F
igure 1. Location of Fiscal Year 2001 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units
professionals were reached with education or
the addition of EPA as a partner in all of the
training; in fiscal year 2001, more than 16,275
units
were reached.
the establishment of PEHSUs by interna-
tional agencies in Mexico and Canada using
PEHSUs provide expertise that can help resolve
the ATSDR PEHSU model
the perplexing health problems some children
the continuing and increasing interest and
face. For example, one PEHSU consultation
demand for PEHSU services from the public
helped a 13-year-old girl return to school after
and from government agencies at all levels
suffering weeks of disabling symptoms. The girl
opportunities to collaborate with additional
had experienced headache, eye irritation, con-
partners, such as the Centers for Children's
gestion, and shortness of breath. Occasionally,
Environmental Health and Disease Preven-
she had throat tightness and rashes. Her symp-
tion Research
toms only occurred when she was at school,
an impact on the field of pediatric environ-
and often forced her to leave school early.
mental health as a potential medical subspe-
Symptomatic medications and a specialty evalu-
cialty
ation for allergic disorders were not helpful.
the development of a body of published
She stayed home for 6 weeks because of her
articles, curricula, and educational materials.
escalating symptoms. Other students, teachers,
and staff who reported similar symptoms con-
The number of PEHSU activities has increased
firmed her problems. An engineering firm eval-
since the units were established. In fiscal year
uated the heating, ventilation, and air condi-
1998, 123 children were evaluated in PEHSU
tioning system serving the school building. The
clinics; in fiscal year 2001, 907 children were
engineers discovered that the fresh air intake
evaluated. In fiscal year 1998, the units received
shutters on the roof were very close to the air
a total of 14,534 consultation calls from health
exhaust vents for the school. Some building re-
care providers and the public; in fiscal year
engineering work was ordered.
2001, the number had grown to 30,581 calls
during the year. In fiscal year 1998, 672 health
56 chapter 4
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