Aging Initiative

Due to the normal aging process, even older persons in good health may experience increased health risks from exposures to environmental pollutants. As we age, our bodies are more susceptible to hazards from the environment which may worsen chronic or life threatening conditions. Older persons also have accumulated a lifetime of environmental and occupational contaminants which are capable of remaining in their bodies.

A major goal of the Aging Initiative is the development of a National Agenda for the Environment and the Aging. The National Agenda will prioritize environmental health hazards that affect older persons, examine the environmental impact of an aging population in a smart growth context, and encourage civic involvement among older persons in their communities to reduce hazards. The National Agenda for the Environment and the Aging, being developed through a public participatory process, will help guide the Agency’s work to protect the health of older persons now and in the future.

Information on this website can help you learn more about our ongoing work and how you can contribute to – and benefit from – the National Agenda for the Environment and the Aging. We encourage you to join our efforts to shape an environmentally healthy future for our aging population.