title: Development of the pediatric environmental health specialty unit network in North America.
abstract: Training in environmental health in general, and pediatric environmental health in particular, is inadequate. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry began to develop pediatric environmental health specialty units (PEHSUs) after noting the dearth of practitioners who could evaluate and manage children with exposures to environmental health hazards. The Environmental Protection Agency subsequently joined in providing support for what has developed into a network of 13 PEHSUs in North America. PEHSUs provide services to families, act as consultants to clinicians and public agencies, develop educational materials, and respond to natural disasters, including hurricanes and wildfires. PEHSUs are relatively easy to organize and should be replicable internationally.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. ejpaulson@cnmc.org
authors.forename: Jerome A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Paulson
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Karr
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seltzer
authors.forename: Debra C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: Perry Elizabeth
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Buka
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Amler
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D011634:Public Health; D013038:Specialization