Children's Environmental Health
Contact
Margo Young, EPA Region 10 Children's Environmental Health Coordinator
young.margo@epa.gov
(206) 553-1287
The Pacific Northwest and Alaska are home to almost 3 million children under the age of 18. Children are exposed to environmental threats every day—often in their homes and schools. 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
What are some of the main children's health concerns?
- 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 - States in Region 10 are leaders in agricultural production, and 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.
EPA Children's Health Programs
- Indoor Air Quality - EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program has enabled schools to address issues such as mold, radon, pest-management and asthma.
- Outdoor Air Quality - The Clean School Bus Program has helped retrofit thousands of diesel school buses with pollution control devices and anti-idling strategies.
- School Assessment - HealthySEAT is a free and customizable software tool that helps school districts conduct a facility assessment program. School districts have made substantial low-cost and efficient improvements to their buildings.
- Asbestos - EPA’s Asbestos in Schools program can help control fiber levels by teaching people to recognize asbestos-containing materials and manage them.
- Pest Management - Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a safer, usually less costly option for effective pest management in the school community.
- School Chemical Cleanout - EPA’s SC3 program helps schools remove dangerous legacy chemicals.
Other Resources by Topic
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triangle to view additional links to information about the topics below.
Air Quality
Asbestos
Asthma
Children's Environmental Health
Climate Change
Drinking Water
Environmental Education
Energy Efficiency
Healthy Schools
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Lead
Mercury
PCBs
Pesticides
Pollution Prevention
Radon
School Buses
Secondhand Smoke
Smart Growth and Healthy Communities
Sunlight and UV Radiation
Tribal Issues
Waste & Toxics
Water