spring olume iii, issue 1 region ii asthma...

SPRING 2012 VOLUME III, ISSUE 1

Region II Asthma News The Region II Asthma Coalition of CT is committed to the education and

prevention of asthma in individuals and families living in Region II

Did you know? Toxics Linked to Hormone Disruption & Asthma Found in Many Consumer Products: CT Coalition leaders point to study as further proof of needed reform- Senate Bill 274

In this issue:

There is a clear link between asthma and seasonal allergies. Of the 20 million Americans with asthma, at least 65% of them experience asthma attacks triggered by springtime allergens like pollen. Individuals with asthma can help alleviate their symptoms by getting their allergies under control. In fact, treating seasonal allergies effectively can help people avoid developing asthma in the first place.

Warm breezes are blowing and trees are budding earlier due to global warming and other environmental factors. This means that the average pollen season is longer and more allergens are being produced. Though prescription meds such as antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroids are often used to provide temporary relief, there are other lifestyle changes that can help protect you from pollen. Continued on page 2…

Pointing to a study recently released by the Silent Spring Institute that tested 213 consumer products for toxic chemicals associated with the rising rates of endocrine disruption related disease, Anne Hulick RN, JD, Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut Coordinator said that the need for Connecticut lawmakers to act on comprehensive toxic chemical reform legislation is now more important than ever. The results were reported in a peer reviewed article in Environmental Health Perspectives on March 8th.

“This study highlights that consumer products are not always as “natural” or as “safe” as they’re advertised and consumers shouldn’t need a degree in chemistry when shopping for their families,” said Hulick. “Unfortunately, this is yet one more reason why Connecticut families need lawmakers to support legislation before the General Assembly to protect consumers – specifically children – from exposure to these chemicals.” Continued on page 5…

Asthma Advocacy: Let your representatives know you support Senate Bill 274 today! Find out who your representatives are and their contact information by visiting the Connecticut General Assembly website at http://www.cga.ct.gov/. More on SB 274 on Page 5…

Calendar of Events: Mark these asthma events in your agenda. Page 2…

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Allergies & Asthma (Continued from cover page…) Check the pollen count through your local TV weather report or newspaper. You can also sign up for allergy alert emails or download a pollen count smartphone app through Pollen.com Avoid going out early in the A.M. Most plants pollinate in the morning (5 a.m. – 10 a.m.) so wait until the late afternoon or early evening to take the dog for a walk or tend your garden. Workout inside to avoid breathing in large amounts of allergens. This is particularly important on days when the pollen count is high. Don’t welcome pollen into your home. Take off shoes at the door, put on new clothes when coming inside for the day, use a hamper with a lid to keep pollen on dirty clothes contained, wash laundry in hot water, and do not hang clothes or bedding outside to dry. Avoid a pollen-‐covered pillowcase by rinsing your hair nightly before bed. Opt for air conditioning rather than outdoor breezes. Though spring air is refreshing, keep windows closed in your home and car to keep pollen away. Promote pollen-‐free pets. If your family includes a dog, keep their coats trimmed short and bathe them frequently. Reference: Whitman, S., (April/May 2012). The sneezin’ season, Natural Health. Calendar of Events

Asthma Educator Institute May 17-‐19, 2012 Mystic Hilton, 20 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, CT Registration Required Contact: Michelle Marichal 860.838.4370 [email protected] Tina Bragless 401.533.5176 [email protected] The American Lung Association developed AEI, a two-‐day preparatory course for the National Asthma Education Certification Board exam. AEI includes hands-‐on skills, demonstrations, and practice as well as evaluation tests.

World Spirometry Day June 27, 2012 WSD aims to raise awareness of lung health and disease by promoting spirometry, a simple lung function test. For more information visit, http://www.wsd2012.european-‐lung-‐foundation.org/

Asthma Awareness Week April 30 – May 6, 2012 World Asthma Day 2012 May 1, 2012 Legislative Office Building 300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT Legislative Breakfast 8:30-‐10:00 am Featuring a discussion on healthcare reform, reimbursement, and asthma action plans Asthma Awareness Education 10:15-‐2:00 pm Visit with vendors in the LOB Concourse Contact: Hilary Norcia, 860.665.8571

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Latest Lectures: Notes from Asthma Presentations in CT The Harlem Children’s Zone Asthma Initiative, Hartford

In January, Dr. Benjamin Ortiz, MD, FAAP shared the successes of the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) Asthma Initiative during a lecture at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. The main goal of this initiative is to reduce childhood asthma morbidity in Central Harlem, where nearly one in three children under the age of thirteen has asthma. The HCZ Asthma Initiative is a collaborative effort that empowers families to take control of the environmental factors aggravating a child’s asthma. This comprehensive program involves home visits, baseline evaluations to assess needs, medical examinations, asthma education, identification of asthma triggers in the home, pest extermination services, provision of HEPA air filters and dehumidifiers, as well as many other support services and materials. The HCZ Asthma Initiative has had much success with impressive outcomes including documented decreases in hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and school absences. To learn more visit, http://www.hcz.org/programs/family-‐community-‐a-‐health.

Maternal Transmission of Allergy and Asthma Risk to Infants, Farmington

In February, Adam Matson, MD, an attending neonatologist and physician scientist for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and the UConn Health Center delivered his latest research findings in a lecture at the Health Center. His research focuses on the biological mechanisms responsible for the maternal transmission of allergy risk to infants. The goal of Dr. Matson’s studies is to develop personalized, evidence based recommendations for pregnant women to prevent allergies prenatally. His most recent publication, “IgG transmitted from allergic mothers decreases allergic sensitization in breastfed offspring”, was featured last year in the journal Clinical and Molecular Allergy.

Program Partnerships: LAMPP, Healthy Homes, & Putting On Airs, Newington

At the March 12th RAC Meeting, Chris Corcoran from Connecticut Children’s Medical Center gave a presentation on the Lead Action for Medicaid Primary Prevention (LAMPP) project and the Neighborhood Healthy Homes Project (NeHHP). Mr. Corcoran collaborates with Maurice Robertson, the housing coordinator for the Blue Hills Civic Association, on NeHHP in the Blue Hills community of Greater Hartford. These prevention programs help protect children and their families from lead poisoning, eliminate sources of lead exposure in homes, intervene to lower blood lead levels, and educate CT residents of the dangers of lead poisoning. LAMPP and NeHHP are looking to collaborate with Putting On Airs asthma educators and sanitarians to identify families in need of home assessments for lead hazards while at the same time referring families with asthmatic children to the Putting On Airs program. Through this partnership more families can live in lead safe and asthma friendly homes.

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Surf Worthy Websites Calling Dr. Pepper:

The Soda & Asthma Connection Could consumption of soft drinks be associated with asthma? According to a study of almost 17,000 people in South Australia, the answer is yes. Researchers discovered that as intake of soft drinks increased, so did the risk of having asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Not surprisingly, smoking made the link even more significant. The study reported that about 13% of subjects with asthma and 16% of subjects with COPD consumed more than a half-‐liter of soft drinks per day. In the general population, 10% of people consumed this amount of soft drinks. The authors aren’t yet sure what mechanisms explain this relationship. The researchers think that increased sugar consumption from soft drinks may lead to inflammation of airways and activate the immune system of the lungs, responses that both trigger asthma symptoms.

Original Article: Currie, D. (April 2012). Health Findings: Soft drink intake linked to asthma, The Nation’s Health.

www.cafca.org

The Connecticut Association for Community Action is a collaborative effort to reduce the conditions of poverty through the removal of social and economic barriers, the mobilization of community resources, the promotion of advocacy efforts, and the provision of direct services. Check out the “Discover your resources” tool on their website to identify services offered in the areas of education, housing, employment, finance, basic needs, wellness, and leadership, by your local Community Action Agency. These services can help improve housing conditions for families with children suffering from asthma.

www.pollen.com

Do you know your local allergen forecast for the day? If not, sign up for personal allergy alert emails to let you know when pollen counts will be high and what allergens are predominant in your area at Pollen.com. While your there, check out the latest news on allergies and asthma, browse the resources in the Pollen Library, compare the allergy forecast of two cities, and avoid aggravating asthma symptoms with a 4 day cold and cough forecast.

http://www.aaaai.org/global/nab-‐pollen-‐counts.aspx

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has a webpage for the National Allergy Bureau, a reliable resource for accurate pollen and mold levels. You can receive email alerts from the National Allergy Bureau by creating a My NAB account. Don’t forget to check out the NAB Toolbox, too!

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Senate Bill 274 (Continued from cover page…)

* All images courtesy Google images or article source websites

Hulick was referring to legislation raised by the Legislature’s Public Health Committee, Senate Bill 274 — AAC Chemicals of High Concern to Children. The original bill proposed to create a Green Ribbon Science Panel of experts in the fields of science and green chemistry whose members would advise the Departments of Public Health (DPH) and Energy and Environment (DEEP) on which chemicals currently being used in commerce (for example in children’s toys and common household objects) pose the biggest health threat to children and pregnant women. However, the bill was recently passed out of the Public Health Committee with substitute language. Instead, there will not be a Green Ribbon Panel but DPH, DEEP and DCP will review programs in other states, identify chemicals of concern and make recommendations to the legislature by January 2013.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that we need a systematic, scientifically-‐based methodology for prioritizing chemicals that cause harm to people, particularly children and young adults,” State Rep. Betsy Ritter, Chair of the Public Health Committee said. “We must focus our attention according to the harm a chemical does – especially those with physical effects that children carry from the of point exposure through the rest of their lives.”

The Silent Spring Institute tested a variety of consumer products, including cleaning products, cosmetics, sunscreens, shower curtains, air fresheners, drier sheets, and other household goods made by Colgate, Unilever, S.C. Johnson, Johnson and Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Seventh Generation, and Ecover among other manufacturers. Environmental health advocates across the nation see this new study as confirmation that ubiquitous chemical exposure is playing a factor in adverse health impacts.

“The Toxic Substances Control Act, created in 1976 with the intention of allowing the EPA to monitor and regulate chemical substances, has proven to be a failure,” said Mark Mitchell, MD, MPH, of Mitchell Environmental Health Associates and the Environmental Health Task Force at the National Medical Association. “Under TSCA, the EPA has only been able to ban or limit the use of five types of chemicals out of the 20,000 introduced since 1976. With reform stalled at the federal level, individual states have taken on the task of protecting their citizens from the health dangers linked to toxic chemical exposure. Connecticut lawmakers have shown themselves to be leaders and the health and wellbeing of Connecticut residents depends on them continuing to do so.”

Dr. Mitchell, who also founded the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice added that as the number of chemicals used in the United States has increased, so have the incidence rates for different types of cancers (brain, breast, bladder, liver and many more.) The incidence rates of environmentally related childhood illnesses, such as asthma and childhood cancers, have also been steadily rising over the past 25 to 30 years.

“This new study found PVC products, including a pillow protector and shower curtain, contained high levels of the toxic phthalate DEHP,” explains Mike Schade from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice. “Phthalates have been banned in toys, but are widespread in many PVC products children come in contact with in schools and even at home. Phthalates have been linked to asthma, adverse impacts on brain development, and reproductive health problems in baby boys. Thankfully, there are safer cost-‐effective alternatives to phthalate-‐laden PVC products for our schools and homes.”

The products were tested in 2008, and the study authors acknowledge that product samples can vary and that some formulations may have changed.

This article is a contribution from the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut CONTACT: Anne Hulick ·∙ 860-‐302-‐4861 ·∙ [email protected]

Aetna Better Health American Lung Association Central CT Health District CT Coalition of Environmental Justice CT Department of Public Health CT Children’s Medical Center –Asthma Center Community Health Network Community Health Services FaithCare, Inc. Farmington Valley Health District Hartford Health and Human Services Department Hartford Public Schools Merck Pharmaceuticals New Britain Asthma Initiative New Britain Health Department North Central District Health Department Plainville Health Department South Windsor Health Department Windsor Health Department

Want to be a member of the Region II Asthma Coalition? Contact Hilary Norcia at 860.665.8571


Asthma Resources American Lung Association

www.lungusa.org Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

www.aafa.org Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

www.cdc.gov Environmental Protection Agency

www.epa.gov/asthma National Institutes of Health

http://health.nih.gov The New England Asthma Regional Council

www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org CT Department of Public Health http://www.ct.gov/dph/asthma

Contact your local health department or hospital for a list of programs and services

Region II Asthma Coalition Members SPRING 2012 Region II Asthma Coalition Newsletter

Central CT Health District 505 Silas Deane Highway Wethersfield, CT 06109 www.ccthd.org Phone: 860.665.8571 Fax: 860.667.5835 E-mail: [email protected] Got ideas? We want to hear them! If there is a topic, event, advertisement, website, or book that you would like to see featured in this newsletter, please contact Angela Colantonio at [email protected]

spring olume iii, issue 1 region ii asthma...

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