EPA's Region 10 is home to almost 3 million children under the age of 18. Like adults, children require a healthy environment if they are to develop, prosper, and eventually contribute to society. Unfortunately, children are exposed to environmental threats everyday—often in their homes and schools—which pose significant risks to their welfare.
 Children may be more vulnerable to environmental exposures than adults because:
- Their bodily systems are still developing
- They eat more, drink more, and breathe more in proportion to their body size
- Their behavior can expose them more to chemicals and organisms
Protecting children's health from environmental risks is fundamental to EPA's mission.
School Environment Assessment Tool - HealthySEAT Version 2
Children’s Environmental Health Issues in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska (EPA Region 10)
- Asthma - Over 200,000 children in Region 10 suffer from asthma.
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke - 20% of children in Alaska have routine exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Health Disparities –Vulnerable populations suffer from high rates of certain diseases. Research suggests that health disparities may be produced by both environmental and social factors.
- Lead - Exposure continues to threaten learning and development.
- Mercury and PCBs - Contaminants in fish continue to threaten children and women who are pregnant or are of child-bearing age.
- Obesity - Roughly 17% of children in the U.S. are overweight increasing their risk for a multitude of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer.
- PBDEs - Used in everyday items, such as carpeting, electronics, and furniture, these chemicals persist in the environment, build up in humans, and are likely endocrine disruptors.
- Pesticides - R10 is a leader in agricultural production; children are exposed to harmful levels of pesticides both in the fields and homes.
- Radon - Found in homes throughout the region, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
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Contact Information
Children's Environmental Health & Environmental Education Coordinator
Margo Young young.margo@epa.gov
(206) 553-1287
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