Appendix A - America's Children and the Environment: A First View of Available Measures

Data Tables

Table E1 Percentage of children living in counties in which air quality standards were exceeded

1990-1995
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995

Ozone
22.6%
25.1%
16.9%
21.0%
19.0%
27.7%

Particulate matter
8.0%
6.3%
9.6%
2.7%
2.3%
10.0%

Carbon monoxide
9.5%
8.5%
6.2%
5.1%
6.6%
5.0%

Lead
2.2%
6.0%
1.8%
2.1%
1.7%
1.8%

Sulfur dioxide
0.5%
2.1%
0.1%
0.5%
0.1%
0.1%

Nitrogen dioxide
3.7%
3.7%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%

Any Standard
28.0%
31.9%
20.9%
24.3%
23.6%
30.9%

1996-1998
1996
1997
1998

Ozone
16.4%
18.5%
20.7%

Particulate matter
1.5%
2.4%
2.0%

Carbon monoxide
5.7%
3.8%
4.3%

Lead
1.6%
1.4%
1.6%

Sulfur dioxide
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%

Nitrogen dioxide
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%

Any Standard
19.9%
21.9%
23.2%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Aerometric Information Retrieval System.

Table E2 Percentage of children's days with good, moderate, or unhealthy air quality

1990-1994

Pollution Level 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

Good 58.8% 58.9% 62.6% 61.9% 60.1%

Moderate 27.7% 27.7% 24.1% 25.3% 26.9%

Unhealthy 4.0% 3.9% 3.5% 3.0% 3.0%

No Monitoring Data 9.5% 9.4% 9.8% 9.8% 10.0%

1995-1998

Pollution Level 1995 1996 1997 1998

Good 61.3% 63.3% 63.3% 61.9%

Moderate 25.5% 24.6% 24.5% 27.1%

Unhealthy 2.8% 2.2% 1.6% 1.6%

No Monitoring Data 10.3% 10.0% 10.6% 9.4%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Aerometric Information Retrieval System.

Table E3 Percentage of children living in counties where at least one hazardous air pollutant concentration was greater than a health benchmark in 1990

Benchmark
Cancer, one-in-a-Million
Cancer, 1-in-100,000
Cancer, 1-in-10,000
Other Health Effects

Percentage of Children
100.0%
100.0%
6.0%
95.0%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cumulative Exposure Project.

Table E4 Percentage of homes with children under 7 where someone smokes regularly

1994 1996 1999

Percentage of Homes 28.7% 27.6% 19.0%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Indoor Environments Division, Survey on Radon Awareness and Environmental Tobacco Issues.

Table E5 Percentage of children living in areas served by public water systems that exceeded a drinking water standard or violated treatment requirements

Type of standard violated 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Lead and copper 9.6% 7.0% 5.9% 5.2% 5.0% 4.8%

Microbial contaminants 8.2% 7.6% 4.4% 4.2% 3.6% 2.7%

All other contaminants 2.3% 2.2% 2.2% 2.0% 1.5% 0.9%

Treatment and filtration 2.1% 1.1% 1.2% 1.3% 0.4% 0.2%

All health-based violations 18.6% 13.8% 12.9% 11.6% 10.2% 8.3%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Safe Drinking Water Information System.

Table E6 Percentage of children living in areas served by public water systems in which the nitrate/nitrite standard was exceeded

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Percentage of children 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 0.2% 0.4% 0.2%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Safe Drinking Water Information System.

Table E7 Percentage of children living in areas with major violations of drinking water monitoring and reporting requirements

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Lead and copper 10.8% 6.6% 5.5% 5.3% 5.8% 5.2%

Microbial contaminants 2.9% 2.5% 2.0% 1.6% 2.0% 1.7%

Chemical and radiation 9.4% 6.4% 4.8% 4.4% 2.3% 2.5%

Treatment and filtration 1.2% 0.4% 0.3% 0.4% 0.2% 0.3%

Any major violation 21.4% 14.5% 11.6% 10.7% 10.0% 9.6%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Safe Drinking Water Information System.

Table E8 Percentage of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and processed foods with detectable pesticide residues

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Food samples with a single pesticide detected 25.2% 24.7% 23.0% 26.9% 26.3%

Food samples with multiple pesticides detected 36.3% 40.3% 44.6% 28.6% 28.8%

All food samples with pesticide residues detected 61.5% 65.0% 67.6% 55.5% 55.1%

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. Pesticide Data Program: Annual Summary (Calendar Years 1993-1998).

Table E9 Percentage of children living in counties that had Superfund sites in 1990

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000

All Superfund sites 55% 56% 58% 57% 57% 58%

All Superfund sites that have not reached Construction Completion 55% 54% 53% 53% 51% 50%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund NPL Assessment Program (SNAP) Database.

Table E10 Percentage of children living in counties that had Superfund sites in 1990

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000

All Superfund sites 55% 55% 55% 52% 51% 50%

All Superfund sites that have not reached Construction Completion 55% 53% 49% 46% 42% 40%

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund NPL Assessment Program (SNAP) Database.

Table B1 Average concentration of lead in blood for children 5 and under

Blood lead levels in micrograms per deciliter

1976-1980
1988-1991
1992-1994

All
16.5
4.7
3.6

Above poverty level
15.5
4.0
2.9

Below poverty level
20.2
6.3
5.0

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Table B2 Percentage of children ages 1-5 with concentrations of lead in blood greater than 10 micrograms per deciliter, 1992-1994

All
Black Non-Hispanic
Hispanic
White Non-Hispanic

All
4.4%
11.2%
5.2%
2.3%

Above poverty level
2.1%
5.6%
4.7%
1.1%

Below poverty level
8.9%
16.2%
4.7%
6.4%

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Table D1
Percentage of children under 18 with asthma and chronic bronchitis

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Percentage of children with asthma
5.8% 6.2% 6.3% 7.2% 6.9% 7.5% 6.2%

Percentage of children with chronic bronchitis
5.3% 5.3% 5.4% 5.9% 5.5% 5.4% 5.7%

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey.

Addendum to D1 Estimated average percentage of children under 18 with asthma during the previous 12 months, by selected years

Characteristic

Race/Ethnicity 1980-81 1985-86 1990-91 1995-1996

White, non-Hispanic 3.6% 5.1% 6.0% 6.5%

Black, non-Hispanic 4.2% 6.0% 7.3% 8.2%

Hispanic NA 3.2% 5.1% 7.6%

Age (years)

0-4 2.9% 3.2% 4.3% 5.0%

5-10 4.9% 5.5% 6.3% 7.4%

11-17 3.2% 5.8% 7.1% 7.7%

Overall prevalence 3.7% 4.9% 6.0% 6.9%

NOTE: There are insufficient samples for each year by demographic group to include annual prevalence by age and race and ethnicity. We have provided prevalence estimates by two-year groupings for each of the age, race, and ethnicity categories covered in the National Health Interview Survey.
SOURCE: National Health Interview Survey, 1980-1986, presented in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Oct. 13, 2000. 49(40): 908-911.

Appendix A continued

Table E1	Percentage of children living in counties in which air quality standards were exceeded

1990-1995	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Ozone	22.6%	25.1%	16.9%	21.0%	19.0%	27.7%
Particulate matter	8.0%	6.3%	9.6%	2.7%	2.3%	10.0%
Carbon monoxide	9.5%	8.5%	6.2%	5.1%	6.6%	5.0%
Lead	2.2%	6.0%	1.8%	2.1%	1.7%	1.8%
Sulfur dioxide	0.5%	2.1%	0.1%	0.5%	0.1%	0.1%
Nitrogen dioxide	3.7%	3.7%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Any Standard	28.0%	31.9%	20.9%	24.3%	23.6%	30.9%

1996-1998	1996	1997	1998
Ozone	16.4%	18.5%	20.7%
Particulate matter	1.5%	2.4%	2.0%
Carbon monoxide	5.7%	3.8%	4.3%
Lead	1.6%	1.4%	1.6%
Sulfur dioxide	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%
Nitrogen dioxide	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Any Standard	19.9%	21.9%	23.2%

Table E2	Percentage of children's days with good, moderate, or unhealthy air quality
1990-1994
Pollution Level	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Good	58.8%	58.9%	62.6%	61.9%	60.1%
Moderate	27.7%	27.7%	24.1%	25.3%	26.9%
Unhealthy	4.0%	3.9%	3.5%	3.0%	3.0%
No Monitoring Data	9.5%	9.4%	9.8%	9.8%	10.0%

1995-1998
Pollution Level	1995	1996	1997	1998
Good	61.3%	63.3%	63.3%	61.9%
Moderate	25.5%	24.6%	24.5%	27.1%
Unhealthy	2.8%	2.2%	1.6%	1.6%
No Monitoring Data	10.3%	10.0%	10.6%	9.4%

Table E3	Percentage of children living in counties where at least one hazardous air pollutant concentration was greater than a health benchmark in 1990

Benchmark	Cancer, one-in-a-Million	Cancer, 1-in-100,000	Cancer, 1-in-10,000	Other Health Effects
Percentage of Children	100.0%	100.0%	6.0%	95.0%

Table E4	Percentage of homes with children under 7 where someone smokes regularly

	1994	1996	1999
Percentage of Homes	28.7%	27.6%	19.0%

Table E5	Percentage of children living in areas served by public water systems that exceeded a drinking water standard or violated treatment requirements

Type of standard violated	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Lead and copper	9.6%	7.0%	5.9%	5.2%	5.0%	4.8%
Microbial contaminants	8.2%	7.6%	4.4%	4.2%	3.6%	2.7%
All other contaminants	2.3%	2.2%	2.2%	2.0%	1.5%	0.9%
Treatment and filtration	2.1%	1.1%	1.2%	1.3%	0.4%	0.2%
All health-based violations	18.6%	13.8%	12.9%	11.6%	10.2%	8.3%

Table E6	Percentage of children living in areas served by public water systems in which the nitrate/nitrite standard was exceeded

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Percentage of children	0.2%	0.1%	0.3%	0.2%	0.4%	0.2%

Table E7	Percentage of children living in areas with major violations of drinking water monitoring and reporting requirements

	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Lead and copper	10.8%	6.6%	5.5%	5.3%	5.8%	5.2%
Microbial contaminants	2.9%	2.5%	2.0%	1.6%	2.0%	1.7%
Chemical and radiation	9.4%	6.4%	4.8%	4.4%	2.3%	2.5%
Treatment and filtration	1.2%	0.4%	0.3%	0.4%	0.2%	0.3%
Any major violation	21.4%	14.5%	11.6%	10.7%	10.0%	9.6%

Table E8	Percentage of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and processed foods with detectable pesticide residues

	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
Food samples with a single pesticide detected	25.2%	24.7%	23.0%	26.9%	26.3%
Food samples with multiple pesticides detected	36.3%	40.3%	44.6%	28.6%	28.8%
All food samples with pesticide residues detected	61.5%	65.0%	67.6%	55.5%	55.1%

Table E9	Percentage of children living in counties that had Superfund sites in 1990

	1990	1992	1994	1996	1998	2000
All Superfund sites	55%	56%	58%	57%	57%	58%
All Superfund sites that have not reached Construction Completion	55%	54%	53%	53%	51%	50%

Table E10	Percentage of children living in counties that had Superfund sites in 1990

	1990	1992	1994	1996	1998	2000
All Superfund sites	55%	55%	55%	52%	51%	50%
All Superfund sites that have not reached Construction Completion	55%	53%	49%	46%	42%	40%

Table B1	Average concentration of lead in blood for children 5 and under

	Blood lead levels in micrograms per deciliter
	1976-1980	1988-1991	1992-1994
All	16.5	4.7	3.6
Above poverty level	15.5	4.0	2.9
Below poverty level	20.2	6.3	5.0

Table B2	Percentage of children ages 1-5 with concentrations of lead in blood greater than 10 micrograms per deciliter, 1992-1994

	All	Black Non-Hispanic	Hispanic	White Non-Hispanic
All	4.4%	11.2%	5.2%	2.3%
Above poverty level	2.1%	5.6%	4.7%	1.1%
Below poverty level	8.9%	16.2%	4.7%	6.4%

Table D1	Percentage of children under 18 with asthma and chronic bronchitis

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Percentage of children with asthma	5.8%	6.2%	6.3%	7.2%	6.9%	7.5%	6.2%
Percentage of children with chronic bronchitis	5.3%	5.3%	5.4%	5.9%	5.5%	5.4%	5.7%

Addendum to D1	Estimated average percentage of children under 18 with asthma during the previous 12 months, by selected years
Characteristic
Race/Ethnicity	1980-81	1985-86	1990-91	1995-1996
White, non-Hispanic	3.6%	5.1%	6.0%	6.5%
Black, non-Hispanic	4.2%	6.0%	7.3%	8.2%
Hispanic	NA	3.2%	5.1%	7.6%

Age (years)
0-4	2.9%	3.2%	4.3%	5.0%
5-10	4.9%	5.5%	6.3%	7.4%
11-17	3.2%	5.8%	7.1%	7.7%

Overall prevalence	3.7%	4.9%	6.0%	6.9%

Appendix A - America's Children and the Environment: A First View of Available Measures

Data Tables

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