2012 Earth Day: Partnering with Local Communities    
 
Jane Perry, chemical hazards program director, and Linda Capewell, M.D., preventive medicine fellow with the CDC, organize Earth Day event education materials.
To celebrate Earth Day every year on April 22, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), Environmental Health Branch, Chemical Hazards Program (CHP) staff participates in a community event. This year, CHP helped sponsor the Habitat for Humanity ReStore Earth Day festivities in south Newnan. The ReStore sells donated household items and funds building materials and services to construct Habitat homes in Coweta County.
Newnan-Coweta County Habitat for Humanity ReStore staff organized the 2012 Earth Day event. Residents were encouraged to bring unwanted computers and other electronics for recycling.

Residents were encouraged to bring unwanted computers and other electronics for recycling. Vendors in the front parking lot offered homemade rain barrels, handcrafted artwork and bird feeders made from recycled materials, homegrown plants and more.

CHP staff members Jane Perry, Pamela Noah and Linda Capewell, M.D., handed out environmental health education materials and spoke with community members about reducing the use of toxic chemicals in the home.

"We want to work with communities for a cleaner and safer environment," said Perry. "When you reduce the amount of chemicals you use in your home, not only are you providing a safer environment for children and pets, but you are reducing pollution of the air, soil and water in your community."

Since last fall, CHP has worked with several Coweta County community leaders to reduce the use of chemicals in the home, thereby decreasing the risk for child and pet poisonings. CHP staff is fortunate to have assistance from Capewell, a preventive medicine fellow with the CDC. Capewell is a lieutenant in the U.S. Public Health Service, a veterinarian and has a Master of Public Health. She helped CHP coordinate a Community Advisory Group comprised of representatives from environmental groups, elected officials, educators and childcare professionals.

The Hazardous Household Chemical Reduction Project group members developed brochures promoting safe alternatives to common household chemicals and integrated pest management practices that reduce toxic pesticide use.

Approximately 100 people attended the Earth Day event and many stopped by CHP's table to discuss how they can reduce the use of chemicals to better protect their children and pets. CHP distributed brochures and coloring books: "Join Our Pest Patrol: A Backyard Activity Book for Kids" and "Stop the Waste Activity Book." These activity books and crayons were especially popular among the little ones who learned about protecting the Earth while they colored the pictures. One gentleman discussed using self-propagating, native ferns as ground cover. Many varieties of ferns are naturally pest resistant, and nontoxic potassium bicarbonate can be used as a contact fungicide. Therefore, growing ferns is a great way to be Earth friendly!

For more information about hazardous household chemical reduction and for copies of the brochures, please contact Pamela Noah, pxnoah@dhr.state.ga.us, or visit the CHP website at www.health.state.ga.us/programs/hazards.

-Story by Pamela Noah, Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Branch, Chemical Hazards Program

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