Links to Other Resources
The following links are to to major regional centers and
organizations that study or provide information about environmental health hazards
in the region. We provide these links as a service and can not attest to
the accuracy of the material on any of these sites. See
Diagnosis Resources and Exposure Resources for
lists of local clinical and exposure testing resources.
Please contact us
if you know of other relevant (see Mission) links or if you encounter difficulties with any of
the listed links.
NIEHS
CENTERS (alphabetical)
The region has three environmental health centers supported by the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Each of these three centers
was established as a basic science center to study the mechanisms of
environmentally induced disease. Each also has an active community outreach and
education program. Texas A&M University Center for Environmental and Rural Health
This center focuses on the impact of environmental factors on human
health and disease in rural communities. It is particularly active along
the Texas-Mexico border.
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Center for Research on
Environmental Disease
This center has a particularly active program aimed at better
understanding the mechanisms by which environmental toxicants cause DNA damage,
cancer and cell death.
Center in Environmental Toxicology at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
This center focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which
cells respond to environmental toxicants, but also has an active
childhood asthma outreach program that uses theater and other innovative
strategies to educate area communities and to involve communities in the
solution process.
Children's Environmental Health Institute (CEHI)
CEHI, located in Austin, focuses on educating health professionals about
environmental hazards and their effect on children's health. Several
Houston-area physicians serve on its Board of Directors.
Children's
Environmental Health Network (CEHN)
The CEHN seeks to protect the fetus and the child from environmental health hazards and promote a healthy environment.
Its website provides information on and links to sources of information on
children's environmental health.
Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health (SW-CPEH)
Based in Tyler, Texas, SW-CPEH aims to educate pediatric health care providers
and the general public to better serve the health needs of children affected by
environmental exposures to potentially toxic substances through education
programs and 24-hour telephone consultation.
REGIONAL ACADEMIC & GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENTAL CENTERS
(alphabetical)
Clean Air Action!
The Houston-Galveston Area Council maintains this site, which contains
many useful links to air pollution resources. Educational materials, such as
Andy Airedale ozone posters and bookmarks in four languages.
Environmental Institute of
Houston*
The EIH aims to help people in the Houston area participate in environmental
improvement through education, outreach and sponsored research.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6
EPA posts useful information on pollution and prevention programs, especially as relevant for the 5-state EPA Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, plus 66 tribes).
George Washington University Tutorials in Environmental Health
The Mid-Atlantic Center for Children's Health and the Environment presents a series of downloadable documents on environmental health issues and hazards.
Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)
HARC is a nonprofit organization based in The Woodlands, Texas, dedicated to
improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of
sustainability science and principles of sustainable development.
Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center
Located at the University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston,
NUATRC funds research projects related to toxic air contaminants and health in
urban areas, including the Houston region.
Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
The TCEQ is the State
of Texas's environmental agency. It's website has extensive links to
environmental information, real-time pollution levels and useful information for
reporting pollution sources (such as the Smoking Vehicle program).
Texas Department of Health Environmental Health Resource Directory
An extensive, well maintained list of useful environmental health sites. Texas Gulf Coast Asthma Coalition (TGCAC)
The TGCAC seeks to reduce prevalence, morbidity
and mortality of asthma and to improve quality of life for people with asthma in the 13-county area.
The website provides information about area asthma hospitalizations,
prescription usage and cost to area residents.
Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Environmental Law and Justice Center
The clinic provides a full range of environmental legal services, with a
particular emphasis on assisting predominately minority communities in identifying and addressing environmental problems. Contact Martina Cartwright at
713-313-7372.
University of Houston
Institute for Multidimensional Air Quality Studies (UH-IMAQS)
The UH-IMAQS group analyses air quality in the Greater Houston area and works with
national, state, and local leaders to provide solutions for Houston's air
quality problem.
University of Texas School of Public Health CHARTing Health Information
for Texas
This site maintains a comprehensive list of up-to-date links to
nformation about health, demographics, environmental exposures and other
useful information for Texas communities.
University
of Texas at Austin Center for Energy and Environmental Resources
The CEER serves as the central liaison for energy and
environmental research, education, and public service at the University
of Texas at Austin. It focuses on efficient and economical use of energy
and on ensuring a cleaner environment by developing, in cooperation with
industry, processes and technologies that minimize waste and conserve
natural resources. REGIONAL CITIZEN ORGANIZATIONS (alphabetical)
American
Lung Association of Texas
ALA Texas offers information about programs in Texas, including the annual
State of the Air report. In addition to local Houston events, you can adopt a school bus, donate a vehicle, and test how asthma friendly a school is. The site also has fact sheets
about lung disease and air pollution.
Citizens League for Environmental Action Now (CLEAN)
C.L.E.A.N. is a Houston-based organization whose mission is "to inform
and educate citizens about environmental abuses so that they will take
action to protect their children, future generations and endangered
species." For additional information, call
713-524-3000 or email
info@cleanthinking.org.
Downwinders at Risk
Downwinders at Risk is an organization dedicated to the continued
education and advocacy concerning the burning of hazardous waste by
cement kilns. Downwinders at Risk acts as an information clearinghouse
for groups who are concerned with the burning of hazardous waste by the
cement kiln industry within and outside the state of Texas.
EarthHouston
EarthHouston features environmental news and resources, with an emphasis on Houston and the South Coast.
In particular, the website features articles and interviews with area community leaders, emphasizing strategies
for sustainability appropriate for this region.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; U.S. Department of Energy
The EERE News site offers a variety of resources and news for media and others who are interested in learning more about the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Here you'll find press releases, newsletters, speeches, featured stories and links from the EERE home page, and other resources detailing EERE's most recent activities and efforts.
Galveston-Houston Association
for Smog Prevention (GHASP)
GHASP is largely a technical citizen's group that prepares educational materials on
various aspects of air pollution and health in the region. The group is particularly active
in the arena of regulatory and policy decision-making.
Health Professionals for Clean Air (HPCA)
HPCA is a coalition of doctors, nurses, researchers and other health
professionals concerned with the health effects of poor air quality and
the lack of progress in making our air healthy to breathe. Although most
of HPCA’s advocacy is targeted at improving air quality in Houston,
Texas, the group occasionally also addresses policy issues at the state
and national levels. Mothers for Clean Air (MfCA)
Mothers for Clean Air is a membership organization with chapters in
neighborhoods throughout the region. MfCA focuses on air pollution (outdoors and
indoors) and its effect on children's health. It publishes a quarterly
newsletter, and regularly sponsors community-based activities relating to air
quality, including yearly tours of the Houston Ship Channel and the Parrish
Power Plant. Texans for Alternatives to Pesticides (TAP)
TAP seeks to educate Texans about safer alternatives to control unwanted
pests in schools, homes, and public areas.
Texas
Environmental Profiles
A joint project of the Texas Center for Policy Studies
and Environmental Defense, Texas Environmental Profiles is an
information and on-line activism resource for the state of Texas. These
profiles include explanations of key issues at the state level; values,
rankings, and links for over 50 indicators of environmental quality for
all 254 counties; an interactive mapping system; and a take action
center. Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG)
TexPIRG acts as an advocate for the public interest of Texans. As a part
of their mission to safeguard the public interest, they also actively speak up
and take action for environment protection and sustainability.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES & ORGANIZATIONS
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
(ACAAI)
The ACAAI offers extensive information for health professionals and patients
about allergic and immunologic diseases. The site also offers visitors to take
an online Asthma Life Quality Assessment to see if they have asthma
symptoms.
American Lung Association
(ALA)
The national ALA site offers statistics about the occurrence, hospitalization and death rates for
various lung diseases, asthma and cigarette smoking, as well as numerous
publications on lung disease and environmental factors.
Beyond
Pesticides
A non-profit membership organization promoting pesticide safety and
alternative pest management strategies. Website includes extensive list
of pesticide fact sheets. Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Health Topics A to Z provides information about many diseases and
other health topics, most of which have an environmental component.
Environmental Defense Scorecard
Scorecard is an interactive website allows the user to obtain
information about industrial releases of chemicals, superfund sites and other
pollution sources in his or her zip code. Scorecard also ranks levels of
pollution by county and state, and profiles approximately 7,000 chemicals.
Natural Resources Defense
Council
A top national environmental action organization that also provides information
and resources on leading environmental issues.
Physicians for
Social Responsibility (PSR)
PSR advocates for public policies that promote peace and human health, and
promotes citizen activism. Their site includes numerous
publications ron environmental health topics.
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (US EPA)
The EPA's website offers extensive information about the health effects of many
pollutants. See especially its
Human
Health section.
U.S.
Department of Labor: Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA offers extensive information about occupational environmental health
hazards such as chemicals used in dry cleaning establishments, asphalt fumes and
asbestos. Much of the information, although technical, is also useful for
nonworkers exposed to these environmental hazards at home or elsewhere. |
