Questions and Answers

RECENT GRANT AWARDS

Unlawful Distribution of Smokeless Tobacco Products on Public Grounds

The Public Health Trust is managing a cy pres settlement resolving a claim against U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company for distribution of smokeless tobacco products at Pomona Raceway in Los Angeles County (People of the State of California v. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company). The funds are being awarded to the University of California, San Francisco - Office of Sponsored Research for tobacco control research.

Safe Toys

The Public Health Trust awarded a grant of $90,000 to Center for Environmental Health for a project to test toys for lead and raise public awareness about the problem of lead in certain toys. In addition to testing toys currently being sold by major retailers, CEH’s project included opportunities for consumers to bring toys to designated locations for testing.

Addressing Water Issues in Rural California Communities

The Public Health Trust awarded five grants for projects Addressing Water Issues in Rural California Communities to the following organizations:

• Klamath Riverkeeper for the Klamath Salmon Fishermen and Tribal Empowerment Project to assist the Karuk and Yurok Native American tribes, as well as the Pacific Coast Fisheries Association, in advocacy activities to protect the health of the Klamath River ($50,000).

• Community Clean Water Institute for the Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Program and Expansion of Mark West Creek Water Quality and Instream Flows Monitoring Project, which will continue and enhance its Citizen Water Quality Program of testing and monitoring water quality in the Mark Creek area of Sonoma County, educating the community on water quality issues and water conservation and promoting citizen involvement in watershed protection activities ($25,000).

• Center on Race Poverty and The Environment for the Don’t Waste the Valley Project that encompasses community organizing and advocacy centered on cleaning up contaminated groundwater and securing safe drinking water for residents of Arvin and Shafter in rural Kern County ($50,000).

• Clean Water Fund for the Central Valley Water for All Project to work with multi-ethnic communities in northern San Joaquin Valley in improving the quality of their drinking water ($50,000).

• Community Water Center for the Protecting Groundwater from the Ground Up Project to improve groundwater used as drinking water through the development and coordination of AGUA, a grassroots coalition of impacted communities and non profit organizations in the southern San Joaquin Valley ($50,000).

Lead in Mexican-style Candies Outreach and Education for Consumers, Retailers and Others

The Public Health Trust awarded a grant of $75,000 to Literacyworks for a project to promote lead education to high risk community members through a community-based participatory education and dissemination model in Monterey County.

The Public Health Trust awarded a second grant of $45,000 to Environmental Health Coalition in National City to continue to conduct outreach to Mexican Candy producers and suppliers of tamarind and chili regarding the hazards of lead in their products and ways to avoid lead contamination.

Funds for these grants were provided from the settlements in People of the State of California v. Alpro Alimento Proteinico, S.A., et al.; People of the State of California v. PepsiCo, Inc.; People of the State of California v. Dr. Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.; and People of the State of California v. The Coca-Cola Company, et al.

Monitoring the Sale of Specific Candy and Soda Bottles in California Communities

The Public Health Trust awarded a grant of $75,000 to the Center for Environmental Health for a project to survey and monitor retail establishments in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco and the West Oakland and Fruitvale neighborhoods of Oakland for the availability and sale of specific candy and soda bottles that have tested high for lead. This project will be carried out in partnership with People Organized to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER), West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP), and Oakland Community Organizations (OCO). This is the fourth grant made for monitoring activities.

Funds for these grants were provided from the settlements in People of the State of California v. Alpro Alimento Proteinico, S.A., et al.; People of the State of California v. PepsiCo, Inc.; People of the State of California v. Dr. Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.; and People of the State of California v. The Coca-Cola Company, et al.

REPORTS RELEASED

Toxic Baby Furniture: The Latest Case for Making Products Safe from the Start

With a grant from the Public Health Trust, Environment California Research and Policy Center worked with an independent laboratory to determine whether common baby nursery furnishings emit formaldehyde and at what levels. Environment California issued a report showing that baby nursery cribs, changing tables, and dressers can emit formaldehyde at levels linked with increased risk of childhood allergies and asthma. A copy of the report and tips for parents, caregivers, and policymakers is available at www.environmentcalifornia.org

Mercury in Seafood: No Fair Warning - How failure to post adequate mercury-in-seafood advisories is threatening people’s health and violating Californians’ right-to-know

With a grant from the Public Health Trust, Turtle Island Restoration Network monitored compliance with a court order requiring the posting of mercury-in-seafood consumer advisories by seafood purveyors in California. TIRN issued a report revealing the results of a county-by-county restaurant survey of compliance with posting of warning signs. A copy of the complete report is available at www.gotmercury.org

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