creating a network to protect children from environmental health threats: the u.s. experience

Creating a Network to Protect Creating a Network to Protect Children from Environmental Health Children from Environmental Health

Threats:Threats:

The U.S. ExperienceThe U.S. Experience

Workshop on Environmental Threats to the Health of Children in Workshop on Environmental Threats to the Health of Children in the Americasthe Americas

Lima, PeruLima, Peru

9-11 April 20039-11 April 2003

Edward H. Chu (for Martha Berger)Edward H. Chu (for Martha Berger)

U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Children’s Health ProtectionOffice of Children’s Health Protection

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Protecting Children in the United States

Protecting Children in the United States

Institutional Framework Political Legal Regulatory

Developing information about children’s health and the environment “Environment” and “Health” Bridging the gap

Building and supporting the network to take action Short- and long-term

Getting the word out

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Protecting Children’s Health in the United States

Protecting Children’s Health in the United States

1993 – Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children (NAS Report) 1996 – Food Quality Protection Act 1996 – Safe Drinking Water Act 1996 – EPA’s National Agenda to Protect Children 1997 – Executive Order 1997 – Office of Children’s Health Protection Established 1999 – Children’s Environmental Health Research Centers Established 2000 – Children’s Health Act 2000 – EPA’s Children’s Health Research Strategy 2001 – Administrator Whitman makes children’s health a priority 2001 – President Bush renews the Executive Order

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Legislation to Protect ChildrenLegislation to Protect Children

Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 Expands EPA’s pesticide

testing authority Requires a 10x safety factor

for infants and children Requires examination of

“common mechanism of action” and “total exposure”

Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 Requires consideration of

disproportionately affected sub-populations – children, elderly, immune compromised

Children’s Health Act of 2000 Authorizes the Federal

government to conduct a national longitudinal study of environmental influences (including physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial) on children's health and development “National Children’s Study”

Primary Agencies responsible:National Institute of Child Heath

and Human DevelopmentCenters for Disease ControlEPA

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EPA’s National Agenda to Protect ChildrenEPA’s National Agenda to Protect Children

Set protective standards Expand research on risks to children Develop new policies to address cumulative &

simultaneous exposures faced by children Expand Community Right-To-Know Provide basic information to parents and care givers Expand education efforts with health & environmental

officials Provide funding

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Executive Order to Protect ChildrenExecutive Order to Protect Children

Executive Order 13045 requires all Federal Agencies to

make it a high priority to identify and assess environmental health risks and safety risks that may disproportionately affect children

ensure that its policies, programs, activities and standards address disproportionate risk to children

The Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children, Co-chaired by the DHHS Secretary and the EPA Administrator, includes 10 federal agencies and 6 White House offices

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Task Force Departments and AgenciesTask Force Departments and Agencies

Department of Health & Human Services

Department of Housing & Urban Development

Department of Justice Department of Defense Department of Energy Department of Labor Department of Education Department of Agriculture Department of Transportation

Environmental Protection Agency

Consumer Product Safety Commission

White House Office Of Management and

Budget Council on Environmental

Quality Office of Science and

Technology Policy Domestic Policy Council National Economic Council

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Task Force ActivitiesTask Force Activities

PrioritiesAsthmaChildhood cancerDevelopmental disorders Unintentional injuries

National Children’s Study – Longitudinal cohort study to establish relationship between environmental factors and health from preconception through adolescence

Federal research data base

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Office of Children’s Health Protection (OCHP)Office of Children’s Health Protection (OCHP)

Established in 1997 to institutionalize EPA’s National Agenda and the Executive Order

Mission – To make the protection of children’s health a fundamental goal of public health and environmental protection

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Building and Supporting the NetworkBuilding and Supporting the Network

Inside EPARegulationsScienceEconomics

Outside EPAPartnerships (States, Doctors, Nurses, Youth)OutreachPresident’s Task ForceChildren’s Health Protection Advisory Committee

International

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ScienceScience

12 Children’s Research Centers Children’s Health Research Strategy Guidance documents: Cancer Guidelines, Cumulative Risk

Guidance, Children’s Exposures Factors Handbook, Integrated Risk Information System

Voluntary Children’s Chemical Evaluation Program High Production Volume Chemical Testing Program Support multi-agency National Children’s Study

Relationship between environmental factors and health outcomes from the womb to adolescence

Support Health Tracking System for Chronic Diseases Develop science and methods for children’s risk assessments

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EconomicsEconomics

Economic analysis is critical to decision-making at EPA Benefits to children in past have not been well quantified or

studied by economists Children’s Health Valuation Handbook

First to deal with children’s health valuation anywhere

Research Economic Impact Reports

Indicators of national burden

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Regulations:Ensure Consideration of Children

Regulations:Ensure Consideration of Children

Disproportionate and differential impact on children are not addressed in many risk assessments due to lack of toxicity and exposure data

Most rules are unable to address children’s health because of lack of data (toxicity and exposure)

Results in incomplete benefit-cost analyses

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Collaborating with StatesCollaborating with States

ECOS and ASTHOState profiles “Tool box” for the Catching Your Breath asthma projectECOS Asthma Resolution

NCSL (Legislators)Children’s Environmental Health Legislative Bill TrackingLegislative Policy Options Guide

National Governor’s AssociationConnection between Smart Growth and Children’s

Environmental Health

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Collaborations with Health Care ProvidersCollaborations with Health Care Providers

Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (ATSDR and EPA)

American Academy of Pediatrics - Chief Pediatric Residents Training (EPA)

American Nurses Association - Continuing Education for Nurses (EPA)

Ambulatory Pediatric Association - Planning for Pediatric Environmental Health Fellowships (EPA)

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Outreach:Information for Prevention

Outreach:Information for Prevention

Web site Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook

Catalog of EPA activities Healthy Schools Initiative to Improve Learning

Improve coordination and integration of EPA school-based programs

Tips on ways to protect children Plain language tips for parents and care givers Sheets, refrigerator magnets, growth charts

Work with other program offices Sunwise, indoor air, fish advisories, “Take the

Smoke Free Home Pledge”

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Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee

Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee

Provides consensus advice to the EPA Administrator on children’s environmental health

Members represent industry, environmental organizations, children’s advocacy groups, federal/state/local governments, trade associations, non-government organizations, academia, tribal organizations, health care providers, economists

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Working to Protect Children Around the WorldWorking to Protect Children Around the World

Global interestG8 Environment Ministers (1997)London Declaration (1999)North American Council on Environmental

Cooperation (2000/2002)Health and Environmental Ministers of the

Americas (2002)G8 Environment Ministers (2002)UN Special Session on Children (2002)World Summit on Sustainable Development

(2002)

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Working to Protect Children Around the WorldWorking to Protect Children Around the World

Global actionWHO, CEC, OECD, and PAHOChildren’s environmental health indicators Indoor fires for cooking and heatingSecondhand smokeLead in gasoline

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AlohaAloha

Lessons from the U.S.Political willBuilding networkMaintaining momentum

Environment AND health information about children very important

Significant progress has been made… …significant work remains

Mahalo!Mahalo!

Edward H. ChuEdward H. Chu202.564.2196 or 202.564.2196 or

202.564.2188202.564.2188chu.ed@epa.govchu.ed@epa.gov

Martha BergerMartha Berger202.564.2191 or 202.564.2191 or

202.564.2188202.564.2188berger.martha@epa.govberger.martha@epa.gov

U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Children’s Health Protection

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.MC1107A

Washington, DC 20460U.S.A

Website:www.epa.gov/children