FCEHA Research Programs Overview

FCEHA – Established as a non-profit organization focused on promoting healthy and supportive environments that protect children from environmental and occupational health hazards. It has been established to identify, validate, and develop solutions to address the adverse health effects to children occurring as a consequence of exposure to environmental hazards in Florida, in the USA, and in the World.

Mission - To promote healthy and supportive environments that protect children from environmental and occupational health hazards while empowering them through their caretakers, to live long and prosper in their own homes, schools, and communities.

Research Programs – The focus is on the following environmental /occupational health hazards:

1) Toxic chemicals including metals such as Lead, Mercury, Arsenic and other chemicals such as Pesticides, PCBs, Dioxins and Endocrine Disruptors along with issues of health disparity / environmental justice;
2) Indoor air pollutants in the homes and the workplace including environmental tobacco smoke and other triggers of asthma such as exposure to dust mites and fungi (mold);
3) Health, Disparity and Built Environment - The built environment includes the aspects of our environment that are human-modified such as homes, schools, workplaces, parks, industrial areas, farms, roads and highways. The challenges pertain to transportation, urban sprawl, air pollution, city planning, and diminishing natural resources and the impact of social and demographic characteristics, urbanization and physical activity, schools, and homes, TV and other media. There is increasing evidence that the places where we work and live affect our health. The goals are the following: a) Identifying and addressing public health aspects of the built environment that would ultimately help decrease childhood obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and asthma and other related conditions, while improving mental health, are potential benefits of living in sustainable communities; and b) Exploring the Area of Community & School Safety, Injury Control / Violence Prevention (Injury is the leading cause of death in the US among children and teenagers);
4) Exploring GIS to get a spatial perspective on the geographic distribution of health disparities and environmental justice.