AAMR's Environmental Health Teleconference Series
Tuesday, October 17, 2006- Tuesday, December 12, 2006Location: Princeton, NJ
Dial in: 1-888-540-6213; Passcode: 921023. Materials: Go to AAMR Health Initiative Web Page and click on the button that says "next teleconference." The materials may not be posted until the Friday before the teleconference.
- October 17, 2006: Nicotine, Tobacco and Brain Damage, From the Fetus to the Adolescent: Finding the Smoking Gun. From 2:00 - 3:00 pm EST. This presentation will demonstrate the ability of nicotine to interfere with neural replication and differentiation, axonogenesis and synaptogenesis, and long-term programming of synaptic function, as well as providing a mechanism for the contribution of maternal smoking on SIDS. Our research has demonstrated that nicotine and ETS have similar effects on brain development that confirms a mechanistic connection between maternal smoking or ETS exposure and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, including SIDS.
- November 14, 2006: Environmental Health for Nurses. From 2:00 - 3:00 pm EST. Many nurses do not receive formal environmental health education in their basic or even advanced practice training. To help close this knowledge gap, this teleconference will provide some essentials of environmental health for the practicing nurse. Practical information will be provided, as well several examples of common exposures in our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities that will help to illustrate the concepts.
- December 12, 2006: Lead Exposure and Schizophrenia: Possible Connections? From 2:00 - 3:00 pm EST. Our studies have examined the possible connection between prenatal lead exposure and the risk of developing schizophrenia during adulthood. We found the effects of lead exposure may indeed extend into later life and must be further investigated as a risk factor for a spectrum of adult psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia. Both maternal and paternal exposures and contributions to risk in offspring must be considered.
Logistical information will be provided along with a more detailed presentation description as the date nears. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Michele (Gagnon) Wagner , MPH, Director, AAMR's Environmental Health Initiative.