Teleconference DescriptionSchools may pose respiratory hazards for their occupants. Dampness and mold, pests and pesticides, and the resulting poor indoor air quality may be uncomfortable for some, but a more serious health hazard for others, especially children and adults with asthma. There is a growing body of literature that shows that schools themselves may contribute to making asthma worse. Evidence from the occupational literature shows new onset asthma as well as work-aggravated asthma among school staff, often attributed to work. Indoor air quality studies in schools document these exposures as well as pollutant emissions from cafeterias, wood shops, gyms, swimming pools, science labs, and arts and crafts activities.

Conditions can be improved, by identifying the hazards and remediating them, but officials have to recognize the hazards and risks and take steps to abate them. Advocates have to make the technical information accessible to the people who need it—parents, children, custodial staff, unions and administration. The information has to be accurate, understandable and help lead people to action. This combination of technical and popular is frequently a challenge. This teleconference will review the peer reviewed literature on respiratory hazards in schools, and provide general guidance on how to use information to help things change. Examples from the Boston Public Schools, in collaboration with Healthy Schools Network, Boston Urban Asthma Coalition and Massachusetts Asthma Advocacy Partnership will be used to describe the challenges and successes.

Speaker BiographyTolle Graham is an occupational health and environmental trainer at MassCOSH, the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. MassCOSH is a coalition of unions, occupational health and legal professionals, and community groups who are dedicated to improving workplace health and safety and building healthy communities. Tolle has worked at MassCOSH for 20 years. Tolle Graham provides training and technical assistance to schools concerning indoor air quality and environmental problems and helps schools establish environmental health and safety policies and procedures. As a Steering Committee member of the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition and the Massachusetts Asthma Advocacy Partnership, Tolle has brought together health professionals, parents, community groups and school staff to address asthma, health and wellness in the school environment. She is also the Coordinator of the Massachusetts Healthy Schools Network, a statewide advocacy coalition working on design, construction and maintenance for healthy high performance “green” schools.

Elise Pechter is the supervisor of the work-related asthma (WRA) program in the Occupational Health Surveillance Program (OHSP) in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. With funding from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in CDC, OHSP has conducted surveillance of WRA since 1993 and collaborates with other state occupational health surveillance programs to identify industries, occupations and exposures associated with asthma in the workplace. This surveillance system has played a pivotal role in identifying industries and occupations that pose risks for workers for developing new onset asthma, as well as work-aggravated asthma. An article published last year reported that 9% (265 cases) of confirmed WRA cases in MA, CA, MI and NJ (1993-2000) were employed in educational services (Mazurek et al AJIM 2007). As a certified industrial hygienist, Elise Pechter focuses on the exposures associated with asthma, and methods to promote prevention. OHSP works within the Massachusetts health department to ensure that asthma program activities include consideration of adults and their work.

WHEN: Tuesday June 17^{th, 2008 TIME: 2-3pm Eastern Time (Please dial in a few minutes before 2:00 p.m. so we can start on time!)Moderator: Laura Abulafia, MHS}

Toll Free: 1.800.868.1837

Direct Dial: 1.404.920.6440

Pass Code: 445 575#

COST: FREE!

MATERIAL: Go to the Initiative website at ^{www.ehinitiative.org and click on the button that says next teleconference. There you will find the announcement with logistical information and the presentation under “materials” to down load or follow along on your computer. For more information on the teleconference series or AAIDD’s Environmental Health Initiative, contact: Laura Abulafia at Laura@aaidd.org or visit the website at www.ehinitiative.org. Thank you.}