Building a Network of Research in Children's Environmental Health
Author: Dearry, Allen D.
Date Published: 1999
Children are exposed to a variety of environmental hazards, including indoor and outdoor air pollution, solvents, pesticides, lead, mercury, and other heavy metals. Moreover, there has been an increase in certain childhood diseases, such as asthma and leukemia, and in some learning disabilities. It is recognized that these health impacts can be particularly detrimental for children because of pronounced differences in the nature and extent of environmental exposure as well as in functional development when compared to adults. In response to this heightened awareness and seizing a need for more attention to these issues across all levels of the federal government, the federal Executive Order of 21 April 1997, "Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks," charges agencies to consider special environmental risks to children in their activities. In response, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have come together to implement a program to foster research that will ultimately reduce the extent of adverse human health effects occurring as a consequence of exposure to hazardous environmental agents.
Date Published: 1999
Children are exposed to a variety of environmental hazards, including indoor and outdoor air pollution, solvents, pesticides, lead, mercury, and other heavy metals. Moreover, there has been an increase in certain childhood diseases, such as asthma and leukemia, and in some learning disabilities. It is recognized that these health impacts can be particularly detrimental for children because of pronounced differences in the nature and extent of environmental exposure as well as in functional development when compared to adults. In response to this heightened awareness and seizing a need for more attention to these issues across all levels of the federal government, the federal Executive Order of 21 April 1997, "Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks," charges agencies to consider special environmental risks to children in their activities. In response, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have come together to implement a program to foster research that will ultimately reduce the extent of adverse human health effects occurring as a consequence of exposure to hazardous environmental agents.
