Hidden secrets: Toxins in our environment

Nurses are key leaders and partners in environmental health. In recognition of this leadership, the Women's Health & Environmental Network created a short video to introduce key concepts about environmental exposures, “body burden”, and methods to reduce toxins in the home and the workplace for nursing students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The video addresses exposures from common, every-day situations like personal hygiene (personal care products), drinking water and eating food, indoor air quality, cleaning the house (cleaning products), and work environment. Through a series of interviews with experts and the subject of the film (a pregnant, pediatric nurse), terms are defined and alternatives are proposed to reduce or eliminate toxic substances. The video has been shown in community health nursing classes (undergraduate and graduate) as well as public health classes (graduate) as an introduction to environmental health and as a meaningful message on toxins. Results: preliminary results from class evaluations demonstrate students are introduced to issues around environmental exposures, are able to define “body burden” and can identify at least one method to reduce toxins in the environment.