Grants Target Risks to Pregnant Women
Five states and
non-profit organizations in Ohio, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, and Texas
recently received more than $500,000 in federal grants to educate
health-care providers and women of child-bearing age on environmental
health risks.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants will focus on
environmental health issues that include exposure to mercury, lead,
environmental tobacco smoke, chemicals, pesticides, drinking water
contaminants, and indoor and outdoor air contaminants.
"We're giving pregnant women information on how to avoid exposure to
certain environmental hazards to give children a healthy start to
life," said Dona Deleon, acting director, Office of Children's Health
Protection and Environmental Education. "These grants help the public
health community reach women during this important time in their
lives."
The grants are projected to reach approximately 3,000 health care providers and 10,000 women of child-bearing age.
For more information, visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/prenatalgrants.htm.