Let's Do Something

Dear Maricela,

October is a month for celebration and action. Let's "do something" this Children's Environmental Health Day and Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Together we can help safeguard our children's environmental health.

Throughout this newsletter find CEHJ activities facilitated by our partner CEHN, Children's Environmental Health Network and informative CCCEH & EHS publications to inspire action.

Write an e-letter to your senators use the easy access e-letter writing tool and sample messages below. You can cut and paste, modify, or write your own message and send. The system will identify your Senators-just click and start.

Send an e-letter to your Senators

Sample messages

Our legislative leaders need to hear from us.

Share the CEHJ action links below with 3 friends.

Si Se Puede!

DONATE

Children’s Environmental Health Day, is Thursday, October 12th

CEHJ action links:

Send an e-letter to your elected officials

Sample Messages

See CEH Promotional Tool Kit

Voter Registration online

Voting Information in all States

October 22-28th is National Lead Prevention Week. Even very low levels of lead in children’s blood are linked to adverse effects on intellect, concentration, and academic achievement. While the United States has made substantial progress reducing lead exposure for more than 40 years, significant disparities remain along racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. For example, Black children and children from low-income households have persistently been found to have higher blood lead levels than non-Hispanic white children and children from higher-income households.

Anne E. Nigra, Wil Lieberman-Cribbin, Benjamín C. Bostick, Steven N. Chillrud, and Daniel Carrión

See Video Below

Click here for a free lead test

Photos by Lindsey Seide courtesy of South Bronx Unite

Scientists and Community Leaders Seek to Clear the Air in the South Bronx

September 23, 2023

The South Bronx is the birthplace of hip hop and one of New York City’s most culturally vibrant communities. Circled by highways and dotted with truck depots, waste transfer stations, and powerplants, the area is also a dumping ground for pollution. A new collaborative effort between scientists and activists aims to expose those pollution sources with the goal of clearing the air.

Air pollution in the South Bronx has had a detrimental effect on the health of residents, most of whom are low-income people of color, contributing to what is one of the nation’s highest rates of asthma. Mott Haven is often referred to as “Asthma Alley.” “As the result of toxic air, people are suffering from a range of illnesses,” said Arif Ullah, executive director of South Bronx Unite. “From the womb to the grave, a person’s life is impacted by exposure to air pollution. … Everyone deserves to breathe clean air. Clean air should not be a luxury; it is a human right.”

CCCEH Moving CEHJ Agenda Forward

Dr. Julie Herbstman kicks-off the ECHO 2 celebration with a big "thank you" to all who have been part of the Center's Echo 1 research. ECHO is a national research study working to advance the health of our children.

Moving to ECHO 2 - your team is ready, Dr. Herbstman!

Community Advisory & Stakeholder Board Meeting

Seventeen CASB members gathered for our first in-person meeting since the pandemic, with four members joining virtually. Dr. Julie Herbstman, CCCEH Director, described the refunding and upcoming research initiatives under ECHO Cycle 2 and described other Center research underway: Airway Trees, Arsenic & Cultural Variations in Rice and Environmental Contributions to Disparities in Learning. The COTC goal was also presented: to enhance environmental health science communication.

The CASB engaged in a lively discussion as they addressed the following questions to guide science communication efforts: what are the CEHJ areas of greatest concern?; how can we help engage the community with CEHJ initiatives and what are the best ways the Center could help communicate CEHJ issues.

Meeting take aways:

CEHJ communication 1) develop initiatives to improve how science is communicated to the public and 2) identify and train credible messengers in the community to increase CEHJ literacy and advocacy. Engage youth- providing space and creating opportunities to develop youth leadership in CEHJ issues.

Poll visualization concurs with the CASB discussion.

Welcome to CCCEH

Ornela Sierra-Torres is a dedicated and passionate educator and bilingual crisis counselor who transitioned into the role of Research Assistant for the Fair Start Study at Columbia Center for Children Environmental Health in September 2023. With a background as a Crisis Text-Line Counselor for the Crisis Text Line Not-for-profit organization, Ornela provided crucial crisis care to individuals through an online platform. Her experience as a Science Teacher with the Union City Board of Education further underscores her devotion to science and community outreach. Ornela's educational journey includes a Master of Science in Human Biology from the University of Saint Joseph, complemented by a certificate in emerging infectious diseases. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Peter's University, solidifying her foundation in the sciences. Ornela Sierra-Torres brings a wealth of experience, a robust educational background, and a deep commitment to advancing scientific research in her new role as a Research Assistant.