Dave Waddell of the King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program Acknowledges Dr. Ann Blake’s Contributions
In 2009, the North American Hazardous Materials Managers Association (NAHMMA) gave Ann their Most Inspiring Member Award. Here’s what the President of NAHMMA, Dave Waddell of the King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program said about Ann in his nomination:
1. What has this program, company or person done that is outstanding?
Dr. Ann Blake is on the forefront of conducting, collating and communicating research on the persistent organic pollutants that are increasingly finding their way into our bodies without our knowledge and with little understanding of the long-term effects they will have on us. Ann has helped Good Guide construct the criteria and screening methodology to evaluate the health impact of consumer products, and continues to provide technical and strategic input on Good Guide’s presentation of product health information. She also serves as a consultant to the Women’s Collaborative on the Environment. She has been a frequent and very popular presenter at both the National and Northwest NAHMMA Conferences on such chemical policy topics as brominated flame retardants, disinfectants, antimicrobials and phthalates; how these compounds effect our health and their environmental fate. She has served on the Board of WAGES in the Bay Area, which links a self-supporting women’s custodial/house cleaning cooperative with environmentally friendly green cleaning practices. Ann is a member of the California Chapter of NAHMMA.
2. What positive impact has that had on the community or our profession?
· Ann has been a regular participant in NAHMMA’s chemical policy forums, serving as both a legislative advocate, technical expert and international regulatory monitor. Her informed opinion, coupled with a wicked and generous sense of humor make her a respected and regularly sought-out source of perspective and research-driven guidance. As NAHMMA moves towards a broader focus as an organization on chemical policy, product stewardship and sustainable design, we need more people like Ann influencing our directions.
3. Could others in our profession learn from this, duplicate this? Could they use this person, company or program as a model?
We’re seeing many state agencies modeling their efforts after Ann’s outreach work. As the primary technical consultant to Women’s Voices for the Environment’s seminal “Household Hazards” document, she has ensured technical excellence in a publication designed to influence shoppers and mothers to select less-hazardous household chemicals. Ann shows we can combine scientific rigor with social environmental activism. This serves as a model for NAHMMA members when considering projects to influence public opinion or improve chemical regulations.