5th Massachusetts Green Career Conference Presentation: Green Chemistry - at Work, at Home, at School

1. Ellie Goldberg, M.Ed.
Advocate
for
healthy
kids,
safe
schools
and
sustainable
communi7es
Green
Chemistry
@
work
@
home
@
school
www.healthy-kids.info

2. Green
chemistry
is
the
design
of
chemical
products
and
processes
that
reduce
or
eliminate
the
use
and
genera9on
of
hazardous
substances
(Anastas
et
al,
2000.)
Green
Chemistry
is
also
a
value
system
and
a
process
that
makes
living
in
the
21st
century
a
sustainable
enterprise
for
all
stakeholders.
(EG)

3. Our
health
depends
on
the
quality
of
our
environment
–
inside
and
outside,
upstream
and
downstream.
Making
“green”
chemistry
part
of
our
every
day
lives
is
our
health
security
plan,
our
environmental
self
defense
system
–
not
just
a
different
set
of
formulas.

4. Nursery
School
Dumpster
What
does
this
dumpster
say?
Is
this
a
community
you
are
proud
to
be
part
of?

5. Nursery
School
Dumpster
This
is
a
system
with
an
accountability
problem.

6. What
is
a
culture
of
accountability?
• In
low
performing
cultures,
people
don’t
hold
others
accountable.
• In
good
performing
cultures,
supervisors
(or
people
with
power)
hold
others
accountable.
• In
the
best
performing
cultures,
everyone
can
and
does
hold
everyone
else
accountable.
Credit:
Vitalsmarts.com
“Elimina7ng
Cultures
of
Silence”
“Silent
Treatment”
Influencer

7. Real-­‐9me
accountability
is
the
responsibility
of
every
person
and
is
done
the
moment
it’s
needed.
High
standards
and
real-­‐9me
accountability
from
everyone
is
the
key
to
a
healthy
culture.
Credit:
Vitalsmarts.com

8. A
healthy
culture
enables
everyone
to
do
their
best
work
–
the
facili9es
manager,
the
purchasing
agent,
the
principal,
the
students
and
teachers,
the
parents
and
custodians,
the
nurse
and
the
groundskeeper,
and
the
lunch
lady.

9. Open,
overflowing,
leaky.
AJracts,
feeds,
breeds,
and
harbors
rodents,
mosquitoes,
flies,
mold,
pathogens,
etc.
High
School
Dumpster
What’s
wrong
with
this
picture?

10. High
School
Loading
Dock
tools,
sharp
objects,
furniture,
computer
equipment

11. We
have
no
right
to
handicap
the
allergic
child
by
puZng
him
in
an
unhealthy
environment.

12. Parents,
educators,
and
health
professionals
owe
it
to
children
to
eliminate
environmental
hazards
that
are
a
source
of
preventable
illness
and
disability.
Every
child
has
a
right
to
a
safe
and
healthy
home
and
school.
Schools
should
serve
as
role
models
for
environmental
safety
and
environmentally
responsible
behavior.

13. The
Sen9nel:
Protec9ng
the
treasures
of
the
community
• An
image
of
courage
and
might,
this
lion
stands
guard.
• The
sen9nel
lion
is
a
symbol
of
protec9on,
alone
or
in
pairs,
at
an
entrance
or
gate
and
indoors
at
a
staircase
or
fireplace.

14. Break
the
Silence.
• The
story
of
the
March
18
1937
Texas
School
Explosion
needs
to
be
part
of
our
na9onal
legacy
because
the
silence
and
secrets
that
led
to
the
1937
explosion
is
the
same
type
of
decision-­‐making
in
schools
today.
• The
story
is
an
inspira9onal
case
study
and
cau9onary
tale.
• We
can
break
the
silence
about
school
hazards
and
promote
the
values
and
technical
skills
we
need
to
live
safely
with
21st
century
chemicals
and
technology.
Bring
the
Lessons
of
the
1937
Texas
School
Explosion
to
Your
School
hJp://lessonsoWhe1937texasschoolexplosion
.blogspot.com/
CENOTAPH
(empty
tomb)
The
memorial
to
the
319
vic7ms

15. The
1937
school
disaster
resulted
in
a
law
requiring
Mercaptan
in
natural
gas.
Other
recommenda9ons
of
the
Court
of
Inquiry
have
yet
to
be
implemented
in
most
schools:
Schools
need
1)
technically
trained
administrators
for
modern
school
systems,
2)
to
do
inspec9ons
and
more
widespread
public
educa9on
about
managing
hazards,
and
3)
a
comprehensive,
ra9onal
safety
code.

16. Let’s
make
March
18
a
day
• to
honor
those
whose
extraordinary
sense
of
responsibility
and
leadership
protects
students
and
staff
from
chemical
hazards
and
unhealthy
school
condi9ons.
• to
update
our
values
and
technical
skills
to
live
safely
with
21st
century
chemicals
and
technology.
Aimee
Code
2013
Janet
Hurley
2013
Linda
Stroud
2013
John
Gann
2013

17. Who
Is
Your
2014
Healthy
Schools
Hero?
Do
you
know
someone
whose
sense
of
responsibility,
inspira9onal
leadership,
and
exemplary
persistence
and
courage
protects
children
from
school
hazards
and
unhealthy
school
condi9ons?
Send
your
hero's
name,
email/
phone
#,
and
your
hero's
story
by
2/1/14
to
healthykids@rcn.com
Dwight
Peavey
2011
Ruth
Breech
2009

18. EPA
Region
7’s
Healthy
Schools
Toolkit
www.epa.gov/region7/ci9zens/schools/toolkit.htm
Asbestos,
*Chemical
Cleanout*,
Compos9ng,
Energy
Star,
Green
Cleaning,
Healthy
Schools,
School
Integrated
Pest
Management
(IPM),
Lead,
Mercury,
Mold,
PCBs,
Radon,
Rain
Barrels,
Rain
Gardens
and
Recycling.

19.
•
Healthy
Schools
Network:
Annual
Na9onal
Healthy
Schools
Day
• Healthy
Schools
Campaign
(Illinois)
• Center
for
Health,
Environment
and
Jus9ce
• US
EPA
IAQ
Tools
for
Schools
• Laboratory
Safety
Ins9tute
•
US
EPA
Chemical
Cleanout
Campaign
• Alliance
for
a
Healthy
Tomorrow
• www.healthy-­‐kids.info
There
is
a
HERO
in
your
area.
It
could
be
you!