&EPA
UNEP
United States Administration And United Nations
Environmental Protection Resources Management Environment
Agency (3404) Programme
a ninnif A LI Volume5,Number3
CARIBBEAN juiy 1997
EPA/220/N-97-001
CURRENTS
...to CARIBBEAN CURRENTS, Volume, F*ve, .Number Tliree. TJiis
newsletter is edited by INFOTERRA/USA in its capacity as the
Regional Service Centre (RSC) for INFQTERRA National Focal Points
(NFPjs) in the English and Frenqh-speaking Caribbean. Although the
CURRENTS is assembled at INFOTERRA/USA, the content! belongs ito
yyou,1 the readers, You^'ape^ne^ |
1 1 ''''teojnaments, ^o1 1
inclusion in the CURRENTS. Please see the Guidelines fori •
Contributions on page 4 for more information.
Bach issue will feature a Directory of NFPs in the Region so that
anyone with international environmental questions can contact th
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Protecting Children from Environmental Threats
Introduction
Throughout the world, children face significant threats from an array of environmental hazards.
They may absorb some pollutants more rapidly and eat more foods, drink more liquids and breathe
moreairinproportiontobodyweight than the typical adult. Theirneurological, immunological,
reproductive, digestive, and other bodily systems are still developing, providingwindows of
vulnerability for adverse effects. Children are less able to recognize and protect themselves from
exposure to environmental pollutants, and childhood activities put them in closer contact with
environmental hazards. By virtue oftheiryouth, children exposed to environmental pollutantshavea
longperiod during whichlatent effects may become manifest.
In September 1996, TheU.S. Environmental Protection Agency published areport on
Environmental Health Threats to Children and aNational Agenda to Protect Children's Health from
Environmental Threats (EPA 175-F-96-001). This publication highlights the EPA's commitment to
better protect children from environmental threats and outlines a seven-step national agendafor
action. EPA has forged ahead, taking steps to implement the agenda by establishing a new Office of
Children'sHealthProtectionand calling international attention to the issue by making children's
environmental health a centerpiece ofthe upcoming meeting ofEnvironment Ministers from G-7
countries whictoAdministrator Carol Browner will host.
The Problem
Dr. Philip Lamiigan, M.D., M.Sc., renowned environmental health pediatrician and
author, will head EPA's new Office of Children's Health Protection Below are excerpts from
Dr. Lcmdrigan 's writings, including the recently published book, "Raising Children Toxic
Free."
,C^4r
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EPA's Response4
EPArecognizes that children'senvironmentalhealthissuesareatop priority and must becomea
central focus ofall ofEP A's efforts to protect public health and the environment. We thus challenge
our partners in the private sector, throughout the many levels ofgovemment, in Congress, in
academia and in interest groups to help implement the EPANational Agenda to Protect Children's
Health fromEnvironmental Threats.
EPA commits to specific actions to better protect children from environmental threats. We will
ensurewherever possible that all ofthestandardsEPAsets are protective enough to address the
potentially heightened risks feced by children and that the most significant existing standards will be
re-evaluated as we learn more. We will identify and expand scientific research opportunities on
child-specific susceptibility and exposure to environmental pollutants, and we will develop new
policies to address cumulative and simultaneous exposures faced by children.. EPA will work to
provide better information for families so that they will have the tools to protect themselves and we
will call upon parents, teachers and community leaders to take personal respoimbiUtyfor learning
aboutthe hazards that environmental problems pose to our children. EPA plans to expand-
educational efforts in partnership withhealth and environmental professional&to idmtif&prevent and
reduce environmental health threats and we commit to provide the necessary funding to address
children's environmental health issues as a top priority among relative heahhriskw^Jtjsse
commitments, which are further detailed inEPA's National Agenda to Protect Children's Health from
Environmental Threats, will ensure that children receivetheprotectionthayneed aiiddeserve and
help our nation fulfill its obligationto protect fixturegenerations.
For more information on EPA's actions to protect children from environmental threats or to
learn about the new Office of Children's Health Protection, call Ms. Courtney Manning at
(202)260-7960.
'Much of this Metioo k takm from NMdlaman HL, Uadripn PJ, tomf .ChmMtkvmm; JMK V«k: AVo£*Uta, 1993.
^NmUmwi HL, Laadripn PJ: Raisins Childrtn Taste fihm. Naw
3H«MNty R, Roghmum J, Prw IB: Child Htalth and th* Community. Naw YofttAMi
^Environmental Htalth Thrtati to Children, EPA 17S-F-96-401. Wuhinjton, D.C.: Unft»d State* EnviroanmUl ProUction
Agraey, 1996.
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i
INTERNET SITES ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH
A few ofmany sources ofelectronic information on children's health.
PedsCCM: International Child Health Page
http://pedsccm.wustLeduyiCHealth.html
Includes links to "front line reports" and othefresqurces on the Internet Other links featured are
clinical resources, clinical research, oiganizations, meetings and opportunities.
Global ChQdNet
http://edie.cprost.sfu.ca/gcnet/index.html
Features links tp databases and the newsletter Global Child Health News and Review. Also includes
transcripts from the Second Child Health 2000 Congress and Exhibition (held in 1995) and information
¦on the Third Child Health12000 Congress and Exhibition to be held in 1998.
Mmmw' ^
'ivi, l|N 11 iV ,!j III III1! I'll jli, i'njf fjt'i'tj '!l'jl «}|i[!i! 1 hWVi j'jA,! 'S i i|l,| li'i '| ' , , ||| , h 1, 1 ( 1 ' |1
World Health Organization Division of Child Health and Development
http://cdrwww.ivho.cb/defaulthtm
This site has multiple links to useful research, informatian, publications and diseases that affect children
around the world.
.W™United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
http://www.unicef.org
up wjth the latest UNICEF developments, as well as a link to
l is the1 UNICEF Report, State of the World's Children,
>% i, 'ni^1 , 1 i
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http://www.tmn.com/cdf/index.html
k fe fciiSffiiiitt
. Children's Defense Fund
cles on current
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Conference* on/ Child/ Healths
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October 20-22, 1997 - Community-based Child Development Program, Thailand. To learn about
this, and other upcoming workshops sponsored by the International Pediatric Association (EPA), visit
their website at the address given previously, or contact them1 via e-mail at .
August 9-14, 1998 - XXH International Cdngress of Pediatrics, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.;
Contact Jan van Goyenkade, 11,1075 HP Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Telephone (31) 20-679-3411,
FAX: (31) 20-673-7306, E-mail: eurocongres@rai.nl, Internet bttp^/www,raijjJ/ipa>_9$.
May 30- June 3, 2000 — Tear 2000 Child Health World Congress and Exposition, Vanppuve^
British Columbia, Canada. SponsoredV global Child Health Society. Vishl the Global ChildNet
website mentioned previously; or contact the Year 2000 Congress Planning Committee via riatmil a$
''Illiiliiliiiiliiiiiliiilllili!!
HSSSw
NEW UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS CATALOGUE(1997-1998) NOW AVAILABLE
, The new 1997-1998 United Nations Publications Catalogue is now available. It includes all tides cunen%i|ivail*^
French U|d Spanirf1 materials are also available. For more information, contact: ' '!'
!I' rl ll'ij'("I' l!-!|!if|" "{'jlj-'B Wlwif
ij!i|p|||mjmi||j|[ffjH|iw . ,:T -.f.>:»,i f ..p:.-:., :jM , :' >
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MMIi^
FAX; (212) $63-3489 , A
puMieationi@un.org ' 1 »
Guidelines for Contributions to CARIBBEAN GUBBENTS xS
Any organization or individual operating or involved in the English and French-speaking CarjbbeahRegion is wefcothe to
contribute to the newsletter. Contributions should be addressed to:
Carribean Currents Coordinator
INFOTERRA/USA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Headquarters Library, 3404
401M Street, S.W.
Washington,D.C. 20460
UNITED STATES
Telephone: (202)260-5917;Fax: (202)260-3923; E-mail: libraiy-infoterra@epamail.epa.gov
Please note that submissions should meet the following criteria:
• They should be relevant to environmental issues
• They must be of interest to or directly involve the Region
• They must not endorse or recommend any product or commercial^vice, ejgpliciUy ojwnplicitly
• They must be brief-under 250 words; Bulletin Board requests should be under 100 words
• They must be received by the posted deadline (see below)
Please feel free to contact the Caribbean Currents coordinator if you are interested in submitting a longer article. You
should contact the coordinator to discuss your topic and any size or content restrictions beforehand. Be aware that bnce
your article is submitted, it is subject to editing as needed. Final decisions on editing and inclusion of any contributibns
are left to the INFOTERRA/USA Manager. Please contact INFOTERRA/USA using the address above to contribute any
comments, questions, problems, or ideas.
DEADLINE FORCONTRIBPHOBIS.TO Vol S,Ma.4:Septmhr r tft.lMl
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Welcome to The Caribbean Currents
Bulletin Board
Each issue, we will publish questions or concerns of interest to Currents
readers. Anyone who has materials or information that they are seeking or
that they feel will be helpful should feel free to contribute. We will post
queries and offerings of general interest on the Bulletin Board You may
respond by contacting the reader who has placed the item, or the RSC.
Bulletin Board
t.x .ttaasagarner
¦ . (¦}$&?'¦*... • -
DOCUMENTS
AVAILABLE
ENFOTERRA/US A has free copies
ofthe following publications available.
If you would like copies of any of
these documents, please let us know.
• EPANationalPublicationsCatalog
October 1996
• EmergingGlobal Environmental
Issues (U.S. EPA, Q
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//
About the NFP Directory
This directory reflects changes and additions to the INFOTERRA Directory of National Focal Points
distributed by INFOTERRA/PAC, dated January 1997. Please check this information to verify that it is
correct and up-to-date. If you have any changes or corrections, please notify the RSC as soon as possible.
We will be happy to relay the information to the PAC.
NFP DIRECTORY
f Mrs. Candia Williams
Conservation Officer H
Ministry ofTourism, Culture, and Environment
QueenElizabeth Highway
St. John's
ANTIGUA, WEST INDIES
Telephone: (809)462-4625 FAX: (809)462-2836
Mrs. Lynn Holowesko
The Bahamas Environment, Science & Technology
Commission
Office ofthePrimeMinister
P.O. BoxCB 10980
Nassau
THEBAHAMAS
Telephone: (809)327-4691 FAX: (809) 3274626
Mrs. Atheline Mayers
Permanent Secretary (Environment)
Ministry of Health and the Environment
Sir, Frank Walcott Building, Culloden Road
St Michael, BARBADOS
Telephone: (246)431-7680 FAX: (246)437-8859
E-mail: envdivn@caribsurf.com
Jaime Jeffeiy Villanueva
Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries
Princess MargaretDrive, P.O. Box 148
Belize City
BELIZE,CENTRAL AMERICA
Telephone: 501-2-44552 FAX: 501-2-32983
Mr. Ashton Lugay
Forestry and Wildlife Division
Ministry of Agriculture, Botanical Gardens
Roseau
DOMINICA, WEST INDIES
Telephone: (809)448-2401,ext.417 FAX: (809)448-7999
Mr. BhoonathBirbal
Institute of Applied Science & Technology
Research Assistant, Information Unit
P.O. Box 101050, University Campus, Turkeyen
Greater Georgetown
GUYANA
Telephone: (592-22)4213/4215/4218 FAX: 592-22-4229
M.Dalberg Claude
Ministere de 1'Agriculture et des Ressources
Naturelles et du Developpement Rural
P.O.Box 1441
Port-au-Prince
HAITI
Telephone: 509-1-21867 FAX: 509-1-23599
Ms. YolandaN. Mittoo
Natural Resources Conservation Authority
53 1/2 Molynes Road
P.O.Box305
Kingston 10
JAMAICA, WEST INDIES
Telephone:(809)923-5155/5125 FAX:<809)923-5070
E-mail: nrca@igc.apc.org
Mr. Leonard Huggins
Environmental and Development Officer, Planning
Unit
Charlestown, Neris
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS
Telephone: (809)469-5521 FAX: (809)469-5485
Mrs. Vanesta Moses-Felix
GwtfiiM^itBccnittantalist
Ministry ctflannidg; Development and Environment
NationalDocumentation Center
P.O:Bftif709
Castries
ST. LUCLA4'V®5T INDIES
Telephone: (809)452-2611 PAX: (809)452-2506
E-mail: LCDOC@ISIS.QRGLLC
Regional Service Centre (BSC):
Emma J. McNamara
INFOTERRA/USA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ifaadquartMsLihraiy,' >4^
40lkstrwl,S. W.
Washington, D. C. 20460
UNITED STATES
Telephone: (202)260-591^ FAX:' (202)260-3923
E-mail: libraty-infoterra@epamailqM.gov
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