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Dear Maricela,
"Climate-related environmental disasters have not let up this summer," states Dr. Perera in her interview with Science News below.
As mother nature bellows bringing forth destruction and warning, we need to heed to her call and cry out to our leaders charged to protect children’s environmental health and justice, CEHJ. Their action is urgently needed.
Although there is much to be done, we must also amplify recent environmental victories. For these are a testament that CEHJ is attainable. This summer:
- The NYC Council passed 3 bills to strengthen lead poisoning prevention.
- The Montana state court ruled in favor of a youth driven lawsuit stating that the state violated their right to “clean and healthful environment.”
We must sustain and build on these efforts. Below actions we can take in the upcoming weeks in celebration of Children's Environmental Health Day. Read more about the summer victories in the newsletter.
To greater CEHJ wins!
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Climate Change & Children's Health | |
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Wildfires have been burning in Greece this July, including this blaze outside of Athens, after days of extreme heat. These climate-related disasters especially harm the physical and mental health of children.
RIS MESSINIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
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NY Urged to Reduce "Forever Chemicals" in Water | |
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On June 28, environmental experts from New York, including Dr. Julie Herbstman, advised the State Health Department to mirror an Environmental Protection Agency proposal and reduce the amount of harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water to the lowest levels that tests can detect. Dr. Herbstman is a member of New York’s Drinking Water Quality Council. The council provides recommendations to the New York State Department of Health on emerging contaminants in drinking water. The aim is to maintain and improve the quality of New York’s drinking water supplies and infrastructure. The council consists of representatives from government, academia, the public, and drinking water systems who are uniquely qualified, with expertise in drinking water, water resources, environmental conservation, environmental engineering, microbiology, toxicology, and health risk assessment.
More Information
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Judge rules in favor of Montana youths in landmark climate decision | |
Plaintiffs in Held v. Montana arrive at the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena, Mont., in June. A Montana court ruled in their favor on Monday. (Thom Bridge/AP) | |
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The Washington Post
By Kate Selig
August 14, 2023
In the first ruling of its kind nationwide, a Montana state court decided Monday in favor of young people who alleged the state violated their right to a “clean and healthful environment” by promoting the use of fossil fuels…. In this case, it involved 16 young Montanans, ranging in age from 5 to 22, who brought the nation’s first constitutional and first youth-led climate lawsuit to go to trial. Those youths are elated by the decision, according to Our Children’s Trust. READ MORE
The success of Montana youths is heartening as we reflect on the 2019 Case of Juliana v. United States in which youth also held that the government’s inaction on addressing climate change violated their constitutional right to life, liberty, and property. See The Case of Juliana v. U.S. — Children and the Health Burdens of Climate Change, Renee N. Salas, M.D., M.P.H., Wendy Jacobs, J.D., and Frederica Perera, Dr.P.H., Ph.D.
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New York City Council Passes
Three CEHJ Bills
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This summer, July 2023, the New York City Council passed three bills to further strengthen Child Lead Poisoning Prevention.
Findings from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Report to the New York City Council on Progress in Preventing Elevated Lead Levels in New York City, September 2022 prompted regulatory action. WE ACT our community partner was mentioned in the Harlem World Magazine among leaders in this effort.
NYC DOHM findings affecting our community:
In 2021, 2,557 New York City children under 6 years of age were identified with blood lead level of 5mcg/dl. A decline from 2020 when there were 2,603 children with blood lead levels of 5 mcg/dl and a 93% decline since 2005 when there were 37,344 children with blood lead levels of 5mcg/dl or greater.
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In 2021, Asian, Black, and Latino children represented 81% of children under age 6 newly identified with blood lead levels of 5 mcg/dl or greater.
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Children living in public housing had a lower risk for lead exposure on average than children Citywide living in private housing.
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In 2021, 390 people of childbearing age (18-49 years) with blood lead levels (5 mcg/dL or greater). More than 80% of those pregnant (305) were foreign born. People from 6 countries represented more than 60% of all cases.
- 45% were born in Mexico.
- 19% South Asian countries of Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, and Nepal
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7% were born in Guatemala.
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*Note: NY State dropped lead poisoning prevention levels from 5mcg/dl to 3.5 mcg/dL
Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYCDOHMH Report to the New York City Council on Progress in Preventing Elevated Lead Levels in New York City, Submitted by NYDOHM, September 2022
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Herlinda Bermejo joined the CCCEH Fair Start and ECHO Study team as a Research Assistant, in August 2023. She is a graduate of CUNY Baruch College with a B.A in Biology and Psychology, as well as a minor in English. Before joining the center, she worked at the NYP Hospital as a clinical research coordinator with the OPTOS study, recruiting participants to obtain retinal imaging during different trimesters. Having previously worked in the beauty industry, she is especially interested in learning more about these chemicals and their effects on pregnant women and children's health. | |
CCCEH Youth Summer Internships with New York Presbyterian | |
In collaboration with NYP Summer Youth Experience eight youths from our Center studies participated in the 5 week program. The youth worked in a variety of settings developing skills and gaining knowledge about the health field. Below we highlight Joseph C's experience. | |
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My NYP Summer Youth Experience was something I didn't know I needed at that particular moment in my life. I was working a job where I did not see myself reaching or fulfilling my goals and felt stuck.
The NYP Summer Youth Experience brought me connections and experience that not only will go at the top of my résumé, but will also follow me throughout my life. The last place I thought I would make friends would be a hospital, but I was wrong. I got to put my social skills to work every day in a way that felt fulfilling and not draining. I was also taught by peers how to use the computers to reach nurses about their patients' needs.
After the experience, I feel empowered to use the skills I gained and ready for my next job. I felt that I was allowed the space and freedom to use my creativity and apply my personal strengths with social, physical, and mental assignments. I enjoyed making connections of all walks of life and ages. Rarely did I feel like I couldn't help or contribute because of my lack of experience.
In my internship, I also gained knowledge of medical terms and abbreviations that I would previously pretend to understand when watching Grey's Anatomy, as well as got a better understanding of how workers of the medical field function.
My communication skills grew as I was assigned to greet and have conversations with emotionally vulnerable people and to provide a caring ear to listen to their concerns and problems.
I also learned different ways a group can successfully achieve goals and work. For example, I learned about the part I had to play as a member of the medical team and how I could contribute. I also learned different ways the team worked together to resolve challenges that arise when caring for patients. I am also glad that I connected with my directors who offered to serve as references for future work.
-Joseph C
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Community Outreach &
Translation Core
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Futures Ignite Outreach Day | |
CCCEH's EHJ Advocates table at the Futures Ignite Annual Summer Youth Block Party. Skarlette Troncoso and Jaslynn Montilla had an opportunity to describe Center research, distribute materials and meet fellow environmental advocates. | |
CCCEH EHJ Advocates connecting with local environmentalists. | |
Columbia University's Dr. Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, MD Associate Professor of Pediatrics in Environmental Science and her team present their student lead research. Future's Ignite Youth collaborated with Columbia MPH students to track air pollution in their immediate surroundings. | |
There is an uptick in COVID cases in Washington Heights. Use masks in crowded settings. Vaccine information.
We are a closely connected city - all neighborhoods stay safe.
Information provided by Cheyenne Morrillo, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, CCCEH Community Advisory & Stakeholder Board member.
NYC Vaccine/Booster Finder /
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Julie Herbstman, PhD
Director, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
Frederica P. Perera, DrPH, PhD
Director of Translational Research and Founding Director
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
mailman.columbia.edu/ccceh
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