Air Quality Webinars
EPA's Smoke Sense: A Citizen Science Project Using a Mobile App
Description:
EPA's Smoke Sense Project is a crowdsourcing, citizen science initiative focused on increasing public awareness and engagement related to wildfire smoke health risks. Specifically, EPA wants to understand the extent that exposure to wildland fire smoke affects health and productivity, discover what steps people are willing to take to reduce their exposure, and develop health risk communication strategies that improve public health when there is wildfire smoke. The Smoke Sense App serves as an educational tool and resource to increase awareness and encourage people to take steps to protect their health from wildfire smoke. Presenters shared the story of the Smoke Sense Project, from its launch in 2017 to its current status with over 45,000 participants, focusing on findings related to risk communication that have informed the evolution of the project and the changes to the Smoke Sense App that are included in the upcoming 2021 release. Our presenters will also provide a demonstration of the app and a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Speakers:
Bailey Stearns - Science Communication and Engagement, EPA Office of Research and Development
Dr. Mary Clare Hano (she/her/hers) Environmental Health Social Scientist, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, EPA Office of Research and Development
Dr. Steve Prince (he/him/his) Behavioral Scientist, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, EPA Office of Research and Development
Dr. Ana Rappold (she/her/hers) Statistician and Branch Chief, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, EPA Office of Research and Development
US EPA’s Wildfire Smoke Research, Toolbox, and Other Resources Webinar
Description:
Exposure to wildland fire smoke is a community health issue that has gained the attention of public health professionals and organizations, especially in states where fires are becoming more frequent and intense. Emissions from wildland fire smoke have significant health implications for those nearby as well as those living farther downwind of the smoke. The US Environmental Protection Agency offers a suite of wildland fire resources that can assist public health professionals with the development of health risk communications strategies to improve public health outcomes especially among those at highest risk. These resources can be found on the Smoke Ready Toolbox for Wildland Fires at https://www.epa.gov/air-research/smoke-ready-toolbox-wildfires. This webinar will provide an overview of these resources. EPA is interested in hearing participants’ feedback on these resources.
Speakers:
Christina Baghdikian- MPH, EPA’s Office of Research and Development
Susan Lyon Stone- MS, EPA Senior Environmental Health Scientists, EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
Ali Kamal- PhD, Health Scientist, EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
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Healthy Heart Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Health Webinar
Description:
The most at-risk populations for air pollution and climate change are older people, particularly those of low socioeconomic status, with established heart and lung disease. This webinar will aim to answer the questions, “How do we use the research and information available to improve the health of these at-risk populations?”, and “What more do we need to guide public health and healthcare action?” The webinar will provide a brief synopsis of our current understanding of air pollution’s adverse health effects, describe the need for a large randomized controlled intervention study to reduce exposure, and will highlight the ongoing efforts to translate, communicate and use research on the impacts of air pollution to educate health care providers and public health officials about what they can do to reduce exposures, and improve health and wellbeing among the at-risk population.
Speakers:
Wayne Cascio- MD and Acting Director of EPA's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, EPA
Susan Lyon Stone- MS, EPA
Janet Wright- MD FACC, Million Hearts; CDC/CMS
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Radon Data Standardization Webinar
Topics / Featured Speakers:
- Radon Pilot Project, Michele Monti, MS, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Radon Communications Toolkit, Holly Wilson, MHSE, CHES, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Radon Data Collection in Washington State, Tina Echeverria, Ph.D., Washington State’s Tracking Portal
