HWCEC-ECIC Healthy Operation and Maintenance Strategies Supplement

Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center and Early Childhood Initiatives Center Healthy Operation and Maintenance Strategies Supplement

“Children are our first priority!�

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Contents

Contents Objectives

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Challenges

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Strategies

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Resources

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Cultivating a Healthier Environment for Children and Staff Continuously Learning and Developing Healthier Practices Inspiring Healthier Early Childhood Practices Regionally Ongoing Risks Involved with Maintenance & Operation From the Classroom to the Body Furnishings and Supplies that often Contain Harmful Chemicals Maintenance Concerns in Preserving a Healthy Environment Ongoing Collaboration Among Faculty, Staff, and Families Informing Staff, Disseminating Literature, Reinforcing Protocols Evaluating Materials and Establishing Criteria for Certifications Continuing Education through Environmental Health Networks Bringing Together a Community Committed to Children’s Health Guides for Healthier Practices in Early Childhood Education Tools for Finding Healthier Products, Furnishings, and Supplies Health Certifications and Product Labels Children’s Environmental Health Organizations and Literature Articles on Health Hazards, Toxic Chemicals, and Materials Local Partners and Contacts for Children’s Health Initiatives

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Objectives

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OBJEC

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Objectives

CTIVES

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Cultivating a Healthier Environment For Children and Staff With the HWCEC-ECIC’s new facility constructed, the maintenance and operations team has the opportunity to set a new standard for children’s health in early childhood education. These initiatives can potentially reduce the prevalence of some of the most widespread diseases affecting our community, creating a healthier next generation of future leaders, activists, and innovators.

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“Our organization stemmed from a love and concern to do what’s right for the children in our community, and it’s reflected in everything we have done in the past, present, and plan to do for the future.”

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Continuously Learning and Developing Healthier Early Childhood Practices While these guides for healthier strategies set a trajectory for improving best practices, they are merely a jumping off point from which we can continuously build upon. In this process, there is no specific benchmark at which to say “we have achieved healthy conditions” as our potential for creating healthier children’s environments is unbounded.

With this progressive adaptation, feedback, and development, we can progressively make strides in elevating early childhood practices, always learning, always improving, always working towards healthier environments with children as our first priority.

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adapting behaviors

Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment Center and Early Childhood Initiatives Center Helen Healthy R. Walton Operation and Children’s Enrichment Center Strategies Maintenance and Early ChildhoodSupplement Initiatives Center Helen R. Walton Healthy Construction Strategies Children’s Enrichment Center and Early ChildhoodSupplement

Initiatives Center Helen R. Walton Healthy Design Strategies Children’s Enrichment CenterSupplement and Early Childhood Initiatives Center Healthy Project Guide

HWCEC Healthy Project Guide | Resources

HWCEC Healthy Project Guide | Resources

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HWCEC Healthy Project Guide | Resources

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HWCEC-ECIC Healthy Project Guide | Introduction

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revising protocols Contents

Objectives

improving performance Challenges

Strategies

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Inspiring Healthier Early Childhood Practices Regionally, and Beyond Building upon the regional impact outlined in the Healthier Project Guide, the practices established at the HWCEC-ECIC go beyond the walls of the building. Here, professionals learn strategies that will reach nearly 40,000 children across Northwest Arkansas, every year.

The extent of this influence can drive the momentum for early childhood education standards, creating real, noticeable improvements on a quantifiable scale. With the breadth of this impact, HWCEC-ECIC has potential to become the prototype that inspires healthier environments for children across our region, state, nation, and beyond.

“It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter, that tells what kind of life you have lived.”

-favorite saying of Helen R. Walton

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Contents

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CHALLE

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Challenges

ENGES

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Ongoing Risks Involved with Maintenance and Operation There are a variety of challenges in preserving environmental health throughout HWCEC-ECIC’s maintenance and operation. These difficulties fall into two basic categories: Furniture

Accessories

Toys & Supplies

Cleaning Products

Avoiding Products That May Contain Harmful Chemicals Both the furnishings brought in at the beginning of operation and the daily supplies used for activities and maintenance can contain chemicals that are unhealthy to children. Given the frequency that children interact with these substances, it is important to establish criteria for what products will be brought into HWCEC-ECIC, and create methods for screening and evaluating these materials.

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Dust, Mold, and Airborne Pollutants

Toxic Chemicals in Pesticides and Solvents

Protecting the Building From Developing Unhealthy Conditions There are a variety of maintenance protocols that are necessary to reduce the risk of unhealthy contaminations from mold, dust, bacteria, and infestation. However, these practices should also be approached with caution because cleaning agents, sanitizers, and pesticides can contain harmful substances themselves.

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From the Classroom to the Body If these kinds of chemicals are used in classrooms or facilities around HWCEC-ECIC, there is a risk that the substances will eventually find their way into children’s bodies. Looking at the paths of chemical intake from the HWCEC-ECIC Healthy Project Guide, there are several ways in which children can be exposed to dust, fumes, and air pollutants, meaning there are many things used in the surrounding environment that can have an effect on children’s health.

Inhalation

Dermal Absorption

Placental Transfer

Breastfeeding

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Challenges

Ingestion

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Furnishings and Supplies that often Contain Harmful Chemicals Furniture:

plastics BPA and phthalates can be found in many plastics, including PVC, styrene, and polycarbonate1

wood furniture wooden cribs, chairs, and other furniture often use high VOC glues and finishes, such as formaldehyde2

cushions & upholstery mats and upholstered furniture often contain toxic flame retardants in their foam cushions and surface treatments2

laminators thermal laminators can emit toxic fumes in the heating process as they melt adhesives

laser printers vapors from laser printer inks are another primary source of VOC air pollutants4

rugs and carpeting synthetic carpets may off-gas perflourinated compounds, and often contain toxics in protective coatings3

Appliances:

copiers fumes from copiers are a major contributor of VOCs to indoor air pollution4

1. Plastics & Plastic Toys, Eco-Healthy Child Care 2. Furniture & Carpets, Eco-Healthy Child Care

3. Building Green: Area Rugs 4. Schools and Daycare Guide

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Challenges

19 School and Office Supples:

toys children’s toys have historically used phthalates, BPA, and PVC in plastics1

art supplies lead, asbestos, and organic solvents can be used in art supply pigments, preservatives, and adhesives5

chalkboards and whiteboards chalkboard dust and whiteboard chemicals contribute to indoor air pollution

food service products Plastic containers and tin can enamels can contain BPA and phthalates, particularly toxic when heated6

laundry detergents detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets may have toxic chemicals, particularly in frangrances7

air fresheners fragrances in scented products of all kinds are very high in VOCs7

Hygiene and Cleaning Products:

cleaning products cleaning supplies often have strong off-gassing of toxic chemicals, disinfectants are particularly hazardous4

soaps and sanitizers soaps and sanitizers can contain high concentrations of toxic antimicrobials and various airborne toxics4

5. Art Supplies, Eco-Healthy Child Care 6. Caring for Our Children

Contents

Objectives

7. IAQ: Scented Products Emit a Bouquet of VOCs

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Maintenance Concerns in Preserving a Healthy Environment Air Quality, Mold, and Dust

mold toxic molds can grow in areas that collect moisture, or in humid spaces that are poorly ventilated1

dust dust particles affect asthma and other respiratory sensitivities, and can contain toxics from abraded materials

Pests and Pesticides

pests and insects rodents and certain insects have been found to trigger asthma, contaminate food, and spread bacteria and disease3

pesticides all pesticides are potentially harmful, containing poisons that are intended to kill some form of life3

1. Go Green Rating Scale for Early Childhood Settings, Phil Boise

fumes mechanical equipment and appliances can release fumes that affect respiratory disease and organ function

radon radon, a radioactive and carninogenic gas, can leach through soil to infiltrate cracks in basements and foundations2

fertilizers plant fertilizers may contain hazardous pesticides or strong concentrations of chemicals that irritate skin or lungs4 2. Managing Radon in Schools 3. Integrated Pest Management: A Curriculum for

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Challenges

21 Maintenance Protocals

custodial solutions noxious gases and volatile reactions can result from the mixing of chemical solvents

storage of supplies disorganized storage can lead to unnoticed spills and toxic contaminations4

waste contamination neglected waste can be a breeding ground for airborne pathogens, and can attract pests and other rodents

Cleaning and Maintenance Supplies

cleaning products can contain many hazardous chemicals and solvents that have high rates of VOC emissions

air & water sealants caulks and sealants may contain BPA, a chemical linked to autism, cancer, hormone disruption, and obesity5

Early Care and Education Programs 4. CHPS Maintenance & Operations Guide

Contents

periodic maintenance common upkeep tasks such as the resealing of floors or paint touch ups can lead to exposure if not timed appropriately

Objectives

5. Children and the Environment, Children’s Environmental Health Center

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Strategies fo Maintenance a

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Strategies

or Healthier and Operations

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Ongoing Collaboration Among Faculty, Staff, and Families The greatest strategy for maintaining a healthy environment lies in the team’s network of collaboration and mutual support. With our collective strength and an ongoing open dialogue, we can continue nurturing each other’s abilities in advocating for the children. This communal process includes respectfully addressing any challenges that may arise, and as a team, working towards finding healthier solutions so that we can bolster the shared objective of improving children’s education and supporting their general wellbeing.

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Strategies

25 teachers & administration

custodial & maintenance

parents & families

Contents

Objectives

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Informing Staff, Disseminating Literature, and Reinforcing Protocols Training for New Faculty and Staff How do you make sure new members joining the team are informed of the center’s health and toxicity concerns, and that they know the best protocols for addressing these issues?

Children’s Environmental Health Workshops Reminders in Appropriate Locations It can be useful to strategically post information directly in the areas affected, or the areas where relevant decisions will be made.

Environmental Working Group’s Guides and Literature

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Strategies

27 Accessible Literature & Practical Information Remembering all this information can be tricky, so it’s helpful to break it down into distinct topics, and provide straightforward and practical instructions for healthier practices.

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Av plastic Useto 20by tting I) ly. af y, pe and t is 1.c an ssi tio t froe wahig ure, m Tr as who1.priorov,ed fin redsPrendatio by pudiCM rect su ce uc0 fee th ve in yo oduc line no natel ergic or that y. To .earth91s, such str50 tain n hanic averag gaso d to ex an (e.g. tinteg (A rove mmese pr fortu er all s may builtnic pr airin ilit expo ch or se itu such an th ain ildre se on . Un trigg of rstapobal-sed fac w.sear ical od (Appe ret co orstea t P” of th rooo ind expo less mc. Ch ofsparend, arse thsIn pets can amphibi airer 16 chem teerp .ooWrat “A wingd th ey 5/16ated s traffilevels 6/ww 4/16 om thers a lis prov d s),cbu g 3/m16ou re loc bu td imwa e th. ssro d fea iles an tu toxifollo fin . to s of l ouod stron ater eet. caus cla lt of avy safe s. an pt coysathaatrm strucced byufacactnsh et.org g W edfuwo y2wa e re ove , fur resu A he tion bean adult pl Yois cmin nkin llu many mtre the Rem dander ns. Whil reduin th r is m CC ial po oors th ereitar. eAp renCCfroAw.a Dri e, te tio w th in by td fro on str ou wa g w ated ur wi y: reac ntild y, thalecala t ch tion telSe atic rface chin indu gesin ualit ventila thm d su als, lea ral andm the in S. Fortunaand protse rQ am e an Ai as nt U. er tu r cre Co ound g min ricul rs fro The i-quality . In s. door d ai

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Resources: More information on strategies for informing staff can be found in the EPA’s Reference Guide for Indoor Air Quality in Schools, Section 3: Effective Communication, with additional literature and specific training materials in their IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit.

Contents

Objectives

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Evaluating Materials and Establishing Criteria for Product Certifications Understanding certification labels can be a valuable skill as we begin sourcing healthier products for HWCEC-ECIC. These seals can indicate any number of material properties, such as recycled content, environmental impact, or energy efficiency, but the ones we are most concerned about for children’s health are those regarding chemical ingredients and VOC emissions. With these labels, we can begin assessing whether products contain potentially toxic substances, and what their likelihood is for offgassing these substances into vapors that could be inhaled.

Certifications also come in various degrees of disclosure, performance, and authenticity, so the more we understand their differences, the better our chance is of finding healthier products. For example, some assessment agencies offer multiple benchmarks for certification, such as Cradle to Cradle’s Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze rankings. Others, like Declare and HPD-C, require more complete disclosure of material ingredients and transparency from manufacturers. It should also be noted that some labels are not actually certifications, which usually meet a defined standard and are verified by a third party, but are simply generic claims made by manufacturers, such as “Non-Toxic” or “Low-VOC”. These labels should be treated with cautious skepticism, as it’s not clear if their statements have been confirmed by an unbiased, reputable agency.

Examples of more reliable certification labels can be found in the Resources section of this supplement, with further descriptions in the Design Institute of San Diego’s article Green Labels & Certifications, and a full database of product seals and standards online in the EcoLabel Index.

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Strategies

29 Comparing Product Seals Certifications

Declarations

vs. example: Cradle-to-Cradle Certified

Certifications show that products have been tested and rated for a given benchmark of performance, or approved for the specific criteria put forth by the evaluating agency. The more reliable certifications are conducted by independent, third-party agencies, which are typically less biased than self-declared claims from manufacturers.

Contents

Objectives

Labels

vs. example: Health Product Declaration

Declarations provide product information objectively, without ranking or certifying a given level of performance. These reports may include ingredients lists, hazard screenings, or exposure assessments, and can measure product contents at difference degrees of precision. The ultimate goal of product declarations is for greater transparency throughout the industry, particularly to consumers.

Challenges

example: “antibacterial”

Generic labels may state specific properties, such as “BPA-Free” or “AllNatural”, but are not endorsed by independent agencies or verified for authenticity. These may come in the form of official looking seals, but without a specific organization backing their claims, they should be given less confidence than credible certifications.

Strategies

Resources

Continuing Education Through Environmental Health Networks Children’s environmental health is emerging as a major global initiative, and there are a variety of tools that have been developed to help you with these goals. You can find more details on these in this supplement’s resources section, but here are a few types of resources you might find beneficial:

Best Practices Guides Comprehensive guides can provide detailed recommendations for the best ways to address health hazards specific to early childhood education.

CHPS Volume IV PDF Go Green Handbook Caring for Our Children

Local and Regional Training Programs

Databases of Recommenda

Several children’s health agencies offer free training workshops in facility management that directly target Arkansas’s major health issues

These online d have collection types of health products, as w programs to co products again

Children’s Environmental Health (CEH) Program

EWG Cleaning Evaluations

DHS Child Care & Early Childhood Education

Smart Mommy Baby Product G

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Strategies

31

f Product ations

Retailers and Industry Leaders

Potential Funding Opportunities

directories ns of different h-certified well as rating ompare nst each other

Retailers are beginning to join the advocacy for nontoxic materials, and it can be useful for consumers to know which companies require their products to meet healthier criteria

There are also beginning to be funding opportunities that incentivize improving the health of early childhood environments, both in their construction, and in building maintenance protocols The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools Grant Database

g Product

y Healthy Guide Contents

Wal-Mart Ashley Furniture Hewlett-Packard Objectives

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Bringing Together a Community Committed to Children’s Health We are at an exciting moment where all the pieces needed to create healthier environments are coming into place. We have an organization rooted in innovative early childhood strategies, a training program dedicated to advancing best practices, a community of passionate and caring families, a network of industry leaders and retailers supporting healthier product standards, a team of designers and contractors collaborating on a new healthier facility, and of course, a region of inspiring young citizens who give us the ambition to reimagine what is possible in early childhood education.

Together, we can take a stand against childhood diseases like Asthma, ADHD, and Autism. Together, we can mitigate children’s exposure to chemicals that stunt growth, cause obesity, and impair cognitive development. Together, we can build a community of practitioners that are continuously advancing best practices, improving the health of children throughout Northwest Arkansas, and beyond.

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Strategies

33

Contents

Objectives

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Resou

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Resources

urces

Contents

Objectives

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Guides for Healthier Practices in Early Childhood Education

Go Green Rating Scale for Early Childhood Settings Handbook

by Phil Boise

Comprehensive guide to different subjectives concerning sustainability and health in early childhood centers.

Only available in print.

Online Description

CHPS Best Practices Manuals: Volume IV: Maintenance and Operations of High Performance Schools Collaborative for High Performance Schools For school operators to operate their schools as their designers intended and provide optimal health, efficiency, and sustainability.

CHPS Volume IV PDF

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Resources

37 I N T E G R AT E D P E S T M A N AG E M E N T: A CURRICULUM FOR EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

This Integrated Pest Management Curriculum was developed by the University of California (UC), San Francisco School of Nursing’s California Childcare Health Program, UC Berkeley’s Center for Children’s Environmental Health Research, UC Statewide IPM Program and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs A comprehensive (600 page) best practices guide for improving children’s health in early childhood education centers, covering facilities, training, nutrition, staffing, furnishings, etc.

Online Edition

Integrated Pest Management: A Curriculum for Early Care and Education Programs UCSF California Childcare Health Program This toolkit presents practical information about using integrated pest management (IPM) to prevent and manage pest problems in early care and education programs.

Toolkit PDF

Full Text PDF Contents

Objectives

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Sources and Tools for Finding Healthier Products, Furniture, and Supplies Furnishings

Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate Registry

by Cradle to Cradle product database Declare Product Database

by International Living Future Institute product database CHPS Product Database

by Collaborative for High Performance Schools product database

Supplies

UL’s Sustainable Product Gudie

by UL Environment Large database of all products with EcoLogo, GreenGuard, and emissions certifications, which pertain to furniture, appliances, office equipment, and other consumer products. product database ACMI Certified Art Supplies

by The Art and Creative Materials Institute, Inc. product database

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Resources

39 Baby

Cleaning

Safe Product Finder

by Healthy Babies Bright Futures Clear side-by-side comparisons and brand recommendations for various nursery furnishings and baby products.

Safe Product Finder

Healthy Cleaning Product Guide

by Environmental Working Group Guide for consumers to understand the hazards, labels, and certifications for different kinds of cleaning products, as well as database of hundreds of products with clearing ratings (A,B,C, D, F) for the health properties of each product.

Cleaning Product Evaluation Database

Smart Mommy Healthy Baby Non-toxic, eco-friendly, natural and organic products for mothers and babies.

Healthy Baby Product Guide

Contents

Objectives

GreenSeal Product Database

by Green Seal product database

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Health Certifications and Product Labels Furnishings & Appliances CradletoCradle Comprehensive, multi-attribute certification program (bronzeplatinum) that evaluates both toxicity and risk of exposure Cradle to Cradle Declare Similar to food nutrition labels, Declare lists all chemicals in a product, and says Red-List Free if it avoids 20 high-priority hazards Declare GreenScreen Evaluation program that assesses product chemicals for health hazards and provides Benchmark Scores (1:Avoid - 4:Prefer) GreenScreen Overview BIFMA Level 3 BIFMA’s level certification is a multi-attribute certification for furniture, with the level 3 tier meeting higher health standards BIFMA level overview SCS certified SCS provides various certifications pertaining to material emissions, indoor air quality, and chemical content SCS Certifications

Plastics #1 – PETE or PET Light plastic, not known to leach harmful chemicals, but it is best to avoid heating and freezing.1 #2 - HDPE Heavier, usually opaque plastic, not known to leach harmful chemicals.2 #3 – V or PVC (Vinyl) Main ingredient, Vinyl Chloride, is known to cause cancer, and maybe also contain phthalates.3 #4 – LDPE Light plastic used for shopping bags, not known to leach harmful chemicals.2 #5 – PP (Polypropylene) Not considered as safe as #2, but not known to leach any harmful chemical toxins.2 #6 – PS (Polystyrene) Polystyrene can leach toxins into foods, and is suspected to cause cancer.1 #7 – Other, Miscellaneous Main type is polycarbonate, which is made from BPA, a known endocrine (hormone) disruptor.1

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Resources

41

Preferred Product Symbol Precautionary Symbol to Avoid

Cleaning Products

Toys & Art Supplies

Green Seal Certifies various consumer products for health and environmental properties and material transparency Green Seal Standards & Products

ASTM ASTM defines regulations for toys and various consumer products, and while toys don’t require a stamp, ASTM is a good indicator ASTM Toy Safety Requirements

EcoLogo Multi-Attribute certifications for some or all of the following: materials; energy; health and environment; performance, etc.

ECOLOGO Product Certification

ACMI AP The Art and Creative Materials Institute, Inc. evaluates materials for toxicological content and certifies Approved Products (AP) ACMI Seals

AISE Charter The Charter for Sustainable Cleaning is a European-based initiative for healthier cleaning products and protocals The A.I.S.E. Charter

GreenGuard Certifications that limit VOCs and chemical emissions to standard levels (GreenGuard) and stricter requirements (GreenGuard GOLD) GreenGuard Certifications

Antibacterial Sterilizers and disinfectants should be screened for containing hazardous antimicrobial chemicals like triclosan EPA Triclosan Facts

ACMI CL Materials that have been evaluated to be appropriate only for adults due to toxicity are stamped Cautionary Labeling (CL) ACMI Seals

Pesticide There is no single warning label for pesticides, so products labels should be screened for insecticide, herbicide, etc.

Integrated Pest Management

Contents

Objectives

References: 1. Guide to Plastic Recycling Symbols 2. Toxic Talk: How to Choose Safe Plastics 3. Healthy Child Healthy World: PVC Additional Resources: Ecolabel Index - database of seals & labels

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Literature & Training Materials from Children’s Env. Health Organizations

Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF) A network of organizations collaborating on initiatives that reduce exposures to neurotoxic chemicals in the first thousand days of development HBBF Homepage Safe Product Finder

Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) A national multi-disciplinary organization whose mission is to protect the developing child from environmental health hazards and promote a healthier environment.

CEHN Homepage

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Children’s Health Protection (OCHP) National agency directed at children’s health and environmental sources of exposure.

Protecting Children’s Environmental Health

Building a Healthy Start, Professional Development for Caregivers of Infants & Toddlers Six best practice training modules from the Alabama Department of Public Health Env. Health Module Description Course Training Materials Training Gudie (PDF)

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Resources

43

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) A division of the National Institute of Health directed at discovering how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives.

NIEHS Homepage Environmental Health Topics

Contents

Objectives

Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC) Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) 16 single-page guides (furniture, art supplies, air quality, etc.) providing hazard info, maintenance protocols, and product recommendations EHCC Factsheets (PDFs)

Challenges

Strategies

Resources

Articles on Health Hazards, Toxic Chemicals, and Evaluating Materials

Environmental Health in Early Childhood Settings EASY STEPS To Healthy Schools & Daycares Cleaning Supplies Art Supplies School Lunches & Snacks Pesticides Air Quality On The Playground Daycare & Preschool Bigger Challenges

A Re por t f r o m t h e

Chi l dr en ’s E nv iro n me n ta l H e a lth Ce n te r Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai December, 2013

E nv i ro n me nt a l L a w I n st i t u t e

Reducing Environmental Exposures in Child Care Facilities A Review of State Policy

January 2015

Easy Steps to Healthy Schools & Daycares Healthy Child Healthy World Easy Steps PDF Guide Children & the Environment Children’s Environmental Health Center Report (PDF) Reducing Environmental Exposures in Child Care ELI + CEHN Report Guide (PDF)

Asthma Specific Environmental Health Publications

hEAlThy ENVIRONMENTS A Compilation of Substances linked to Asthma Prepared by Perkins+Will for the National Institutes of Health, Division of Environmental Protection, as part of a larger effort to promote health in the built environment.

EPA 402-K-10-004 | August 2010 | www.epa.gov/iaq

Managing Asthma in the School Environment Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

RESEARCH

Healthy Environments...

Substances Linked to Asthma Perkins+Will, NIH Report (PDF) Managing Asthma in the School Environment US EPA Report (PDF) Asthmagens in Building Materials Health Building Network Report (PDF)

Stepping Stones to Caring for Our Children Third Edition Standards and Guidelines HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Resources

45

Consumer Articles and Reports on Products, Materials, and Toxicity

Trouble in Toyland The 30th Annual Survey of Toy Safety November 2015

Sustainability

Opportunity

Community

gths Using Our Stren s To Help Other

2016

GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT

Trouble in Toyland: The 30th Annual Survey of Toy Safety U.S. PIRG Education Fund Report PDF Walmart 2016 Global Responsibility Report Walmart Report (PDF)

The Sciences Behind Chemicals, Toxicity, and Materials May 2008

FACT SHEET: TOXIC CHEMICALS IN BUILDING MATERIALS

Toxic Chemicals in Building Materials An Overview for Health Care Organizations1 Chemicals of concern emitted by building materials in facilities affect: • The health and productivity of staff; • The healing environments for patients and visitors; and • Our communities and planet.

Lifecycle emissions from the extraction, production, use, and disposal of the materials, up and down stream, affect health care system members/patients, visitors, staff, and the larger community’s health in their homes, offices, and at play.

Government bodies continue to study many of the chemicals added to or used to make building products. Many have declared some of these chemicals to be among the most hazardous known to human kind. Some of the commonly used building materials in health care may: • Contain formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen; • Be made from PVC, implicated in dioxin formation during production, manufacture, and disposal; and • Include toxic chemicals found increasingly in our breast milk, urine, and blood.

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered more than 80,000 chemicals for use, and identified 16,000 of them as chemicals of concern, they have only subjected 250 to mandatory hazard testing and only restricted five chemicals or chemical

classes.2 With a regulatory system offering little oversight into what goes into the products used in health care, institutions must look to the market to eliminate the “worst in class” chemicals and to evaluate and encourage safer, healthier, and less toxic products.

The health care industry is uniquely positioned to move away from toxic products. With significant market power and the Hippocratic oath of “first do no harm,” hospitals and other health systems are leading efforts from within the sector to source safer building materials; to avoid products containing chemicals linked to cancer, respiratory problems, hormone interference, and reproductive or developmental harm; and to undertake innovative strategies to move the market to research, develop, and produce healthier products.

Plastics All of the petrochemical-based materials in use today share a common legacy of emitting toxic chemicals in the process of refining the oil or gas from which these plastics are made. Chlorinated plastics, including polyvinyl chloride, however, have come under more intense scrutiny due to the extreme toxicity of chemicals involved in their production and disposal.

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Downloads and Media  Webinars, slides and fact sheets.

 Watch all webinars on our YouTube Channel.

Six Classes A Webinar Series on Chemicals of Concern You are invited to listen and learn from our series of half-hour webinars about six families or “classes” of chemicals which contain many of the harmful substances found in everyday products. Instead of worrying about tens of thousands of untested chemicals, we will learn from distinguished scientists who are outstanding teachers about six classes containing many of the bad actor chemicals in consumer products. In addition, the series will move us towards solutions by asking, “Do we need these chemicals?” and when the answer is “Yes,” we will explore safer green chemistry alternatives.

This engaging and informative weekly series ran from Tuesday October 22 to December 10, 2013. If you have questions about the webinar series, contact us at info@greensciencepolicy.org or �ll out our contact form.

What Stinks? Toxic Phthalates in Your Home Environmental Health Strategy Report (PDF)

BETTER BUILDING MATERIALS UNDERSTANDING HUMAN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES

NIEHS/EPA Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers: Protecting Children’s Health for a Lifetime

National Institutes of Health • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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Toxic Chemicals in Building Materials Fact Sheet Healthy Building Network Toxic Chemicals Factsheet Six Classes: A Webinar Series on Chemicals of Concern Green Science Policy Institute Six Classes Topics Better Building Materials U.S. Green Building Council Better Building Materials (PDF) Protecting Children’s Health for a Lifetime NIEHS/EPA Report (PDF) Strategies

Resources

Local Partners and Contacts for Children’s Health Initiatives Regional Training Programs and Events The Best Care The Best Care training meets the professional development needs of Arkansas’ early childhood professionals by providing 10 hours of verified face-to-face training annually through Traveling Arkansas Professional Pathways (TAPP). The areas of emphasis include child development, health, nutrition, and resource management.

The Best Care 2016 Training Topics The Circuit Rider Initiative A division of the EPA’s Region 6 Children’s Environmental Health Program: Protecting Children Where They Live, Learn, and Play 41 one-on-one training programs with officials, schools, and the general public on children’s environmental health with priority outreach for small towns and rural communities.

Fourth Annual Program Highlights Report (PDF) Healthy Child Care Arkansas A team of health professionals from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) which aims to improve the quality of children’s health in early child care settings by training children’s health professionals in the overall well-being of children.

Healthy Child Care Arkansas

HWCEC-ECIC Healthier Maintenance Strategies | Resources

47 Local Organizations, Agencies, and Contacts Arkansas Early Childhood Commission (AECC) AECC Website and Contact Information Arkansas Statewide Health Initiatives Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) Descriptions of all health initiatives throughout the state, local organizations, and participating communities.

ACHI Statewide Health Initiatives (PDF) Better Beginnings Arkansas Department of Human Services: Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education Better Beginnings Website DHS Division of Child Care & Early Childhood Education (DCCECE) Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) DCCECE Website Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health (SWCPEH) A network of experts in children’s environmental health aimed at reducing environmental health threats to children, improving access to expertise in pediatric environmental medicine, and strengthening public health prevention capacity.

SWCPEH Homepage Contents

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