| Log in - Help - May 25, 2013 | |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
Community ResourcesThe CHE Community Resources web page is a one-stop source for information about science and community action. We recognize a page like this is never fully comprehensive and does not include the complete breadth of the work being done in the area of community action and environmental health. However, we hope this will be a starting point for communities, academics, and health practitioners alike to explore how various communities have turned science into community action.
NOTE: In many of the case studies described below, you will see an image of a notepad. Clicking on the notepad will link you to a handy Quick Reference Guide for each article.
The health implications of environmental exposures manifest themselves in our bodies and in our communities. The chemicals that are used in everyday processes, like driving or manufacturing goods, often end up in the bloodstreams of the most vulnerable populations. How do we begin to use science as a tool to capture what is happening between the environment and our health? What do the scientific questions and outcomes look like when they are determined by academic researchers, communities or industry? This section contains articles that discuss the various ways science is gathered and used in communities, and the many successes and challenges to doing this work.
CASE STUDY
Industry Science
Often, scientific research is indecipherable to lay audiences. What may be relevant to academic researchers at the cutting edge of disease research may not be immediately relevant to a mother with two asthmatic children. Discussions in academic communities about research data based on scientific integrity and theory can simultaneously empower people to better advocate or organize on behalf of their community. But how does the data move from the academic to the community realm? This section offers articles that tell the story of how communities, with the help of science and data, have organized and advocated for changes to benefit the health of their communities. Science in Community Organizing
Science in Policy Advocacy
If the science is telling us that the environment can impact our health in a number of negative ways, what are the laws and government agencies in place to protect us? Many of the agencies provide us with information on our local polluters, toxic locations in our communities, and chemicals in consumer products. This section contains links to the most basic information we can use to begin investigating environmental toxics and pollution in our homes and communities.
Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Brownfields Assessments
Researching "What’s In YOUR Community?"
Often, factories and highways are located next to our homes and schools. Concerned parents, workers and citizens want to know the health implications of living next to toxic neighbors. This sections contains specific links to resources that help you investigate who your neighbors are, whether they are toxic or not, and what rights you have in advocating for safer communities for everyone.
Finding and Creating Alternatives
The science has shown there are many negative impacts the environment can have on our health. What are the solutions? How do we begin moving away from toxic processes and products to safer alternatives? We hope you will help us expand this section as the science and alternatives become clearer to all of us. To start, this section contains link to resources that will help us learn what chemicals are connected to various diseases, safer products we can buy, and pesticide alternatives we can use in our homes and communities.
The Collaborative on Health and the Environment thanks Christine Cordero of the Center for Environmental Health for her work developing the Community Resources page.
Last updated: 11 December 2007 |
