Environmental Health Division
Highlights
This information is currently newsworthy, seasonally pertinent, or is showcased to promote awareness.
Radon Action Month
The Indoor Air Unit at MDH is conducting a number of activities for Radon Action Month, including:
- radon test kit giveaways for MDH staff,
- a series of skyway ads in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth and Rochester,
- Twitter and Facebook posts, and
- a video produced with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS).
MDH teamed up with DPS to raise awareness about the dangers of radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer in the nation. We hope this informational video, featuring Commissioner Dohman of DPS and our own Commissioner Ehlinger, will motivate Minnesotans to get a radon test kit and pass this powerful message along to their friends and family.
- View Posters and Video: Radon in Minnesota Homes
Jim Kelly Accepts Manager Position at EH
Environmental Health is delighted to announce that Jim Kelly has accepted the manager position for the Environmental Surveillance and Assessment section (ESA) within the Environmental Health division. Jim’s experience includes positions in the ESA and Indoor Environments and Radiation sections, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, as well as environmental consulting in private industry. Notable projects with which Jim has been involved at MDH include the Northeast Minneapolis Community Vermiculite Investigation and Perfluorochemical (PFC) investigations. His skills and experience will be a great addition to the ESA section and the management team of the EH division. Jim’s appointment will begin Wednesday, February 1, 2012.
MDH Joins Forces with MN Cancer Alliance Partners
On December 20, 2012, Indoor Air Unit staff from EH and Comprehensive Cancer Control Program staff from HPCD met jointly with representatives from CDC and the Public Health Law Center to discuss the radon objectives in the recent Cancer Plan Minnesota 2011-2016. Minnesota is one of just a handful of states to include radon in their statewide cancer control plan, bringing the resources of the nearly 100 partner organizations that make up the Minnesota Cancer Alliance to bear on the problem of radon in Minnesota homes. The meeting goals were to narrow the list of possible activities and interventions that could be undertaken by the MN Cancer Alliance partners. In the afternoon, Tony Neri from CDC and Jim Kelly from the Indoor Air Unit conducted a brown bag discussion at Golden Rule about federal and state radon initiatives.
MDH Work in Duluth Makes the News
MDH work in Duluth makes the news. Staff working on health impact assessments (HIAs) in Minnesota recently completed work with the City of Duluth examining the design of 6th Street in downtown Duluth. The study has been helpful to city planners as they look for ways to make the area safer for pedestrians and customers of area shops. The work was highlighted in the local media and is a good example of how MDH is engaging with local communities to help create healthy and safe environments.
MDH to Participate in National Tox Program Peer Review
Hillary Carpenter, from the Environmental Surveillance and Assessment Section’s Health Risk Assessment unit, has been chosen to participate in a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences – National Toxicology Program peer review panel in February 2012 at Research Triangle Park, NC. The group will provide an external review of a number of draft technical reports of chemical toxicity studies conducted by the NTP. Results of the peer review will be provided to the NTP’s Board of Scientific Councilors for their consideration.
MDH Staff Speaks at Minnesota for Healthy Kids Coalition
On Thursday, December 15, 2011, Kristin Raab, of the ESA Environmental Impacts Analysis Unit, spoke to the Minnesota for Healthy Kids Coalition about ways to improve children’s health through the use of health impact assessments (HIAs). The statewide coalition is comprised of about 25 organizations [including health organizations, health plans, researchers, policy experts and education groups (e.g., MNAHPERD, MN School Nutrition Association)] that have come together to try to address childhood obesity in Minnesota through state and federal policy change. An HIA allows public health issues (e.g. locations for physical activity, available fresh food, walkability) to be included in community development decisions that can positively impact obesity and health.
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Staff Present Proposed Clean Water Performance Report
On Friday, December 16, 2011, Andy Holdsworth (DNR’s Science Policy coordinator) and Tannie Eshenaur (Drinking Water Protection, MDH) gave a presentation on the proposed Clean Water Performance Report to the National Park Service’s Mississippi River Forum. The Forum meets monthly and is comprised of staff from environmental nongovernment organizations, neighborhood and riverfront associations, MPCA and DNR, interested citizens and legislators. The audience was very knowledgeable and engaged. All in all, the group affirmed the work of the Outcomes and Measures team who is developing the report and encouraged further development of evaluation measures that target long range improvements in water quality.
Study Shows: Efforts to Prevent PFC Exposures is Effective
The efficacy of MDH efforts to prevent exposures to perfluorochemicals (PFCs) in drinking water has been shown by repeated biomonitoring of PFCs in 164 people in Oakdale, Lake Elmo and Cottage Grove. Beginning in 2005, EH Division Drinking Water Protection, Well Management, Health Risk Assessment and Site Assessment and Consultation programs have provided PFC drinking water standards and health information to local officials and residents, regulated the construction of new wells, designed and helped to conduct well sampling and hydrogeologic assessment of the contamination plume, and, in collaboration with the Pollution Control Agency and local governments, ensured provision of safe drinking water to residents of Oakdale, Lake Elmo and Cottage Grove. Results of the biomonitoring study, recently released by the MDH Environmental Health Tracking and Biomonitoring Program, showed decreased concentrations of PFCs in blood over a two year period consistent with the expected decline after removal of the drinking water exposure.
- News Release:
Project finds decline in PFC blood levels in east metro residents - East Metro PFC Biomonitoring Follow-up Project
- Overview of Perfluorochemicals and Health
Two MDH Staff Receive Awards at 2011 SGMP
Pat Cook (EH) and Peggy Malinowski (OPI) were recognized at the Northern Lights Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) awards banquet on December 6. SGMP is a nonprofit professional organization established to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of government meetings. Both are active members involved in organizational and recruitment efforts. Each were selected from a group of their peers as having contributed to the organization in outstanding ways. Peggy was awarded the President’s Choice Award for her stellar service to the organization over the years including mentoring new members, encouraging and supporting others to take on leadership roles, and helping the organization to grow and flourish. Pat was awarded the Planner of the Year for her outstanding networking and relationship development with current and new members of the organization and her constant positive attitude and cheery disposition.
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Minnesota First to Receive New USFDA Training
On December 13-14, 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration staff provided training to over 50 food inspectors from local public health, and Minnesota Departments of Health and Agriculture on risk-based inspection methods at retail food stores. Minnesota was the first state to receive this new training. Topics covered were:
- Elements of a risk-based inspection
- Key terms, policies/procedures, and equipment related to risk-based inspections
- Food safety hazards/key microbiological concepts
- Effective communication techniques
- Strategies for focusing the inspection and prioritizing time
- Difference between assessing code compliance and active managerial control and why assessing active managerial control of foodborne illness risk factors (in addition to code compliance) during inspections is essential for food safety
- Methods for assessing code compliance and active managerial control of foodborne illness risk factors
- Determining the most appropriate immediate corrective actions when violations are noted
- Implementing intervention strategies to achieve long term compliance of recurring risk factors
Participant feedback was very positive. Some of the feedback received was: the training exceeded my expectations, best training I have been to in years, it was well worth it, I liked the hands on learning.
Winter Hazard Awareness
When we think about winter hazards, we generally think about severe weather and getting stranded in a snow storm. What we also need to keep in mind are other hazards that come along with winter such as:
- protecting yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning,
- using snow shoveling tips to avoid a heart attack or back injury,
- protecting your home from fire hazards—particularly during the holidays, and
- using winter car safety tips.
Stay safe this winter and all year long—start by finding out more:
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