Why Focus on Children's Health?

Compared to adults, children eat proportionately more food, drink more fluids and breathe more air than adults. As a result, they are exposed to more pollutants per pound of body weight than adults.
Children may be more vulnerable than adults to environmental hazards because their systems are still developing, often making them less able to metabolize, detoxify and excrete toxins.
Their behavior patterns increase their exposure to potential toxics.
Children are least able to protect themselves.
They have a longer life expectancy.
Fewer than half of the synthetic chemicals that have been developed and released to the environment have been tested for potential human toxicity, fewer still, for their potential effects on children.
Children represent twenty five percent of our population but 100% of our future.
At EPA, protecting children from environmental health risks is fundamental to our vision of making the world a better place for future generations.