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Children's Health
| Why our children need more protection . . .
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Children's
systems are still developing. Their bodies and internal organs
are undergoing rapid growth and exposure to toxic substances can result
in impaired development and compromised immune systems. Children's immature
bodies are less able to detoxify substances.
Children
are exposed to more environmental threats. Compared to adults,
they eat proportionately more food, drink more fluids, breathe more air,
and play outside more. As a result, they ingest more pollutants per pound
of body weight than adults.
Children
are least able to protect themselves. While they have a natural
curiosity and tendency to explore and greater fearlessness, they are not
able to make informed decisions as to their activities and, as a consequence,
put themselves at greater health risk.
Children
have a longer life expectancy. Therefore, they have more time
to develop chronic diseases that might be triggered by early environmental
exposures. Early childhood exposure to certain carcinogens or toxicants
may be more likely to lead to disease than the same exposures experienced
later in life.
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Recognizing children's
vulnerability to environmental health threats and the need for improved
research and protection, President Clinton issued an Executive
Order in 1997 encouraging Federal Agencies to ensure their policies
consider disproportionate risks to children that result from environmental
health and safety risks. In response to this Order, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has established the Office
of Children's Health Protection to assist in implementing this
goal. EPA's Mid-Atlantic Regional
Office is committed to this effort. Regional efforts are being
directed out of the Environmental
Assessment and Innovation Division and supported by an advisory
panel comprised of representatives from each major programmatic
area. The goal is to ensure that regional programs and activities
are responsive to the increased risks to our children.
The Regional program
is currently being managed by Prentiss
Ward (215-814-2813) of the Environmental Assessment and Innovation
Division.
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Native American proverb:
"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from
our children"
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