Environmental Health
Topic write up

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NIH LogoThe National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems.


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Social Media

Environmental Health Media Toolkits ​(CDC)

Handouts

Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution PDF
How to Dispose of Medicines Properly PDF

Podcasts

Living on Earth is a go-to source for the latest coverage of climate change, ecology, and human health. Hosted by Steve Curwood and brought to you by Public Radio Exchange - PRX.

Explore the Data

CDC Environmental Tracking Network logo

The National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network brings together health data and environment data from national, state, and city sources and provides supporting information to make the data easier to understand. The Tracking Network has data and information on environments and hazardshealth effects, and population health. Interact with the data by visiting https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/DataExplorer/#/

AirNow reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), a color-coded index designed to communicate whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy for you. The website highlights air quality in your local area first, while still providing air quality information at the state, national, and world views. An interactive map lets you zoom out to get the big picture or drill down to see data for a single air quality monitor. There's even a mobile app for your phone. When you know the AQI in your area, you can take steps to protect your health.

Engage Youth

Book cover image Poisoned Water

Based on original reporting by a Pulitzer Prize finalist and an industry veteran, Poisoned Water is the first book for young adults about the Flint water crisis. Through interviews with residents and intensive research into legal records and news accounts, journalist Candy J. Cooper, assisted by writer-editor Marc Aronson, reveals the true story of Flint. Poisoned Water shows not just how the crisis unfolded in 2014, but also the history of racism and segregation that led up to it, the beliefs and attitudes that fueled it, and how the people of Flint fought―and are still fighting―for clean water and healthy lives.

Poisoned Water | Candy J Cooper and Marc Aronson | Bloomsbury Children's Books | 256 pages | ISBN: 978-1547602322 | Grade Level 5 - 9 | WorldCat

Watch and Discuss

Poisoned Water

Screen the PBS NOVA special report of the Flint, Michigan water crisis. Poisoned Water uncovers the science behind this manmade disaster— from the intricacies of water chemistry to the biology of lead poisoning to the misuse of science itself. NOVA follows ordinary citizens and independent scientists who exposed the danger lurking in Flint’s water and confronted those who turned a blind eye. Poisoned Water Video Questions

Bag It

In this touching and often flat-out-funny film, Bag It, we follow "everyman" Jeb Berrier as he embarks on a global tour to unravel the complexities of our plastic world. What starts as a film about plastic bags evolves into a wholesale investigation into plastic and its effect. Bag It Video Questions

Invite Speakers

NIEHS Speakers Bureau offers opportunities for scientists, technicians, and administrators to speak about a variety of topics in environmental health sciences, as well as educational preparation and career paths. Speakers are also available as judges and/or to participate in science fairs and festivals.

Offer Instruction

Featured Books
Title: Amity and Prosperity
Author Eliza Griswold
Publisher First Picador
Year published 2019
Book image Amity and Prosperity book cover
Title: Fresh Banana Leaves
Author Jessica Hernandez PhD
Publisher North Atlantic Books
Year published 2022
Book image Fresh Banana Leaves book cover
Title: Guardians of the Trees
Author Kinari Webb MD
Publisher Flatiron Books
Year published 2021
Book image Guardians of the Trees book cover
Title: Plastic
Author Susan Freinkel
Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Year published 2011
Book image Plastic book cover
Title: Waste
Author Catherine Coleman Flowers
Publisher The New Press
Year published 2020
Book image Waste book cover image
Title: What the Eyes Don't See
Author Mona Hanna-Attisha MD
Publisher OneWorld
Year published 2019
Book image What the Eyes Don't See book cover

Terms of use: Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) staff offer these health discussion resources for educational use. The materials included do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the author, publisher, or the sponsoring agencies of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).