE Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/care.
United States Environmental Protection Agency Indoor Environments Division
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air Washington, DC 20005
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IEN Quarterly April-June 2005
Page Four
Additional Grant Resources
To find additional grant information and notifications, visit:
• http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html - This site provides access to information about
funding opportunities available from EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR). We encourage you
to bookmark this page and visit on a regular basis. OAR grants and other funding opportunities
will be posted as they become available.
• http://fedgrants.gov/ - This site gives grantors a means to post solicitations for grants. It also
gives applicants a single site for obtaining these solicitations.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Clinicians Guide to Mold Exposure
A new mold resource, entitled: Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and Management of Health
Effects Related to Mold Exposure and Moisture Indoors is available free of charge from
http://oehc.uchc.edu/clinser/indoor.htm.
*To cancel your subscription to the TEN Quarterly (only), send an email to the IEN Coordinator at
iencoordinator(a),cadnnisgroitp.com or call 703-247-6155.
**To cancel your subscription to the Indoor Environments Network, complete the attached Change in Radon/IAQ
Program Information Form and send to the IEN Coordinator at iencoordinator(3),cadmnssroup.com or call
703-247-6155.
Lou Witt
Partner Network Support Coordinator
U.S. EPA, Indoor Environments Division
Voice (202) 343-9051
Fax (202)343-2394
witt.lou@epa.gov
EPA Mission
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
Indoor Environments Division
Washington, DC 20005
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