646: Climate Health Training, Updated PFAS Provider Guidance

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Thursday, April 18, 2024. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

BEN FULGENCIO-TURNER: 

So it covers the basics of how climate change affects health, what the solutions ranging from big picture policy solutions to local action, and then best practices for communication and engagement.

JOHNSON: 

A new ASTHO training program connects the impacts of climate change to public health. Ben Fulgencio-Turner is with ecoAmerica. His organization worked with ASTHO to develop the self guided online training plan.

FULGENCIO-TURNER: 

Providing support to members on the ground to help both understand the connection between climate change and health and what those solutions are and how those solutions are public health solutions, but also to communicate effectively about climate change and health in a way that motivates people and helps move them forward.

JOHNSON: 

The training includes six modules Fulgencio-Turner says they're designed to equip public health professionals to engage people with actionable information.

FULGENCIO-TURNER: 

So making sure that when you do talk with any target audience, whether colleagues or neighbors, family, friends, or community, that you're helping them understand the climate health connection, help moving them towards action that protects health in a way that is not distressing, not demotivating, and not panicking, but helping people to start taking more and more action.

JOHNSON: 

The training is available now. You can get started today by clicking the link in the show notes.

There's a new report of several dairy herds testing positive for avian influenza. This time in Michigan, ASTHO Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Marcus Plescia, tells the new site governing that coordination between agriculture and public health officials is critical.

MARCUS PLESCIA: 

That's the big ask here. I'm not saying that's not happening. But that's a place where I think somebody who's in a governing role can be very clear with these agencies. That's their expectation if they want transparency, and they want very clear and [...] that is very, very important.

JOHNSON: 

Read the story in governing by using the link in the show notes. Also today, updated guidance for clinicians with patients exposed to PFAS forever chemicals is now available from the CDC. This is Dr. Ari Bernstein.

ARI BERNSTEIN: 

We saw the opportunity to update this information with the goal of enabling more productive conversations between individuals in this country who are concerned about exposure and their medical providers.

JOHNSON: 

Bernstein says the latest advice emphasizes the need to reduce exposure, explains health impacts especially on pregnant or breastfeeding people, and examines blood testing.

BERNSTEIN: 

The information is really intended to enable those providers who may have had very little experience with any form of environmental health concern to give them a leg up so that they can take steps forward together with individuals who are concerned.

JOHNSON: 

He says overall levels of PFAS exposure have dropped across the nation, but adds hotspots require providers to understand the risks in their communities.

BERNSTEIN: 

One of the things we really encourage providers to do is to be aware of whether the community that they are serving even, you know, certain neighborhoods within the community may have exposure risks, as a part of assessing both whether or not blood testing is going to be helpful. And then of course, what to do with that test result.

JOHNSON: 

There's a link to the CDC updated PFAS guidance in the show notes.

In other news Island areas have many challenges that are different from those encountered by public health agencies in the United States. ASTHO summarizes some of those issues in the US territories and freely associated states. In a new blog article now online, you can read it using the link in the show notes.

Finally, this morning learn how to work with state lawmakers during a webinar hosted by the National Coalition of STD directors scheduled for May 22. ASTHO joins the coalition for the discussion. You can get more information by visiting the link in the show notes.

Before we go a reminder also to follow this newscast on your podcast player and connect with ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASCO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day