Children's Health Protection News and Events

Choose from the topics below to find the latest news about children's environmental health:

Upcoming Events
Recent Product Recalls
General Children's Environmental Health News

Children's Environmental Health News Where You Live

Disaster-Related Environmental Health News

News Archive

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

Upcoming Events

October 19-25, 2008: National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week
June 7-12, 2009: 9th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant

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Recent Product Recalls

Below are the 10 most recent children's environmental health-related product recalls from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other sources:

View additional product recalls from the CPSC or find resources on toy safety and lead poisoning from the American Academy of Pediatrics .

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General Children's Environmental Health News

To honor Child Health Day, OCHPEE launched a campaign to educate middle and high school students about climate change, its effects on children's health, and actions teens can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become Climate Ambassadors in their communities. View the Climate for Action Web site or review the EPA news release.

The International Network on Children's Health, Environment and Safety (INCHES) has organized a film competition as part of its 10th Anniversary. It's a one time event and will be held during the months of September 2008 until March 2009. The competition, called "Focus on Children in a Healthy Environment" and centered on the themes "Climate" and "Environmental Health" will run until March 1, 2009 and is open to all nationalities and ages. A Grand Prize will be awarded to the winners of the different categories. There are also separate cash prizes for films up to 5 minutes of duration and up to 15 minutes. View the rules and regulations for the competition (PDF) (4 pp, 44K).

The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) has developed a 9-minute Green Scene webcast that examines the critical need for responsible chemical management in K-12 schools from the chemistry lab to the custodial closet. It encourages schools and community partners to protect students and school staff by taking steps to prevent accidents involving outdated, unknown, and unneeded chemicals. Visit the Green Scene Web site to view the SC3 webcast.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Update on Dental Amalgams: According to the FDA, "Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetus. Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner." Learn more about FDA’s revised consumer guidance on amalgams.

On May 29, 2008, EPA announced new safety measures to protect children, pets, and wildlife from accidental exposure to rodent-control products. EPA is requiring that 10 rodenticides used in bait products be enclosed in bait stations, making the pesticide inaccessible to children and pets, and is prohibiting the sale of loose bait, such as pellets, for use in homes. Learn more about these safety measures.

EPA has launched new multilingual Web sites in Korean and Vietnamese that compile EPA publications and materials on a variety of environmental issues such as children’s health, indoor air quality in nail salons and dry cleaners, asthma, fish consumption, proper pesticide usage, among others. Visit EPA's multilingual Web sites (including Chinese and Spanish sites) at:
- www.epa.gov/vietnamese/
- www.epa.gov/korean/
- www.epa.gov/chinese/
- www.epa.gov/chinese/simple/
- www.epa.gov/espanol/

As part of National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, EPA’s SunWise program invites Americans to vote for the winner of the 2008 Limit the Sun, Not the Fun national sun safety poster contest through May 31, 2008. This contest, co-sponsored with the SHADE Foundation of America and WeatherBug Schools, gives children the opportunity to create messages to help prevent skin cancer, the most common of all cancers and one that will be diagnosed in over one million Americans in 2008 alone.

On April 14, 2008, EPA announced that it was making Federal environmental regulation more transparent by providing online information as soon as the agency begins the development of a new rule. EPA is now using Action Initiation Lists (AILs) to notify the public about new rules and other regulatory actions. AILs will be posted on the EPA Web site at roughly the end of each month; each will provide summaries, agency contacts, and other information about the rules EPA has approved for development during the given month. View EPA's Action Initiation Lists.

National Public Health Week was April 7-13, 2008. The American Public Health Association encouraged individuals, families, and communities to change their behavior in five important ways:
1. Monday: Be Prepared. Inform yourself about the health impacts of climate change and climate change issues facing your community, and take actions to prepare for possible emergencies.
2. Tuesday: Travel Differently. Leave the car at home one day, and take public transportation. Walk or bike, but if you need to drive, carpool – and telecommute if you can.
3. Wednesday: Eat Differently. Buy food from a community farmer’s market that doesn’t travel across the country to get to you. Eat more vegetables, and less meat.
4. Thursday: Green Your Work. Use recycled paper if you don’t already, and even if you do, print less often and on both sides of the paper. Set your computer to energy-saver mode and buy eco-friendly office furniture.
5. Friday: Green Your Home. Seal and insulate your home and replace air filters frequently to cut costs and save energy. Reduce your use of wasteful products, and reuse or recycle the products you do use. Conserve water whenever possible.
On March 31, 2008, EPA issued new rules for contractors who renovate or repair housing, child-care facilities or schools built before 1978. These new rules will further protect children from exposure to lead-based paint. For more information, including in Spanish, on EPA's lead program, or for copies of the rule and information on how to comply, visit www.epa.gov/lead.

EPA has developed a new Web site that provides basic information about environmental risk assessments to the public. The site also offers links to key EPA tools, guidance, and guidelines used by scientists to help them develop risk assessments. Visit the new Risk Assessment Portal.

The National Public Health Week “Health in the Balance Toolkit ” is available online. The toolkit includes fact sheets, media outreach materials, suggested community events, resources, and activities for children and teachers to use throughout National Public Health Week (April 7-13, 2008).

On January 30, 2008, EPA announced the award of grants to help reduce environmental risks to pregnant women. The grants are projected to reach approximately 3,000 health care providers and 10,000 women of child-bearing age. Read a press release about the grants or view details of each grant.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention invites qualified applicants to apply for a 10 week summer program in Environmental Public Health at the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta, Georgia. The deadline for application is March 4, 2008. Learn more about the Collegiate Leaders In Environmental Health: Summer Undergraduate Internship 2008.

The Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry is offering a new educational case study on Trichloroethylene Toxicity. The study’s purpose is to inform the primary care provider’s knowledge about hazardous substances in the environment and to promote the adoption of medical practices that aid in the evaluation and care of potentially exposed patients. Learn more about the case study.

The 2008 EPA Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Cooperative Agreement Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available. Approximately $3 million will be available in 2008 to support community-based partnerships to reduce pollution at the local level through the CARE program. Learn more about the CARE RFP .

Migrant Clinicians Network has published a new Spanish-language educational "comic" book, "Lo Que Bien Empieza … Bien Acaba: Consejos para las mujeres para prevenir danos a la salud ya sus bebes causados por pesticidas (PDF)" (14 pp, 4MB), which addresses pesticide exposure and pregnant women.

On November 2, 2007, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published new guidelines for interpreting and managing blood lead levels below 10 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) in children. In 1991, the CDC defined the blood lead level (BLL) that should prompt public health actions as 10 µg/dL. Research conducted since then has strengthened the evidence that children's physical and mental development can be affected at BLLs lower than 10 µg/dL. Read the full report.

HealthySEAT Version 2 is now available. Manage all of your school environmental health and safety issues with this fully integrated, flexible, and free software tool from EPA.

On October 22, 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the results of a study that determined that home lead test kits are unreliable. CPSC staff used commonly available test kits on a variety of paints and other products containing different levels of lead. Many of the tests performed using the kits did not detect lead when it was there and some indicated lead was present when it was not. None of the kits consistently detected lead in products if the lead was covered with a non-leaded coating. Based on the study, consumers should not use lead test kits to evaluate consumer products for potential lead hazards. Learn more about this study.

The Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DRC) provides access to data findings and technical assistance on the health and health-related services for children, youth, and families in the United States. The DRC Web site includes national and state-based data on over 100 indicators from the National Survey of Children’s Health and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. Search the DRC Web site .

On October 11, 2007, EPA announced the winners of the 2007 Children’s Environmental Health Excellence Award. Learn about the winners.
On September 26, 2007, EPA issued a final rule to help reduce lead in drinking water. Specifically, the agency will require water suppliers to provide consumers with information to help them make decisions about how to limit their exposure to lead in drinking water. View a copy of the rule or learn more about lead in drinking water.

EPA’s Child and Aging Health Division released the " Children's Environmental Health: 2007 Highlights; Environment, Health, and a Focus on Children (PDF)" (20 pp, 2.6MB). The annual report highlights EPA's recent efforts to protect children’s health by addressing threats where they develop, grow, and thrive. Improving school environments, addressing indoor and outdoor air quality, and reducing exposures to chemicals and pesticides are a few of the activities described in the report. Read EPA's press release announcing the publication of the report.

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Disaster-Related Environmental Health News

Wildfire-Related Environmental Health News:

October 2007 California Wildfire Information

Health Risks of Wild Fires for Children (PDF) (4 pp, 96K) from the University of California Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit

Hurricane Katrina-Related Environmental Health News:

Questions and answers about children’s health and hurricane and flood disasters (from EPA)

EPA is urging residents returning to hurricane-affected areas especially to protect children from hazards left behind by storms. Information for parents and caregivers is available on a variety topics, for example, safe water, asthma, contaminated toys, and others. View a news release and questions and answers about protecting children's health after hurricanes and flood disasters.

EPA has developed informational flyers on possible environmental and health issues - including carbon monoxide poisoning, mold, and drinking water - for residents returning to hurricane impacted areas. View the informational flyers.
On October 7, 2005, the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units and the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a joint statement detailing clinician recommendations regarding the return of children to areas impacted by flooding and or hurricanes. The recommendations also apply to pregnant women. Read the joint statement (PDF) (3 pp, 100K) .

Health professionals can contact Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs), a national network of clinics, for free clinical advice by phone about potential pediatric environmental health concerns affecting both the child and the family. To learn more, visit: http://www.aoec.org/PEHSU.htm .

Cleanup activities related to returning to homes and businesses after Hurricane Katrina can pose significant health and environmental challenges. People may be exposed to potentially life-threatening hazards posed by leaking natural gas lines, and carbon monoxide poisoning from using un-vented fuel-burning equipment indoors. During a flood cleanup, failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity may present serious long-term health risks from micro-organisms, such as bacteria and mold. View EPA’s September 14, 2005 news release regarding precautions you can take to protect yourself and your children from potential environmental hazards resulting from flooding.

On September 13, 2005, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned of new dangers among Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina from deadly CO poisonings. Read important new safety tips for residents able to return home after the hurricane .

On September 11, 2005, EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality posted data from New Orleans flood water chemical samples collected from six locations on September 3. Chemical results indicate that the concentration of lead exceeded EPA drinking water action levels. These levels are of a concern if a child ingests large amounts of the flood water. Based on the chemical analyses and the presence of high levels of E. coli, EPA and CDC provided health guidance on September 7 to avoid human contact with the flood water when possible. EPA in coordination with federal, state and local agencies will continue to release data as it becomes available. View the test results or visit EPA’s Hurricane Katrina response Web page at www.epa.gov/katrina.

The National Library of Medicine has compiled a new Hurricane Katrina Web page on toxic chemical and environmental health information resources for health workers and the interested public. Links are provided to information on chemicals that may be released as a result of the Katrina disaster and on environmental health concerns following the wind and flood damage.

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