Environmental Health: Finding Consumer Resources on the Internet

Garry Forger

ABSTRACT. The environment and its effect on health is a subject that has many meanings to many individuals. Topics in environmental health range from the quality of air and water, and the effects of specific toxins on health, to actions that can be taken to change environmental conditions to promote healthy living. As the Internet has grown and become accessible to people at all levels of society, more and more information has become available on environmental health issues and topics through the Web. These sites can contain information on conditions that may be specific to a particular region, are formed to raise awareness about national and planetary conditions, or may simply provide information and ask for calls to action. As with all information gathered, through the Internet or other sources, it is best to study each issue as thoroughly as possible before making decisions. [Article copies available for a fee from
The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: <getinfo@haworthpressinc.com> Website: <http://HaworthPress.com> 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]

KEYWORDS. Environmental health, Internet

INTRODUCTION The environment and its effect on health is a subject that has many meanings to many individuals. Topics in environmental health range
Garry Forger, MLS (gforger@u.arizona.edu), is Academic Data Specialist, University of Arizona, in Tucson, AZ. Health Care on the Internet, Vol. 5(1) 2001 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 31

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from the quality of air and water, and the effects of specific toxins on health, to actions that can be taken to change environmental conditions to promote healthy living. As the Internet has grown and become accessible to people at all levels of society, more and more information has become available on environmental health issues and topics through the Web. A search on Altavista for environmental health returns 242,266 pages. Searching for the more specific term, water quality returns 394,039 pages. To attempt to control access and provide some direction for locating relevant resources related to environmental health, this article will describe some specific sites on various environmental health issues and provide information on directories to environmental health sites. Environmental Health information is provided through many types of organizations; for profit companies that provide products and services often provide general information on their sites related to environmental health issues. While not endorsing the products and services being offered, the sites themselves are sources that can be utilized. Many non-profit organizations have been formed to provide information on specific issues that are related to environmental health. These sites can contain information on conditions that may be specific to a particular region, are intended to raise awareness about national and planetary conditions, or may simply provide information and ask for calls to action. Government sites contain a wealth of environmental health information that has been gathered through studies and reports and is provided for public health purposes. As with all information gathered through the Internet or other sources, it is best to study each issue as thoroughly as possible before making decisions. SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES Beach Watch <http://www.epa.gov/ost/beaches/> A primary goal of the Beaches Environmental Assessment, Closure, and Health (BEACH) Program is to work with state, tribal, and local governments to compile information on beach pollution to define the national extent of the problem. This is a good site to keep an eye on and bookmark for the summer vacation season. The site is provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and provides access to

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Beach Action Plan, Beachgoers Guide, and Local Beach Information. The project is intended to provide timely information on environmental conditions for communities across the country. An interactive map provides the ability to search for reports on specifics beaches and recreational water areas. It is also possible to search the site for reports. Melanoma.com <http://www.melanoma.com/> This commercial site is provided by the Schering Corporation, which makes a drug treatment for melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer. The site contains information on what melanoma is, its diagnosis, and prevention. There is also extensive information on the products of the company. Prevention of melanoma is of particular importance, and there is information on this site on skin safety, sun safety, and an explanation of the UV Index. Information on skin cancer prevention is an important compliment to information on going to the beach. Ozone Air Pollution <http://www.lungusa.org/air/envozone.html> This site from the American Lung Association explains the effects of ozone pollution, which increases in the summer months. Exposure to unhealthful levels of ozone can produce significant decreases in lung function, inflammation of the lung lining, and respiratory discomfort, and is associated with hospital admissions and emergency room visits for respiratory problems. While the decrease of ozone high in the earths atmosphere is a contributing factor in the increase in incidence of skin cancer, an over abundance of ozone at the level that we breathe is also an unhealthy condition. This site does an excellent job of explaining the effects of ozone pollution on the body and has information on its effects on kids. Information is also included on what actions to take during times of ozone alerts. Allergy Alert <http://www.pollen.com/alert.asp> The Allergy Alert Web site provides information on pollen levels that can affect allergy sufferers. The site is provided by a company that produces tools for pollen count measurement. There is information on this site about allergy causing agents in general, covering airborne,

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food, drug, skin, and insect bite allergy. Offered through this site is an Allergy Alert e-mail service that will send you e-mails to alert you to upcoming airborne allergy conditions in your own area, when they are likely to reach or exceed a trigger point. This is the point where most allergy sufferers start to experience symptoms. You can use this information to plan your medication, your outdoor activities, and other aspects of your lifestyle that are impacted by your allergies. The site contains a privacy policy statement on the information that is provided when you sign up for the e-mail service. Air Pollution in the Office <http://www.lungusa.org/air/envindoorpro.html> How big a problem is office air pollution? A World Health Organization report suggests that as many as 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may generate excessive complaints related to indoor air quality. This site from the American Lung Association addresses the specific problem of indoor air pollution. Symptoms, causes, and courses of action are outlined. Sick building syndrome can be caused by chemicals, biological agents, and secondhand smoke. ACTIVISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide <http://www.obviously.com/recycle/> This site provides information on resources for recycling and the beneficial effects of recycling. Recycling is an important prevention mechanism to avoid environmental situations that could adversely affect health. There are links from this site to guides on recycling specific materials, hard-to-recycling materials and reducing unwanted mail. Center for Health, Environment and Justice <http://www.chej.org/> The Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) was founded in 1981, as the Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste (CCHW), by Lois Gibbs, community leader at Love Canal. CHEJ believes in environmental justice, the principle that people have the right to a clean and healthy environment regardless of their race or economic standing. This

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grass roots organization was founded out of actions taken as a result of the Love Canal toxic waste site controversy. The organization provides information, mutual aid, and support, and guides groups through the steps necessary to take action on environmental health issues. The organization has group and individual memberships, which include publications. The organization does not accept government or corporate funds, and relies on individual memberships for support. Natural Resources Defense Council <http://www.nrdc.org/> NRDC uses law, science, and the support of more than 400,000 members nationwide to protect the planets wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things. This non-profit organization provides information on legislation and actions being undertaken to prevent and reverse pollution and to protect natural resources. On the site there is extensive information and links to online petitions and upcoming legislation concerning environmental topics. The issues covered here are very comprehensive, and in addition to providing information on recommended actions, the site provides a thorough overview of all the current environmental issues that affect our health. American Lung Association (ALA) <http://www.lungusa.org/> The mission of the ALA, as stated on their Web site is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. The ALA has a comprehensive site that contains information on all aspects of health as it relates to lungs. This includes information on air quality, secondhand smoking, ozone pollution, and extensive information on public education as it relates to air pollution and health. Membership is ALA is available through the site, at no cost. Membership provides access to chat rooms and customized information. GOVERNMENT RESOURCES EPA <http://www.epa.gov/> The U.S. Federal Environmental Protection Agency provides a wide variety of information on environmental health issues. The agency pro-

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vides publications and information on topics including water, air, soil, and toxic substances. In addition to in-depth technical reports, there are many consumer related documents available from the EPA on their Web site. Specific programs of the EPA provide information on the monitoring of water and air quality that can be very useful not only for researchers, but for planning your next vacation. Information on the site is tailored for Students, Teachers, Concerned Citizens, Small Businesses, and Industry. Information about environmental laws that have been enacted and that are in the legislative process are also included. The EPA site is one of the first places to start when researching water and air pollution issues. OSHA <http://www.osha.gov/> The U.S. Federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration provides for monitoring and oversight of workplace safety. The site is particularly useful for gathering information on workplace chemicals and regulations. Detailed information is available on workplace air quality standards and regulations relating to exposure to lead and other substances. The fact sheet that is available through this site on Lyme Disease, in particular, is an excellent description and resource. New York State Department of Health <http://www.health.state.ny.us/home.html> The New York State Department of Health site provides information that is relevant not only to residents of New York State but to others, as well. The Info for Consumers section provides information on general environmental health topics. The ability to search the site provides for quick access to relevant information. DIRECTORIES ON THE NET Google> Environmental Health <http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Environment/Environmental_ Health/> Googles Web search site provides access to extensive resources on the Web for environmental health. The site indexes government, orga-

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nizations, and commercial sites. Google will allow for searching by keywords of thousands of sites on the Internet. The Google method of ranking a site is based on the number of other sites that have linked to it; the more links to the site, the higher the ranking. A Google search within the Environmental Health section of the site produces a manageable results set. NOAH <http://www.noah.cuny.edu/environment/environ.html> The New York Online Access to Health (NOAH) site provides an Environmental Health page that lists links to sites in categories such as Air Quality, Toxins, Water Quality, Weather and Health, and Legal Resources. NOAH provides listings for sites that are specifically geared to a consumer audience. The NOAH pages are created and maintained by human indexers. CONCLUSION These are only a few of the many great resources on environmental health topics that are available on the Internet. The Internet can empower people to make judgements and form conclusions about their own health care, provide information on prevention, and allow individuals and groups to take actions on environmental health issues and concerns. Received: August 30, 2000 Accepted: September 11, 2000