Development of the pediatric environmental health specialty unit network in North America.
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.
Paulson
Jerome A
JA
School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA. ejpaulson@cnmc.org
Karr
Catherine J
CJ
Seltzer
James M
JM
Cherry
Debra C
DC
Sheffield
Perry Elizabeth
PE
Cifuentes
Enrique
E
Buka
Irena
I
Amler
Robert W
RW
D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D009656:North America; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D011634:Public Health; D013038:Specialization