To officially recognize October as “Children’s Health Month,” Mayor Alvin Brown visited the Northbank Riverwalk Friday, where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ocean research vessel “Bold” was docked near the Hyatt,
“My administration is not about ‘now,’ it’s about the future. It’s important for our kids to have good health. It builds self-esteem and helps young people grow up to be responsible leaders,” said Brown.
Before Brown arrived, more than 100 Duval County middle school students learned about healthy lifestyle habits and environmental issues and toured the vessel.
The mayor offered his young audience some advice.
“The rules are simple,” Brown said.
“Brush your teeth and eat fruits and vegetables. When you do that and we’re all working together, you can live a good quality of life.”
The “Bold” is the EPA’s only ocean and coastal-monitoring vessel. The scientists on board collect data that is used to evaluate the impact human activities have on water quality.
Reggie Barrino, an environmental engineer with the EPA Regional Environmental Justice Program, said the vessel visited Jacksonville to focus attention on the EPA’s work in the urban core.
In addition to studying water quality in the St. Johns River Downtown, the agency has sponsored outreach programs to increase awareness about asthma and lead-based paint, he said.
Barrino said data collected in Hogans and Long Branch creeks indicate people should avoid eating fish caught there because of high levels of pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
“It’s not safe to eat the fish from those creeks,” he said.
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