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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3019.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 8:30 AM

Abstract #117771

Making Health a Priority in Environmental Protection – A Human Rights Law Perspective

Natalie Walker, Advocate for Environmental Human Rights, 1050 South Jefferson Davis Parkway, Suite 333, New Orleans, LA 70125, 504.304.2275, nwalker-aehr@cox.net and Monique Harden, Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, 1050 South Jefferson Davis Parkway, Suite 333, New Orleans, LA 70125.

Making Health a Priority in Environmental Protection presents innovative work in law, health advocacy, and economic development that promote health in environmental policies and decision-making. Law Nathalie Walker will provide public health professionals with insight into health as a fundamental human right based on its significant status in human rights law and standards. Ms. Walker will demonstrate how little attention is given to health precautions in environmental law with an interactive Environmental Health Myth-Buster. The audience will be asked to answer whether the following three statements are true or false. 1. All chemicals manufactured in the United States have been tested to determine whether they have a negative effect on human health. [False] 2. For each of the 112 hazardous air pollutants identified by EPA, the agency has established pollution control standards that are based on a public health assessment. [False] 3. In America, people have become the repositories for chemicals, pesticides and pollutants that are the building blocks and by-products of many manufactured products. [True] Ms. Walker will present research of laws that establish health as a fundamental human right extending to environmental conditions. As part of her presentation, Ms. Walker will provide an analysis of the following: (1) emerging human rights law requiring governments to ensure health protections in their environmental decision-making; (2) environmental factors that interfere with the fundamental human right to health; and (3) key aspects of the environmental regulatory system that can be improved through a human rights legal framework to meet public health objectives.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

[ Recorded presentation ] Recorded presentation

Making Health A Priority In Environmental Protection

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA