NEHA aims to improve the capacity of environmental health by giving them the most up-to-date data to make informed decisions. The NEHA EH Health Tracking Webinars page provides current and relevant information on health tracking and informatics.
U.S. EPA and NEHA Webinar: PFAS Research
Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 1:00–2:00 p.m. EDT
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) is leading the national effort to understand per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and reduce PFAS risks to the public through its PFAS Action Plan, and U.S. EPA's researchers are hard at work to support this effort. PFAS research is organized around the risk paradigm, building on what we know and continuing to fill in existing knowledge gaps using in-house research, extramural research, and cross-government partnerships. Research actions are underway to develop and validate methods to measure PFAS in environmental and biological media; understand human health and ecological effects; understand PFAS sources, occurance, fate and transport, and exposure; and understand methods for reducing, removing, and remeidating PFAS in the environment.
Speakers Include:
Andrew Gillespie, PhD
Dr. Gillespie is the executive lead for PFAS research in U.S. EPA's Office of Research and Development and an Associate Director in the Office of Research and Development's Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling.
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U.S. EPA and NEHA EnviroAtlas Tool Informs Decisions, Research, and Education Webinar
Tuesday February 25, 2020, 1:00–2:00 p.m. EDT
EnviroAtlas is a data-rich, web-based decision support tool that combines maps, analysis tools, downloadable data, and informational resources. It is used by states, tribes, communities, and individuals to help inform policy and planning decisions that impact the places where we live, learn, work and play. EnviroAtlas data are available for the entire U.S. via an online Interactive Map. There have been several significant updates to EnviroAtlas in the last couple of years and other exciting new functionality is coming soon. Some of these updates include the development of a floodplain map for the conterminous U.S., the creation of fine (one square meter) land cover data covering the places where about 65 million people live, the addition of U.S. EPA regulated facilities (e.g., Superfund sites, brownfields, etc), and a new tool allowing users to compare their watershed or census tract with their county or state. This webinar will give an overview of EnviroAtlas focusing on its recent updates and provide a short demo of the tool. The webinar will also include case study examples of how EnviroAtlas has been used by communities.
Speakers Include:
Anne Neale
Anne Neale leads the EnviroAtlas project in U.S. EPA's Office of Research and Development in Durham, NC. Neale has a background in landscape ecology and ecosystem services and has been with U.S. EPA since 1991. One of her primary research interests has been examining relationships between spatial patterns of landscape characteristics and ecological resources, ecosystem services, and human health outcomes. One of her goals with EnviroAtlas is to translate science into tools and data that can be readily understood and used by a broad audience.
Jessica Daniel
Jessica Daniel is an environmental protection specialist in U.S. EPA’s Office of Research and Development in Durham, NC, where she facilitates communication and outreach efforts for the EnviroAtlas project. She is invested in translating scientific information and utilizing web tools and technology to inform decision-making, research, and education.