Increasing attention is being given to the waste streams generated by healthcare organizations. The following organizations are environmentally oriented and focused either primarily or to a great degree on healthcare. Information presented extends beyond pharmaceutical waste and may be of interest to professionals in safety, facility management, risk management, environmental services, and other related departments.

Hospitals For a Healthy Environment

The Hospitals for a Healthy Environment initiative, also known as H2E, was launched by a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the American Hospital Association and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency on June 24, 1998. Since that time, many helpful tools have been developed to assist healthcare organizations in minimizing waste generation, eliminating mercury from the waste stream, and minimizing and/or managing hazardous waste.

EPA/AHA Memorandum of Understanding 

This site contains the full text of the Memorandum and the organization's five and ten year goals.

Managing Pharmaceutical Waste: A 10-Step Blueprint for Health Care Facilities in the United States 

Funded by a grant from USEPA Region 1, this comprehensive document was co-authored by H2E and PharmEcology Associates and provides a comprehensive guide to developing and implementing a pharmaceutical waste management program.

Pharmaceutical Waste

Dedicated to pharmaceutical waste issues, this resource page provides numerous links to related resources, including the H2E teleconference on Identifying and Managing Pharmaceutical Waste.
   

Health Care Without Harm

Health Care Without Harm's mission is “To transform the health care industry worldwide, without compromising patient safety or care, so that it is ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment.”

The Nightingale Institute for Health and the Environment

As stated in their website: “The Nightingale Institute for Health and the Environment assists healthcare professionals to recognize the inextricable link between human and environmental health and their role in creating the change in practice needed to improve the health of humans and the environment.” 

Our Stolen Future

This site presents current information on the evolution of our understanding of endocrine disruptors and their impact on human and animal development as first presented in the book of the same name.

The Center for Bioenvironmental Research of
Tulane and Xavier Universities

The Center's mission is: “To conduct and coordinate research and teaching to enhance global understanding of environmental issues and provide solutions through innovative communication and technology.”

e.hormone. the cutting edge of endocrine disruptor research

 

"The e.hormone website, hosted and run by the CBR, has been enhanced to accommodate all web-related products of Environmental Signaling Network (ESN) activities. It is a hub of scientific and media information about environmental signaling. The ESN benefits from and builds upon this active, online communication vehicle through which interested parties remain informed and connected."

Environmental Estrogens and other hormones

The Environmental Estrogens site is "An educational service and an interactive forum where those interested in environmental estrogens and other environmental hormones can find accurate, timely information and can contribute to the ongoing public debate."

The National Exposure Research Laboratory,
Environmental Sciences

The National Exposure Research Laboratory is a branch of the USEPA. According to its website, “NERL is comprised of several divisions with diversified research specialties. NERL conducts research and development that leads to improved methods, measurements and models to assess and predict exposures of humans and ecosystems to harmful pollutants and other conditions in air, water, soil, and food.”

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) as
Environmental Pollutants

As described in the site: “This site is dedicated to the scientific issues associated with the occurrence of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in the environment.”