2021

Author(s): Environmental Protection Agency

From August 31 – September 2, 2020, the U S Environmental Protection Agency’s Ofce of Research and Development (EPA-ORD) held a virtual workshop with public health, health care, and health care system practitioners to discuss environmental health priorities within their felds and with their organizational members and to build relationships for future dialogue and collaboration on specifc topics Using a mind mapping exercise, workshop participants identifed six environmental areas of concern: built environment; climate change; environmental justice and equity; natural environment; occupational environment; and research, data, and implementation Conversations during the workshop around the mind mapping results led to a greater understanding of how environmental health concerns are intensifed during public health crises (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) and existing cross-cutting environmental health issues that impact each area of concern [which include lead (Pb), environmental justice and equity, children’s health, mental health, and community design]. Opportunities were also identifed for cross-sector and crossdisciplinary communication, engagement, and collaboration (such as establishing partnerships in non-emergency times to help weather public health crises, training and workforce development, information sharing, and communication and risk communication). The information from this workshop can help EPA-ORD and its partners better understand mutual areas of interest and identify opportunities for more targeted cross-disciplinary discussions around the specifc environmental health topics of mutual concern.

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