The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #63934

Andrew M. Geller, PhD¹, Kathy Sykes, MPA², and Hal Zenick, PhD¹. (1) Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, MD 105 05, Research Triangle Park, NC 27701, 919 541 4208, geller.andrew@epa.gov, (2) Office of Children's Health Protection/Aging Initiative, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Mail Code 1107A, Washington, DC 20460

In October 2002, the US EPA announced an Aging Initiative to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing the environmental health concerns and risks that may confront the nation's rapidly expanding population of older adults. This initiative was motivated by the realization that, with aging, our organ systems may become more vulnerable to environmental hazards (e.g., reduced reserve capacity) accompanied by a reduced capacity to detoxify and eliminate toxicants. Health effects resulting from a lifetime of toxicant exposures may also become manifest with age. Moreover, patterns of resource utilization by this growing population may generate novel ecological pressures. In initiating a dialogue aimed at developing a national agenda, EPA is considering three priority areas, to: 1) identify environmental threats that affect older persons and develop practical interventions to prevent exposure to these hazards; 2) examine the impact of the aging population on the environment, and 3) encourage volunteerism among older persons in their communities to reduce hazards and protect the environment. EPA's development of the initiative has benefitted from input derived from the December 2002 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Workshop and six public meetings held throughout the United States in spring 2003. In addition, EPA is working with NIA and NIEHS as a starting point in building partnerships. This presentation summarizes the exposure, health effects, and research concerns raised by the NAS panel and the public that will have important implications for EPA's evolving initiative. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will learn about the process used to develop the research emphases of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Aging Initiative. Participants will be able to describe the public and scientific input to developing EPA's national agenda, and discriminate between what the EPA understands to be its research goals and research goals that the EPA can address through collaboration with other research institutes and stakeholders. At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will understand that the US EPA is committed to protecting the aging public from environmental health threats and working with stakeholders to identify these threats and developing strategies for planning for the resource needs of aging adults.

Keywords: Environmental Exposures, Environmental Health Hazards

Related Web page: www.epa.gov/aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.