Women and Health Protection researcher a finalist in
Canadian Geographic Environment Awards
"Drugs in our water" campaign highlights environmental concerns
Women and Health Protection and the Canadian Women's Health Network
would like to
congratulate Sharon Batt for being named a finalist today in the
Canadian
Geographic 2005 Canadian Environment Awards.
Batt is being recognized for her work alerting policy makers, health
intermediaries
and the general public that our lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater
contain trace
amounts of pharmaceutical drugs that can enter our drinking water. "The
growing list
includes plenty one would rather not down in a glass of water on a hot
day: antibiotics
and painkillers, hormones and tranquilizers, drugs to treat blood
cholesterol,
epilepsy and cancer, musk fragrances, and phthalates, a family of
chemicals found
in cosmetics, perfumes and hair products," says Batt
Batt's writings on this topic, which include a detailed research paper,
an educational
pamphlet, an OpEd in a major Canadian newspaper, and a mainstream
magazine article on
the topic, in an effort to reach as wide an audience as possible, have
earned her a
finalist position in the category of "Environmental Health" in the
Community Awards division.
"Sharon understands fully and is masterful at articulating all of the
forces at play
in the environmental impact on our health," says Anne Rochon Ford,
spokeswoman for
Women and Health Protection, a national non-profit working group of
researchers, health
providers, educators, and consumers interested in policy-directed
research and public
education on health protection issues and their impact on women's
health.
The Canadian Women's Health Network (CWHN), which nominated Batt for
this prestigious award
is pleased that this serious issue is being given the spotlight.
"Sharon Batt's work
highlights the need for us all to understand that a healthy community
starts first with
a healthy environment," says Kathleen O'Grady, spokeswoman for the CWHN.
The Community Awards is the flagship program of the Canadian Environment
Awards. Now in
its fourth year, this program celebrates 17 finalists who have been
chosen by a panel of
environmental luminaries from nominations submitted by the Canadian
public.
Each of the 17 Community Awards finalists will be recognized at an
Awards Gala, June 6, and
each gold award winner will receive $5,000 to donate to the
environmental cause of their choice.
The Canadian Environment Awards 2005 is a partnership between the
Government of Canada and
Canadian Geographic Enterprises.
For media interviews, contact:
Sharon Batt, Department of Bioethics, Dalhousie University
Phone: 902-494-1899
Email: [log in to unmask]
Anne Rochon Ford, Women and Health Protection
Phone: 416-712-9459
Website: http://www.whp-apsf.ca
Kathleen O'Grady, Canadian Women's Health Network
Cell: 514-886-2526
Website: http://www.cwhn.ca
Resources by Sharon Batt include:
"Full Circle: Drugs, the Environment and our Health"
http://www.whp-apsf.ca/en/documents/fullCircle.html
Magazine Article: "Drugs in our Water"
http://www.cwhn.ca/network-reseau/6-23/6-23pg9.html
Fact Sheet: "Pharmaceuticals in Our Water: A New Threat to Public
Health?" http://www.whp-apsf.ca/en/documents/pharmWater.html
*Hard copies of the Fact Sheet are available free of charge; simply
contact: [log in to unmask]
For more information on the Canadian Geographic Environment Awards,
visit http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/cea2005/en/default.asp
Or contact (416) 788-8271
-30-
Mona Dupré-Ollinik, BSW, BA
Coordonatrice de liaison/Outreach Coordinator
Canadian Women's Health Network/Réseau canadien pour la santé des femmes
419, avenue Graham, Suite 203
Winnipeg (MB) R3C 0M3
Tel: (204) 942-5500 ext,/poste 13
Fax/Télécopieur: (204) 989-2355
Toll free/Numéro sans frais: 1-888-818-9172
www.cwhn.ca
e-mail/courriel: [log in to unmask]
TTY 204-942-2806
TTY toll free number 1-866-694-6367
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