GENERAL

1) Event: Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment in Baltimore, September 11th

2) Funding Opportunity: Cal/EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

3) Study: Multi-Family Housing Study: IPM Better than Traditional Pest Control

4) Study: A Survey of U.S. Homes to Measure Pesticide Levels

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

5) Funding Opportunity: BAAQMD Community Grants Program

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

6) Save the Date: 2009 Mobility Transportation Summit in Los Angeles, September 21st

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GENERAL

1) Event: Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment in Baltimore, September 11th

The 7th Annual Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment will be held on September 11th at the Johns Hopkins University Mount Washington Conference Center in Baltimore. Co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment, the conference will explore how current children’s environmental health issues are directing policy changes in the field. One of the breakout session topics for the conference is Respiratory Disease in Pediatric Environmental Health. For more information or to register, visit //www.meetmax.com/sched/macc909/~public/conference_home.html?event_id=3762.

2) Funding Opportunity: Cal/EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) Environmental Justice Small Grants Program is accepting applications for a third round of funding. $250,000 will be available during this grant cycle, with each project qualifying for a maximum of $20,000. Projects that will be considered are those that enhance meaningful public participation; promote community-capacity building; collaborate with academia and/or other government agencies to document data related to exposure and health complaints; promote community involvement in climate change emission reduction processes and programs; and continue to expand previous successful projects. Applications must be submitted and received by August 5th and Cal/EPA plans to announce the grant awards in September 2009. For more information and to obtain an application package, visit the Cal/EPA Environmental Justice website at //www.calepa.ca.gov/EnvJustice/Funding/.

3) Study: Multi-Family Housing Study: IPM Better than Traditional Pest Control

In a study published in the April 15th edition of Environmental Health Perspectives Online, researchers implemented and evaluated integrated pest management (IPM), compared to traditional practice, for its impact on pests, allergens, pesticide use and resident satisfaction in a large urban public housing authority. IPM or control status was assigned to 13 buildings in five housing developments and conditions were evaluated at baseline, three and six months in 280 apartments in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York City. Cockroach and mice populations were measured, cockroach and mouse allergens in dust were collected, and residents were interviewed. The results showed that, compared to controls, apartments receiving IPM had significantly lower counts of cockroaches at three months, and greater success in reducing or sustaining low counts of cockroaches at three and six months. IPM was also associated with lower cockroach allergen levels in kitchens at three months, and in beds and kitchens at six months. Relative to control apartments, pesticide use was reduced in IPM apartments. The authors concluded that, in contrast to previous IPM studies which involved extensive cleaning, repeat visits and often extensive resident education showed that an easily replicable single IPM visit was more effective than the regular application of pesticides alone in managing pests and their consequences. To view the complete study, visit //www.ehponline.org/members/2009/0800149/0800149.pdf.

4) Study: A Survey of U.S. Homes to Measure Pesticide Levels

In a study published in the June 15th edition of the journal Environmental Science and Technology, researchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted a survey measuring lead, allergens, and insecticides in a randomly selected nationally representative sample of residential homes. Researchers wiped hard surface floors of 500 homes to collect dust samples and these samples were analyzed for a suite of 24 compounds which included insecticides in the organochloride, organophosphate, pyrethroid, and phenylpyrazole classes, and the insecticide synergist piperonyl butoxide. All 24 insecticides tested for were found in some of the homes. Fipronil and permethrin, both currently used, were found in 40% and 89% of homes, respectively. Chlorpyrifos, which is no longer permitted for residential use, was detected in 78% of homes. Other commonly detected insecticides were piperonyl butoxide (in 52% of homes) and cypermethrin (46%). The results showed that most floors in occupied homes in the U.S. have measurable levels of insecticides that may serve as sources of exposure to occupants. To view the abstract or the complete study, visit //pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es8030243.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

5) Funding Opportunity: BAAQMD Community Grants Program

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has announced their Community Grants Program. Organizations within the 9-county Air District jurisdiction are eligible to apply (the counties are: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southern Sonoma County, and southwestern Solano County). The grants will range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $50,000 with approximately $250,000 to be distributed in total. The program goals are: outreach and education to inform community members about air quality improvement issues; implementation of behavior changes that lead to a reduction of emissions; respiratory health improvement projects. The deadline for applications is July 24th. For more information, please visit //tinyurl.com/lp46xm.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

6) Save the Date: 2009 Mobility Transportation Summit in Los Angeles, September 21st

The 2009 Mobility 21 Transportation Summit is scheduled to take place from 9am until 5:30pm on September 21st at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles. The theme of the Summit is, Making Transportation Work: Planning and Funding Southern California’s Transportation Future. For more information or to register, visit //www.mobility21coalition.com/events/09_M21Summit.html.

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