June/July 1995
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June/July 1995 |
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The International Joint Commission recently established a Health
Professionals Task Force to inform the Commission about current
and emerging clinical and public health issues, including human
exposure to toxic and persistent toxic substances. The task force
cochairs from Canada and the United States are Dr. Brian Louis
Gibson, environmental health consultant, and Dr. Peter Orris,
Cook County Hospital Division of Occupational Medicine. Members
appointed from Canada are Dr. Alan Abelsohn, family physician and
Ontario College of Family Physicians Environmental Health
Committee, Dr. Pierre Gosselin, Centre de Santé Publique de
Québec and Dr. Margaret Sanborn, family physician. The U.S.
members are Dr. Kelley Brix, National Academy of Sciences, Dr.
Theodora Colborn, World Wildlife Fund and Dr. Heraline Hicks,
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Dr. Michael Zarull, Environment Canada, was recently appointed to the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board. Michael Kuhns, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, was appointed to the International Advisory Board on Pollution Control-St. Croix River. Kuhns succeeds Stephen Groves. |
La Commission mixte internationale a récemment mis sur pied un
Groupe de travail de professionnels de la santé dont le rôle est
d'informer la Commission relativement aux questions actuelles et
émergentes de santé publique et clinique, notamment l'exposition
de la population à des substances toxiques ponctuelles et
rémanentes. Les coprésidents du groupe de travail sont le Dr.
Brian Louis Gibson, consultant en santé environnementale et le
Dr. Peter Orris, Hôpital du comté de Cook, Division de la
médecine du travail. Les membres nommés par le Canada sont le Dr.
Alan Abelsohn, omnipraticien et Ontario College of Family
Physicians, le Dr. Pierre Gosselin, Centre de Santé de Québec et
le Dr. Margaret Sanborn, omnipraticienne. Les membres désignés
par les États-Unis sont le Dr Kelley Brix, National Academy of
Sciences, le Dr. Theodora Colborn, World Wildlife Fund et le Dr.
Heraline Hicks, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Le Dr. Michael Zarull d'Environnement Canada a été nommé récemment au Conseil consultatif scientifique pour les eaux des Grands Lacs. Michael Kuhns, du Maine Department of Environnmental Protection, a été nommé au Conseil international de lutte contre la pollution de la rivière Sainte-Croix. Il succède à M. Stephen Groves. |
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner joined U.S. Senators Carl Levin and John Glenn and Indiana Governor Evan Bayh on March 13, 1995 to unveil the long-awaited final version of the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiatve (GLI). The GLI, which sets forth an interstate approach to water quality protection for the Great Lakes, was released in draft in mid-1993.
The Great Lakes Critical Programs Act of 1990 authorized U.S. EPA to consult with states to develop the GLI package, including uniform water quality criteria. In response to many public comments, U.S. EPA made substantive changes in its draft regulatory proposal, including revision of its metals criteria, bioaccumulation factors, wildlife criteria, antidegradation procedures, intake credits and mixing zone requirements. As a result, the agency notably reduced the estimated cost of compliance with GLI provisions. States must adopt water quality programs consistent with the GLI within two years or U.S. EPA may promulgate standards for them.
For more information contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water WH-556, Washington, DC 20460. (202)260-5700.
Loosestrife is not a big problem in Europe where insects keep it in check by eating its roots, flowers and leaves. Scientists are studying insects that could control these plants in the Great Lakes region and have released them to attack purple loosestrife. It will take at least three years for the insects to multiply enough for any effect to be seen. Insects being used in this experiment include a beetle (Galerucella) that can completely defoliate purple loosestrife while posing no threat to native species, a root-attacking weevil (Hylobius), a seed eater (Nanophyes) and a gall midge (Bayeriola) that destroys flower buds.
Teachers interested in having students study these and other aquatic plants may purchase "Aquatic Plants, Another World" (104-LM-1). Copies are $3.50 US and are available from New York Sea Grant, SUNY College at Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126-3599 or from the Resource Center, Cornell University, 7 Business and Technology Park, Ithaca, NY 14850.
Would rapid access to Great Lakes and environmental news be useful to you? Booth Newspapers of Michigan has launched the Great Lakes Environmental Wire (GLEW). The online service provides current news stories, editorials, opinion pieces and more from seven of Michigan's largest daily newspapers. The service focuses on Michigan, but reports news of basinwide interest, such as the impacts of U.S. federal budget cuts on Great Lakes agencies and Congressional actions related to the Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative. You can find GLEW at the regional news link of the Great Lakes Information Network's homepage at http://www.great-lakes.net.
Lake Michigan Federation's Muskegon, Michigan office, with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, is helping communities around the Great Lakes basin to confront the human health concerns related to environmental conditions. This project provides citizens and communities throughout the basin with strategic approaches to confront growing concerns about exposures to chemical hazards.
If you would like to learn more about this project, contact Tanya Cabala or Liz England, Lake Michigan Federation, 425 W. Western Avenue, Suite 201, Muskegon, MI 49440. (616)722-5116; fax (616)722-4918.
During the past three years, farmers in Michigan have been taking a proactive approach to groundwater protection through the use of farmstead assessments. The assessment system was originally developed in Wisconsin and Minnesota and adopted by Michigan State University Extension. The program, called Farm*A*Syst, addresses how structures and management activities can influence groundwater quality. There are 12 worksheets that help the farmer rank the risk to groundwater from such activities and develop plans to reduce risk and protect drinking water.
In Michigan, the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service and Michigan State University Extension developed a plan to use Farm*A*Syst in six watersheds that are most vulnerable to groundwater contamination. The plan includes the use of AmeriCorps members to assist farmers in completing the assessments. Currently 14 U.S. Department of Agriculture/AmeriCorps members are working with farmers throughout the state. The effort began in October 1994 and will continue through August 1995.
One of the goals of the program includes assisting 1,000 farm families with farmstead assessments. As of April 1995, over 400 assessments have been completed. Farmer response has been quite positive. The assessment is completely confidential; the completed worksheets stay on the farm and no information about the farmstead is kept on file. While there are no requirements for regulatory compliance, it is encouraged. Michigan farmers recognize the need to protect groundwater and thus are taking proactive steps toward this end.
For more information contact Christina Coulon, U.S. Department of Agriculture/AmeriCorps, Michigan State University, Cooperative Extension Service, 11 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1039. Email diragmkt@msuces.canr.msu.edu ; (517)355-0117; fax (517)353-4995.
A dedicated research program on endometriosis has been established by the Endometriosis Association in conjunction with Dartmouth Medical School. Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue from the uterus migrates to the abdomen, ovaries, bowel or bladder, often causing internal bleeding, infertility and other problems. This program is linking endometriosis to dioxin (a widely prevalent toxic chemical). A new book on Endometriosis Sourcebook is also planned for release in 1995.
The Endometriosis Association is hosting a major conference November 3-5, 1995 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for an audience of over 1,500 women. To receive information contact Mary Lou Ballweg, Executive Director/President, Education Support Research, 8585 North 76th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223. (414)355-2200; fax (414)355-6065.
Revised: March 20, 1997
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle,
mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net