has prepared educational materials related to the
Since 1998, ATSDR has provided funds to AOEC to
statewide fish consumption advisory for mercury,
support a project establishing Pediatric Environmen-
which is among the most stringent in the country.
tal Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) that special-
ize in children's environmental health issues. The
Recent environmental health education activities in
PEHSU for the New England area is the Pediatric
Massachusetts include the following:
Environmental Health Center at Children's Hospi-
In 2003, MDPH coordinated two Grand Rounds
tal in Boston. The center offers multidisciplinary
on lead exposure in children. Continuing medical
evaluation and management of children with known
education (CME), continuing nursing education
or suspected exposure to a range of environmental
(CNE), and continuing health eduation specialist
toxicants. Staffed by pediatricians, medical toxicolo-
(CHES) credits were offered to participants.
gists, nurses, and resource specialists, the center also
Through a cooperative agreement with the
provides consultative services by telephone; pub-
Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN), ATSDR
lishes articles advancing the field of pediatric envi-
provides assistance to health care providers
ronmental health; and conducts educational activities
working with migrant and seasonal farm workers.
for medical students, residents, and other health care
MCN, the second largest clinical network in the
providers.
nation, brings together clinicians from various
Health Studies
professions to meet the needs of migrant and
Health studies are investigations conducted to deter-
seasonal farm workers. Local MCN members in
mine the relationships between exposures to hazard-
Massachusetts are the Massachusetts League
ous substances and adverse health effects. They also
of Community Health Centers, Inc., with three
define health problems that require further investi-
offices in the Boston area, and the New England
gation through, for example, health surveillance or
Community Health Center Association, with
an epidemiologic study. Following are examples of
offices in Woburn.
health studies that ATSDR conducted or supported in
Association of Occupational and
Massachusetts:
Environmental Clinics
Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR),
ATSDR provides financial and technical support to
Upper Cape Cod Cancer Incidence Review--
members of the Association of Occupational and
In 1992, a Community Assistance Panel (CAP)
Environmental Clinics (AOEC). This support is
was established as a result of a recommendation
provided to improve education and communication
from the public health assessment. Collaboration
related to surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and
between ATSDR and CAP led to the design and
prevention of illness or injury related to exposure to
development of a symptom and prevalence study
hazardous substances.
that was conducted in four communities around
The AOEC member institutions in Massachusetts
MMR and in one control group not on the Upper
are Caritas Good Samaritan; CareGroup Occupation-
Cape. This study included a census and a well-
al Health Network, Boston; Center for Occupational
use survey and a disease and symptom prevalence
and Environmental Medicine, Northeast Specialty
survey with biomonitoring testing. The results
Hospital; Occupational and Environmental Health
did not identify any pattern of health problems
Center, Cambridge Hospital; and Occupational
requiring public health actions.
Health Program, Boston Medical Center.
In 1997, ATSDR and MDPH, with funding from
the Department of Defense, established a joint
AOEC, ATSDR supports five Occupational and
office at MMR to address public health issues.
Environmental Health Programs in Massachusetts.
This office addresses environmental public
All five are associated with medical schools and/or
health questions and concerns of the Upper Cape
schools of public health. Areas of significant research
communities in relation to potential exposures to
include biomarkers of dose and effect in adult lead
hazardous substances in the environment.
poisoning, bloodborne pathogen exposures, biohaz-
Pediatric Asthma in the Merrimack Valley--
ards and biotechnology, lead, and adolescent occupa-
tional toxic exposures.