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Attention: Health Care Professionals: EPA Sponsors Free, Online Training on Health Effects of Air Particles on Children

Release Date: 12/06/2012
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 5, 2012) - - As part of its commitment to protect children's health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has joined with the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment to promote a free, on-demand webinar on the effects of particle pollution on children.

Particulate matter is the term for solid or liquid particles found in the air. Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen such as soot or smoke. Others are so small they can be detected only with a microscope. When particulate matter is breathed in, they can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose health risks including aggravating asthma symptoms. Children are especially vulnerable because their respiratory systems are still developing.

The online training was developed by the American College of Medical Toxicology as part of its cooperative agreement with ATSDR. The webinar is presented in two one-hour segments. The first hour focuses on defining particulate matter and how it gets into the environment; trends in air quality; air quality regulations; air quality effects on public health; and finding air quality information. The second hour centers on the clinical impacts of particulate matter in the environment, sensitive populations, and appropriate interventions.

The course is targeted to health professionals including nurses, doctors, physician assistants, pharmacists, and other care providers. Public and environmental health professionals will also benefit from this training. Continuing education credits are available include CME (for physicians); CME (attendance for non-physicians), CNE (for nurses), CEU (for other professionals), and CPE (for pharmacists). But the training must be taken before March 22, 2013 to qualify for the CEUs.

The webinars can be accessed at http://www.acmt.net/ACMT_Webinars.html .