1.) The World Health Organization is one of the most influential groups in research, activism, and political outreach concerning air pollution.
2.) WHO has set air quality guidelines, done significant research on Household Air Pollution, and aided in the “Pan European Programme on Transport Health and Environment (The PEP)”. These actions mainly focused on research and building substantial evidence to influence policymakers to take action on air pollution. WHO is setting a higher standard for air quality and health through its findings and publications.
3.) 1987: WHO publishes first edition of “Air quality guidelines” 2005: WHO releases its “Air quality guidelines” 2008: WHO Begins collecting data on “Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in cities” 2009: WHO Guidelines on dampness and mold published These events show WHO’s constant research on air health. WHO updated and edited its original research from 1987 to include more indoor pollutants and focus on a small group of pollutants. In 2005, the updated guidelines were published as a “global update” with the hope that the guidelines would develop into international standards. After the 2005 publication, WHO continued its research on air pollution to keep up with changing cityscapes and environments.
4.) While WHO bases its actions primarily in research, the studies themselves call traditional practices and old standards into question. The new research highlights many environmental policies that have become outdated.
*5.) WHO collects data on pollutant levels such as particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Also, especially in studies on indoor pollution, WHO collects data on deaths and health complications linked to pollutants.
6.) In the last decade, WHO has produced many studies including; the “Air quality guidelines”. “Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in cities”, “Indoor air quality guidelines: household fuel combustion”, “Natural ventilation for infection control in healthcare settings”, “WHO guidelines 2009”, “Selected pollutants: WHO guideline for indoor air quality”, “WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould”, and “WHO handbook on indoor radon: a public health perspective”.
In the past year, WHO has produced the “WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2015”, “The World Health Report”, and “World Health Statistics”.
*7.) WHO relies heavily on its framework of international researchers and collaborators to gather its data. The Internet is an invaluable tool for sharing and collaborating on research across the globe. Also, WHO uses its publications to spread their message and influence environmental reform.
8.) Compared to many agencies taking on the challenge of asthma, WHO is an international juggernaut. WHO has many researchers and volunteers stationed all over the world to collect data and support their initiatives. However, being such a large institution, it must spread its efforts over many different topics. Therefore, WHO’s best way to engage asthma is to influence policy through its research findings. Research findings from an internationally respected organization such as WHO can be the foundation of a new law or initiative to address asthma.
9.) Some of the strongest research findings from WHO were the number of preventable deaths caused by poor ventilation, heavy air pollution, and toxins. The number of preventable deaths is often in the millions each year. This influences WHO to find support for their findings among governments and outreach groups to make changes that save lives.
10.) WHO is funded by Member States and a few non-state contributors. Member states must pay an “assessed contribution” to be a member of WHO based on their wealth and population. Voluntary contributions come from member states and other partners. This can cause bias because the countries whose policy makers do not value environmental health are less likely to have Member Status in who because of the cost. Also voluntary contributions made up nearly 75% of WHO’s budget. Unnoted “partners” and countries who donated more to the fund than their initial cost may have a more significant influence in the organization.
11.) WHO’s creation was part of a global movement towards diplomacy and international relations. WHO was created a few years after the United Nations was formed. Therefore, WHO was created and continues to follow a format of world diplomacy and shared efforts.
12.) Some particularly challenging issues faced by WHO are implementing their guidelines in national governments and industries. WHO does not have the authority to put their guidelines into place, instead they must convince legislators and world leaders to take action. Also, it is difficult to limit ambient pollution from industry because it is often costly to change industrial methods and to make sure that they are regulated and maintained.
13.) Stricter regulations on particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide are called for by WHO. Also, regulations on smoking, especially indoors, and more stable housing and ventilation infrastructure are called for by WHO’s research.
14.) The Asthma Files can help share WHO’s findings. More importantly, The Asthma Files can link key findings from smaller experimental work to WHO studies in order to develop a widespread, complex understanding of the disease as a whole.
Natural Resources Defense Council
1.) The Natural Resources Defense Council is an American organization that seeks to protect air. land and water through activism, research, and judicial action. They seek to stop air pollution and its adverse effects on the environment and the American people.
2.) The NRDC has proposed plans to help cut carbon pollution from American power plants. The NRDC takes political action in order to curb air pollution. In addition, the NRDC seeks to educate the public through interviews and articles on air pollution and asthma. For example the articles “Clean Air Saves Lives” and “Gasping for Air: Toxic Pollutants Continue to Make Millions Sick and Shorten Lives” show the adverse effects of air pollution on American families.
*3.) The NRDC was formed in 1970 to take action against resource depletion and pollution. Environmental concern developed into activism and matured into legal battles to defend natural resources. In the 1970’s the American government began to take more notice of environmental concerns and agencies such as the NRDC formed to give weight and a means of action to many environmental activists.
4.) One of the more poignant tenants of the NRDC is to fight corporate greed. The NRDC has specifically called out the significant bias that arises from agencies and government policies backed by major companies. This suggests that many institutions may be working for personal gain rather than the greater good.
5.) One of the NRDC major relevant data studies is on climate health. The Climate Health Vulnerability Maps are visual representations of extreme weather variances across the United States. These maps can be used to show how climate change is affecting the US and the potential health threats that follow.
*6.) The NRDC has published a resource book called “Clean Power: The Case for Carbon Pollution Limits” to show the basis of their findings and legal recommendations. The NRDC has also worked off the Clean Air Act, testimony from policy directors, such as David D. Doniger, and EPA standards.
7.) The NRDC uses the American legal infrastructure as its main means of creating change. To aid in creating environmental health, the NRDC lobbies policymakers and voters with action plans and information sets.
8.) The NRDC works within the American democratic, capitalistic ecology. The NRDC uses these characteristics by producing many articles and simpler data sets for the average voter, and also uses its substantial legal power to challenge laws and corporate actions. In addition, the NRDC must recognize that the economic effects of their proposals will be significantly challenged and questioned. 9.) Data on natural resource degradation and depletion are some of the main motivators for the NRDC. One of the NRDC’s central tenets is to protect what resources are available. In addition, the NRDC was founded by a group of attorneys, so it is natural that legal battles are one of the NRDC’s strengths.
10.) Funding from the NRDC comes partly from direct mailing to members and from the board of trustees. Direct mailing helps keep a sense of democratic power among individuals. Also, the Board of Trustees are mostly influential and wealthy, so there may be a lack of the average citizen’s perspective.
11.) The NRDC was formed in 1970 when environmental justice was beginning to be a significant concern among American citizens. The NRDC was created when activism was blossoming and anti-corporate sentiments were growing. This likely influenced the NRDC’s commitment to environmental protection and fight against corporate greed.
12.) Corporate influences are the main hurdle that the NRDC has to overcome. Not only does the NRDC fight against pollution by major industrial corporations, but also against the power of corporate financing and influence behind many politicians.
13.) The NRDC calls for much more rigorous environmental protection standards, especially in clean water, air pollution, and land conservancy. Implicitly, the NRDC fights for a less selfish economy that supports environmental protection.
14.) The Asthma Files can help the NRDC by adding a more robust profile of the effects of pollution and the environment on public health. This can add more substantial backing for their claims and aid in their legal efforts.
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was enacted (1989)
The Montreal Protocol, proposed and voted on by the United Nations, banned
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) due to their adverse effect on the ozone layer. This was a tremendous act for environmental health and curbing climate change. The Protocol has been effective at reducing the degradation of the ozone layer. This act not only aided in protecting the Earth’s climate, but was also a groundbreaking success in terms of environmental legislature. Future legislature had a significant success to aid in their efforts to get put into action.
WHO Publishes Air Quality Guidelines (2005)
The Air Quality Guidelines brought major attention to the level of pollutants in the air and the staggering amount of preventable of deaths caused by air pollution each year. The Guidelines also studied how air pollution negatively affects health and causes many respiratory illnesses, such as Asthma. This began a major movement by the World Health Organization to target air pollution as a significant dilemma in public health.
U.S. Surgeon General Reports “Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke” 2006
The U.S. Surgeon General reported on the serious health risks that second-hand smoke causes. Asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, among other illnesses are linked to exposure to secondhand smoke. A major problem in treating this issue was the fact that many physicians did not ask about secondhand smoke in the home or workplace when asking about daily habits. The Surgeon General’s report aided in making secondhand smoke a major concern in the United States.
2.) WHO has set air quality guidelines, done significant research on Household Air Pollution, and aided in the “Pan European Programme on Transport Health and Environment (The PEP)”. These actions mainly focused on research and building substantial evidence to influence policymakers to take action on air pollution. WHO is setting a higher standard for air quality and health through its findings and publications.
3.) 1987: WHO publishes first edition of “Air quality guidelines”
2005: WHO releases its “Air quality guidelines”
2008: WHO Begins collecting data on “Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in cities”
2009: WHO Guidelines on dampness and mold published
These events show WHO’s constant research on air health. WHO updated and edited its original research from 1987 to include more indoor pollutants and focus on a small group of pollutants. In 2005, the updated guidelines were published as a “global update” with the hope that the guidelines would develop into international standards. After the 2005 publication, WHO continued its research on air pollution to keep up with changing cityscapes and environments.
4.) While WHO bases its actions primarily in research, the studies themselves call traditional practices and old standards into question. The new research highlights many environmental policies that have become outdated.
*5.) WHO collects data on pollutant levels such as particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Also, especially in studies on indoor pollution, WHO collects data on deaths and health complications linked to pollutants.
6.) In the last decade, WHO has produced many studies including; the “Air quality guidelines”. “Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in cities”, “Indoor air quality guidelines: household fuel combustion”, “Natural ventilation for infection control in healthcare settings”, “WHO guidelines 2009”, “Selected pollutants: WHO guideline for indoor air quality”, “WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: dampness and mould”, and “WHO handbook on indoor radon: a public health perspective”.
In the past year, WHO has produced the “WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2015”, “The World Health Report”, and “World Health Statistics”.
*7.) WHO relies heavily on its framework of international researchers and collaborators to gather its data. The Internet is an invaluable tool for sharing and collaborating on research across the globe. Also, WHO uses its publications to spread their message and influence environmental reform.
8.) Compared to many agencies taking on the challenge of asthma, WHO is an international juggernaut. WHO has many researchers and volunteers stationed all over the world to collect data and support their initiatives. However, being such a large institution, it must spread its efforts over many different topics. Therefore, WHO’s best way to engage asthma is to influence policy through its research findings. Research findings from an internationally respected organization such as WHO can be the foundation of a new law or initiative to address asthma.
9.) Some of the strongest research findings from WHO were the number of preventable deaths caused by poor ventilation, heavy air pollution, and toxins. The number of preventable deaths is often in the millions each year. This influences WHO to find support for their findings among governments and outreach groups to make changes that save lives.
10.) WHO is funded by Member States and a few non-state contributors. Member states must pay an “assessed contribution” to be a member of WHO based on their wealth and population. Voluntary contributions come from member states and other partners. This can cause bias because the countries whose policy makers do not value environmental health are less likely to have Member Status in who because of the cost. Also voluntary contributions made up nearly 75% of WHO’s budget. Unnoted “partners” and countries who donated more to the fund than their initial cost may have a more significant influence in the organization.
11.) WHO’s creation was part of a global movement towards diplomacy and international relations. WHO was created a few years after the United Nations was formed. Therefore, WHO was created and continues to follow a format of world diplomacy and shared efforts.
12.) Some particularly challenging issues faced by WHO are implementing their guidelines in national governments and industries. WHO does not have the authority to put their guidelines into place, instead they must convince legislators and world leaders to take action. Also, it is difficult to limit ambient pollution from industry because it is often costly to change industrial methods and to make sure that they are regulated and maintained.
13.) Stricter regulations on particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide are called for by WHO. Also, regulations on smoking, especially indoors, and more stable housing and ventilation infrastructure are called for by WHO’s research.
14.) The Asthma Files can help share WHO’s findings. More importantly, The Asthma Files can link key findings from smaller experimental work to WHO studies in order to develop a widespread, complex understanding of the disease as a whole.
Natural Resources Defense Council
1.) The Natural Resources Defense Council is an American organization that seeks to protect air. land and water through activism, research, and judicial action. They seek to stop air pollution and its adverse effects on the environment and the American people.
2.) The NRDC has proposed plans to help cut carbon pollution from American power plants. The NRDC takes political action in order to curb air pollution. In addition, the NRDC seeks to educate the public through interviews and articles on air pollution and asthma. For example the articles “Clean Air Saves Lives” and “Gasping for Air: Toxic Pollutants Continue to Make Millions Sick and Shorten Lives” show the adverse effects of air pollution on American families.
*3.) The NRDC was formed in 1970 to take action against resource depletion and pollution. Environmental concern developed into activism and matured into legal battles to defend natural resources. In the 1970’s the American government began to take more notice of environmental concerns and agencies such as the NRDC formed to give weight and a means of action to many environmental activists.
4.) One of the more poignant tenants of the NRDC is to fight corporate greed. The NRDC has specifically called out the significant bias that arises from agencies and government policies backed by major companies. This suggests that many institutions may be working for personal gain rather than the greater good.
5.) One of the NRDC major relevant data studies is on climate health. The Climate Health Vulnerability Maps are visual representations of extreme weather variances across the United States. These maps can be used to show how climate change is affecting the US and the potential health threats that follow.
*6.) The NRDC has published a resource book called “Clean Power: The Case for Carbon Pollution Limits” to show the basis of their findings and legal recommendations. The NRDC has also worked off the Clean Air Act, testimony from policy directors, such as David D. Doniger, and EPA standards.
7.) The NRDC uses the American legal infrastructure as its main means of creating change. To aid in creating environmental health, the NRDC lobbies policymakers and voters with action plans and information sets.
8.) The NRDC works within the American democratic, capitalistic ecology. The NRDC uses these characteristics by producing many articles and simpler data sets for the average voter, and also uses its substantial legal power to challenge laws and corporate actions. In addition, the NRDC must recognize that the economic effects of their proposals will be significantly challenged and questioned.
9.) Data on natural resource degradation and depletion are some of the main motivators for the NRDC. One of the NRDC’s central tenets is to protect what resources are available. In addition, the NRDC was founded by a group of attorneys, so it is natural that legal battles are one of the NRDC’s strengths.
10.) Funding from the NRDC comes partly from direct mailing to members and from the board of trustees. Direct mailing helps keep a sense of democratic power among individuals. Also, the Board of Trustees are mostly influential and wealthy, so there may be a lack of the average citizen’s perspective.
11.) The NRDC was formed in 1970 when environmental justice was beginning to be a significant concern among American citizens. The NRDC was created when activism was blossoming and anti-corporate sentiments were growing. This likely influenced the NRDC’s commitment to environmental protection and fight against corporate greed.
12.) Corporate influences are the main hurdle that the NRDC has to overcome. Not only does the NRDC fight against pollution by major industrial corporations, but also against the power of corporate financing and influence behind many politicians.
13.) The NRDC calls for much more rigorous environmental protection standards, especially in clean water, air pollution, and land conservancy. Implicitly, the NRDC fights for a less selfish economy that supports environmental protection.
14.) The Asthma Files can help the NRDC by adding a more robust profile of the effects of pollution and the environment on public health. This can add more substantial backing for their claims and aid in their legal efforts.
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was enacted (1989)
The Montreal Protocol, proposed and voted on by the United Nations, banned
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) due to their adverse effect on the ozone layer. This was a tremendous act for environmental health and curbing climate change. The Protocol has been effective at reducing the degradation of the ozone layer. This act not only aided in protecting the Earth’s climate, but was also a groundbreaking success in terms of environmental legislature. Future legislature had a significant success to aid in their efforts to get put into action.
WHO Publishes Air Quality Guidelines (2005)
The Air Quality Guidelines brought major attention to the level of pollutants in the air and the staggering amount of preventable of deaths caused by air pollution each year. The Guidelines also studied how air pollution negatively affects health and causes many respiratory illnesses, such as Asthma. This began a major movement by the World Health Organization to target air pollution as a significant dilemma in public health.
U.S. Surgeon General Reports “Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke” 2006
The U.S. Surgeon General reported on the serious health risks that second-hand smoke causes. Asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, among other illnesses are linked to exposure to secondhand smoke. A major problem in treating this issue was the fact that many physicians did not ask about secondhand smoke in the home or workplace when asking about daily habits. The Surgeon General’s report aided in making secondhand smoke a major concern in the United States.