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Children's Health
 Children
are particularly vulnerable to the effects of pollutants in
indoor air,
outdoor air,
water, food, and
soil. Children's exposure to
pollution is a special concern because their bodies are not fully developed when exposure begins (Schwartz,
2004).
For example, the monumental
Children's Health Study, a major study that followed about 6000 children in
Southern California over more than 10 years, found that current levels of air
pollution in that region are associated with substantial health and economic
impacts (Peters, et al., 2004).
Pollution levels in Houston are comparable to those in some of the communities
covered in this study. Specifically, the team of researchers found that
children's lung function growth was adversely affected by air pollution, new
cases of asthma and asthma attacks were associated with ambient air pollution
levels, and school absences from acute respiratory illnesses followed rises in
ozone levels.
Where can we learn more?
Following is a list of
organizations, government agencies, and health centers that specialize in
children's environmental health.
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Children's Environmental Health Institute (CEHI)
CEHI, located in Austin, focuses on educating health professionals about
environmental hazards and their effect on children's health. Several
Houston-area physicians serve on its Board of Directors.
- Children's
Environmental Health Network (CEHN)
The CEHN seeks to protect the fetus and the child from environmental health hazards and promote a healthy environment.
Its website provides information on and links to sources of information on
children's environmental health.
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EPA's Office of Children's Health Protection
See what the Environmental Protection Agency has to say regarding children's environmental health, including
EPA links regarding to environmental health hazards and activities that pertain directly to children and tips
to protect children which is provided in English and Spanish.
- Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health (SW-CPEH)
Based in Tyler, Texas, SW-CPEH aims to educate pediatric health care providers
and the general public to better serve the health needs of children affected by
environmental exposures to potentially toxic substances through education
programs and 24-hour telephone consultation.
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EcoHealth: Environmental Change and Our Health
This website was developed at Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health as a tool for
students and
teachers. It's also a great resource for anyone interested in
environmental change and human health.
Two self-paced learned
modules about children's environmental health are available in the
Downloads section of this website. The
first module is an overview explaining why
children are especially vulnerable to environmental toxicants; the
second module discusses what practitioners
can do about lead poisoning in children.
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