5018.0: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - Board 2

Abstract #27962

EPA's role in asthma education and prevention

David Rowson, Indoor Environments Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave Mailcode: 6609J, Washington, DC 20460, 202 564-9370, rowson.david@epa.gov

Asthma is rising in the United States at an alarming rate. Because many indoor environmental pollutants important asthma triggers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Indoor Environments Division (IED) has developed an aggressive program to combat the increase of asthma this country. The goal of EPA's program is to ensure that asthma prevention through avoidance and reduction of environmental triggers is an important part of a comprehensive asthma management plan. EPA is working with national organizations, state health departments and community coalitions to implement this program. EPA's indoor environmental program objectives are to: raise public awareness about environmental triggers through a national media campaign; improve indoor environments in schools and teach students and staff about reducing indoor triggers while enhancing asthma management in school and child care settings; provide in-home asthma education directly to children with asthma, their parents and/or primary care-givers about their indoor asthma triggers; incorporate environmental controls in standards of care for clinical practices through the medical community and managed care organizations; reduce exposure of children under age six to secondhand smoke in their home.

Learning Objectives: N/A

Keywords: Asthma, Indoor Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA