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Bisphenol-A (BPA) Update
On December 30, 2009 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) listed BPA as a ‘Chemical of Concern’ The US EPA intends to form an action plan to investigate health concerns and minimize human exposure to BPA. The greatest concern is for developing fetuses, infants (formula fed and breast fed), and young children because their bodies are still growing and developing. For more information, please read BPA's fact sheet
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The Environmental Health Division protects the health of Bostonians and visitors to the city through environmental monitoring and prevention activities, inspections, and emergency response to environmental hazards, provides outreach and education, and enforcement of regulatory laws. The division is composed of three interlinked programs:
1. The Environmental Hazards Program
2. Biological Laboratories and Laboratory Safety
3. Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
The Environmental Hazards Program responds to complaints from the public regarding asbestos, indoor and outdoor air pollution, noise pollution, bed bugs, pests, leaking underground storage tanks, illegal tattooing or piercing operations, junkyards, and hazardous waste dumping through inspections and environmental monitoring, as well as responding to environmental emergencies.
The Biological Safety and Laboratory Safety Program regulates and licenses all biological laboratories in the City of Boston through registration, permits, inspections, and surveillance.
The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program provides case management to Boston children under six years of age with elevated blood lead levels or who have been lead poisoned. The program coordinates medical intervention, treatment and follow-up services, home visits and assessments, lead hazard reduction to temporarily stabilize lead paint hazards, social services advocacy and referrals. The program also investigates and inspects the residential homes for compliance with the Massachusetts Lead Law and orders the correction of the violations, and monitors the abatement of lead-based paint hazards in those homes.
Additionally, the Environmental Health Division develops and implements new program initiatives for emerging environmental health issues that affect Boston residents such as Healthy Cities, Climate Change and Public Health, Climate Change and the Urban Environment, CleanAir CABS, Healthy Yards, Safe Shops, and Safe Nail Salons Program.