United States Office of Children’s Health EPA-100-R-00-0018

Environmental Protection Protection August 2000

Agency Washington, DC 20460 www.epa.gov

1EPA The EPA Children’s

Environmental Health

Yearbook Supplement

“Ensuring our children a safe,

healthy environment is of 

paramount importance, and we 

will do it with strong actions,

guided by sound science.”

—Vice President Al Gore
Office of Children’s Health Protection

2Printed on paper that contains at least 30 percent postconsumer recovered fiber.
100-R-00-0018 The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement
EPA-100-R-00-0018

August 2000

www.epa.gov

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health

Yearbook Supplement

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Children’s Health Protection, MC 1107

Washington, DC 20460-0001
Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Purpose of this Supplement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Children’s Environmental Health Protection: Highlights of EPA’s Recent

National Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Centers of Excellence in Children’s Environmental Health Research . . . . . . .7

Children’s Environmental Health and Safety Inventory of Research . . . . . .10

Institutionalizing Children’s Health Protection in EPA’s Rule Making . . . . .10

Federal Advisory Committee on Protection of Children’s

Environmental Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Reviewing Existing Regulations and Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Workshop on Valuing Children’s Health Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Child Health Champion Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Incorporating Children’s Environmental Health Into Youth-Based

Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Targeting Criminal Violations that Threaten the Health and Safety

of Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

State Profiles - Children’s Environmental Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Promoting Children’s Environmental Health with Pediatric

Chief Residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Action to Eliminate Major Uses of the Pesticide Dursban to Protect

Children and Public Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Tips to Protect Children from Environmental Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Chapter 2 Asthma and Other Respiratory Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Improving Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Improving Outdoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

EPA Projects on Asthma and Other Respiratory Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

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Contents
Indoor Air General Outreach and Interventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Research on Indoor Air Quality and Asthma and Other Respiratory

Illness Among Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Outdoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Research on Outdoor Air Quality and Asthma and Other

Respiratory Illness Among Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Chapter 3 Childhood Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

EPA Projects Related to Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Radon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Asbestos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Ultraviolet (UV) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Research on Childhood Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Chapter 4 Developmental and Neurological Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

EPA Projects on Developmental and Neurological Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Endocrine Disruptors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

PCBs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Mercury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Other Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93

Chapter 5 Health Effects of Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94

EPA Projects on Health Effects of Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Strengthened Standards and Better Public Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95

Support for Integrated Pest Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98

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Expanded Enforcement Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

Understanding Risks to Children’s Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Chapter 6 Potential Risks from Contaminated Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

EPA Projects on Contaminants in Water and Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Contaminants in Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Contaminants in Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119

Chapter 7 Predicting Health Risks to Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120

EPA Projects to Improve Risk Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121

Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121

Hazardous Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122

Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126

Cumulative Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134

Chapter 8 Protecting Children Worldwide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136

EPA International Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137

Asthma and Other Respiratory Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137

Developmental and Neurological Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139

Health Effects of Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141

Potential Risks from Contaminated Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

Chapter 9 Environmental Education Related to Children’s Health ...... .144

EPA Environmental Education Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144

Health Care Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144

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Pediatric Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145

Other Environmental Education Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146

Chapter 10 Enhanced Community Right-to-Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158

EPA Community Right-to-Know Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159

Chapter 11 Children’s Health Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162

Contacting EPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162

EPA Headquarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162

EPA Regions and Regional Children’s Environmental Health

Coordinators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163

Obtaining EPA Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169

EPA Materials, Tools, and Internet Resources Related to

Children’s Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171

Inventory of Children’s Health Research Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171

Asthma and Other Respiratory Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171

Childhood Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179

Developmental and Neurological Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185

Health Effects of Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191

Potential Risks from Contaminated Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195

International Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202

Environmental Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202

Enhanced Community Right-to-Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207

Other Federal Agencies with Programs Related to

Children’s Environmental Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .209

Index: EPA Program Offices and EPA Regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211

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Through their environments, children are exposed to a wide variety of substances

that can affect their health. Environmental risks are a potential concern for children

in all geographic areas and from all walks of life. For example:

• Poor indoor and outdoor air quality is linked with an increased risk of

respiratory illnesses, especially asthma, in children.(1)

• Nearly 12,400 children and adolescents under the age of 20 are diagnosed with

cancer each year in the United States. Approximately 2,300 children and adolescents die of cancer each year.(2) Brain tumors and leukemia, the most prevalent

forms of the disease in children, have been linked with pesticide use in and

around the home.(3,4,5,6,7)

• Lead, a heavy metal that can harm a child’s brain, kidneys, and other systems,

remains one of the most pervasive developmental toxic substances in

America.(8,9)

• Children and women of childbearing age may be at increased risk, compared to

other groups, from exposure to contaminated fish and disease-causing organisms in sewage-contaminated water.(10)

• In recent decades, about 50,000 synthetic chemicals have been produced in the

United States, and many of these substances have dispersed into the environment.(11)

Children may have a special vulnerability to certain toxic substances, for a variety

of reasons. Pound for pound of body weight, children breathe more air, drink more

water, and eat more food than adults. In addition, their behavior patterns, such as

playing close to the ground and engaging in hand-to-mouth activities, can increase

their exposure to potential toxic substances in the environment. Damage to developing organ systems may carry lifelong consequences.(12,13)

Protecting children’s health against environmental threats is among the Clinton

administration’s highest priorities. In April 1997, President Clinton signed the

Executive Order on the Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks

and Safety Risks. This Executive Order requires all federal agencies to assign a high

priority to addressing health and safety risks to children, coordinate research priorities on children’s health, and ensure that their standards take into account special

risks to children.

In May 1997, EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner established the Office of

Children’s Health Protection (OCHP) to support the Agency as it implements the

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Introduction
President’s Executive Order, as well as EPA’s National Agenda to Protect

Children’s Health from Environmental Threats. The mission of OCHP is to make

the protection of children’s health a fundamental goal of public health and environmental protection in the United States.

Purpose of this Supplement

In June 1998, EPA published The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook,

a compilation of EPA (Headquarters and Regional Office) activities on children’s

health. The document provides information to the public and serves as a tool to

identify the Agency’s work in children’s health protection. The Yearbook includes

sections on asthma and other respiratory effects, childhood cancer, developmental

and neurological toxicity, health effects of pesticides, and potential risks from

contaminated surface water and ground water. Additional chapters describe

improvements in predicting health risks to children, highlight international activities

to protect children, identify educational programs addressing issues of children’s

health, and describe EPA’s expansion of individuals’ and families’ right to know

about environmental hazards. The final section directs readers to additional EPA

resources for more information.

Since the Yearbook’s publication, EPA has undertaken a number of new initiatives

and many additional projects focused on protecting children’s health from environmental risks. This Supplement provides a summary of new projects and updates to

some ongoing projects already described in the Yearbook. It also includes a

complete, updated list of Children’s Health Resources for further information.

Children’s Environmental Health Protection: 

Highlights of EPA’s Recent National Accomplishments

Centers of Excellence in Children’s Environmental Health Research

On October 10, 1998, the Vice President announced the establishment of eight

research centers dedicated solely to the study of children's environmental health

hazards. A strong feature of these centers is the combination of clinical research

and community interventions. The centers are jointly funded by EPA and the

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Introduction Page 7

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement
University of Southern California, Department of Preventive Medicine

Los Angeles, California

The University of Southern California Department of Environmental Health is

investigating the relationship of secondhand tobacco smoke and other environmental health threats to the development of asthma in children. In partnership with

Concerned Citizens for Central Los Angeles, Communities for a Better

Environment, and Mothers of East Los Angeles, the Center is conducting research

in Los Angeles communities to develop tools for health and environmental officials

to better protect children’s health.

University of Iowa, College of Medicine

Iowa City, Iowa

The College of Medicine at the University of Iowa is investigating respiratory

illness in children from rural communities. Together with the Keokuk County Rural

Health Study, researchers are examining causes of asthma in children living in rural

Keokuk County and developing a multi-component approach for reducing levels of

respiratory illness among children in rural areas.

University of Michigan, School of Public Health

Ann Arbor, Michigan

The University of Michigan School of Public Health is studying environmental

factors that contribute to pediatric asthma. Working with the Kettering/Butzel

Health Initiative, Detroit Health Department, Warren/Conner Development

Coalition, Butzel Family Center, Latino Family Services, and United Community

Housing Coalition, researchers are conducting assessments of asthmatic children in

Detroit and using findings to develop initiatives to reduce asthma among inner city

children.

Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland

The Johns Hopkins University Hospital School of Medicine is examining the role of

air pollutants, such as particulate matter, environmental tobacco smoke, and ozone,

in rising asthma rates among inner city children. By studying students in Baltimore

City Schools, researchers will determine how exposures to environmental pollutants

and allergens relate to asthma and will develop new ways to protect children from

environmental health risks.

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University of California at Berkeley, School of Public Health

Berkeley, California

The School of Public Health at the University of California at Berkeley is evaluating the impact of pesticide exposure on children’s growth and development.

Working with La Clinica de Saluid del Valle de Salinas and La Natividad Medical

Center, the school is studying the effects of pesticide exposure in children of the

agricultural community of Salinas, California, and developing methods to protect

children from health risks associated with pesticides.

University of Washington, Department of Environmental Health

Seattle, Washington

The University of Washington Department of Environmental Health is conducting

research on the special vulnerability of children to health risks from pesticides. In

conjunction with the Washington State Migrant Council, this Center is implementing research and intervention projects among children of farm workers in the state’s

Yakima Valley to provide local, state, and federal officials with new tools and

approaches for improving the health of children in agricultural regions across the

nation.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine

New York, New York

The Mount Sinai School of Medicine is undertaking research to identify, characterize, and prevent developmental effects among inner city children resulting from

exposures to pollutants that occur in their diets and homes. In cooperation with

East Harlem Community Health Committee and the Boriken Neighborhood Health

Center, Mount Sinai is developing both direct and indirect methods for reducing

household exposures to pollutants and will attempt to apply these methods broadly

across East Harlem.

Columbia University, School of Public Health

New York, New York

The Columbia University School of Public Health is investigating the relationship

between environmental pollutants, such as particulate matter and environmental

tobacco smoke, and the incidence of asthma among inner city children. Working in

partnership with West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. and the New York State

Department of Health, this Center is developing and evaluating a community-wide

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intervention to increase the awareness of environmental hazards and educate

community members to prevent and reduce them.

Information on the Centers can be found on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/children/three.htm, or contact Chris Saint, Office of Research and Development,

202-564-6909.

Children’s Environmental Health and Safety Inventory of Research 

The Children’s Environmental Health and Safety Inventory of Research

(CHEHSIR) is a database of federally funded or sponsored research on environmental health risks and/or safety risks that may uniquely or disproportionately affect

children. The database was created as an interagency effort under the President's

Task Force on Environmental Health and Safety Risks co-chaired by EPA and

DHHS. The inventory is available to all federal agencies, researchers, and the public

through the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/chehsir. The current database contains

information from six departments/agencies and represents 532 research projects.

The entire database will be moved to the National Library of Medicine.

Institutionalizing Children’s Health Protection in EPA’s Rule Making

In November 1998, EPA published a final Guidance for Rule Writers to help them

comply with Executive Order 13045, “Protection of Children from Environmental

Health Risks and Safety Risks.” This Guidance includes advice to EPA risk assessors and managers who are developing regulatory standards that are specifically

targeted at pregnant women, infants, and children. In developing standards, EPA

now consistently seeks out data on hazards, exposures, and dose-response functions

that may indicate disproportionate risks to children.

Federal Advisory Committee on Protection of Children’s

Environmental Health

EPA has established a balanced, broad-based external Advisory Committee, chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, on children’s environmental

health. This Committee includes participants from industry, pediatric medicine,

science/academia, nursing, environmental organizations, citizen organizations,

federal, state/local/tribal government, environmental justice communities, community organizations, economists, and citizens-at-large. The Committee is EPA’s way of

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obtaining outside expert advice from the perspective of children’s health protection on a

variety of issues, including evaluation of EPA standards regarding children’s health

protection from environmental risks, economic benefits analysis, communications and

outreach, and science. The full Committee has convened nine times since December

1997.

Reviewing Existing Regulations and Standards

OCHP, together with the EPA’s program offices and the Office of General Counsel, and

in response to public comments and recommendations of the Children’s Health

Protection Advisory Committee, identified eight regulations and regulatory areas for

review. These were published in the February 3, 1999, Federal Register. EPA is

currently reviewing the following regulations:

• Chloralkali plants national emission standard for hazardous air pollutants.

• Organophosphate pesticides tolerances for methyl parathion, chlorpyrifos, and

dimethoate.

• Atrazine tolerance and maximum contaminant level.

• Farm worker protection standard.

Workshop on Valuing Children’s Health Effects

In March 1999, EPA and the National Science Foundation sponsored a workshop on

valuing children’s health effects. The workshop brought together leading economists to

share and discuss ideas on this issue. Currently there is little information on how to

value children’s health when conducting benefit/cost analyses. In preparation for the

workshop, EPA commissioned several research papers. These papers, along with the

information generated at the workshop, will be used to develop a Children’s Health

Valuation Handbook.

Child Health Champion Campaign

On May 21, 1998, the First Lady announced a new EPA pilot program, the Child

Health Champion Campaign, designed to empower local citizens and communities to

protect their children from environmental health threats. Eleven communities are

involved in the Campaign pilot. Each community assessed and prioritized potential

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environmental hazards to children, set community-specific goals for selected

hazards, and established action plans to meet each of the goals. The communities

are now in the implementation phase of the program. A national evaluation of the

pilot is being conducted.

Manchester, New Hampshire (EPA Region 1)

Through the Child Health Champion program, local organizations in this community are promoting awareness of several key issues affecting children’s health,

including lead poisoning, asthma, and the dangers of secondhand smoke. One

grantee, the Way Home, is conducting home visits to identify children at risk for

lead poisoning and asthma and to provide education on preventive measures. (EPA

contacts: Alice Kaufman, 617-918-1064, or Pat Hamlin, 617-918-1584)

Ironbound Section, Newark, New Jersey (EPA Region 2)

The Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC) coordinates Region 2’s Child Health

Champion project, which focuses on the environmental causes of asthma. ICC has

recruited and trained residents to become “Asthma Busters,” who are conducting

education in the community on asthma. Other education and outreach efforts,

including an Asthma Information and Referral Service, also are under way. (EPA

contacts: Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001, or Terry Ippolito, 212-637-3671)

Anacostia Section, Washington, DC (EPA Region 3)

This Region’s Community Team is focusing on indoor air pollutants as triggers for

asthma and other illnesses. Several outreach tools—children’s workbook, children’s

television program, and interactive website—are being designed to reach children

and parents through schools and a public housing project. (EPA contacts: Gail

Tindal, 215-814-2069, or Dan Welker, 215-814-2744)

Prichard, Alabama (EPA Region 4)

The Prichard, Alabama, Community Team selected childhood asthma and lead

poisoning as the environmental health hazards of greatest concern. The team has

developed partnerships with the elementary schools for this initiative. A database on

the effects of asthma is being compiled from the schools and local health care

providers. Interventions include the establishment of a children's environmental

health repository and hotline, implementation of the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools

for Schools program in all public and private schools, coordinating community integrated pest management (IPM) programs, establishing satellite learning centers with

programs addressing children's environmental health hazards, and conducting

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asthma screening, lead poisoning testing, and child health education activities. (EPA

contacts: Wayne Garfinkel, 404-562-8982, or Al Hanke, 404-562-8954)

Near South/North Side Sections, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (EPA Region 5)

The Milwaukee Team is focusing on asthma and indoor air quality in homes and

schools. A variety of activities are planned or under way, including distribution of

an Asthma Care Plan, indoor air quality assessments in schools, an Asthma in the

Air video, home visits, and an Awesome Asthma School Days program. (EPA

contacts: Jeanette Marrero, 312-886-6543, or Afif Marouf, 312-353-5550)

Cherokee Nation, Talequah, Oklahoma (EPA Region 6)

This team is tackling the problem of contaminated drinking water, a problem that

affects two-thirds of the drinking water sources tested. The Cherokee Nation has

set a goal of providing clean drinking water to approximately 1,000 children under

the age of 16 (10 priority area water systems) within 3 years. Activities include

conducting public education and outreach as well as taking steps to prevent bacterial contamination of drinking water. (EPA contacts: Evelyn Daniels, 214-665-7543,

or Steffanie Crossland, 214-665-6684)

New Madrid County, Missouri (EPA Region 7)

The New Madrid County Tri-Town Project has identified three priorities for

protecting children’s health: lead, asthma/allergies, and water. Community leaders

presented project goals at a well-attended kick-off meeting, and resource centers are

being established in each of these communities. (EPA contact: Althea Moses, 913-

551-7649)

Chippewa Cree Tribe, Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Montana (EPA Region 8)

The Chippewa Cree Child Health Champion Team is conducting a wide variety of

activities on children’s health issues. Examples include blood-lead testing through

local schools; presentations for Earth Day on such subjects as lead, water pollution,

dam safety, and pesticides; and educational activities on environmental health

hazards at the annual Rocky Boy Pow-Wow. (EPA contact: Jennifer Wintersteen,

406-441-1130)

Nogales, Arizona (EPA Region 9)

In the City of Nogales, located on the U.S.-Mexico border, Region 9 established a

Child Health Champion Community Team composed of representatives from

Introduction Page 13

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement
community organizations, government agencies, businesses, and citizen groups. The

project focuses on controlling indoor air quality, reducing exposure to outdoor air

on poor air quality days, reducing the number of visits to the school nurse due to

upper respiratory illness, and reducing particulate matter by working with businesses to pave dirt areas. (EPA contact: Lorena Lopez, 619-235-4768).

East Side/Pico Section, Los Angeles, California (EPA Region 9)

The Los Angeles Child Health Champion (CHC) pilot, “KICK Asthma L.A.” (Keep

Improving Control of Kids' Asthma L.A.), is focused on children in East Los

Angeles, a mostly Hispanic, economically disadvantaged community. The

Community Team formed a collaborative partnership among local government

agencies, public health organizations, and community-based organizations to KICK

asthma and build community capacity for addressing problems of asthma and creating a model program for children's asthma education. As a direct result of the

program, the community hopes to decrease school absenteeism due to asthmarelated illness, increase adoption of healthy home measures to decrease asthma

triggers, and increase community awareness about asthma. (EPA contact: Clarice

Gaylord, 619-235-4767).

Toppenish, Washington (EPA Region 10)

The Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic is focusing on air pollution triggers of

asthma in children under age 5. Interventions include home visits, training of childcare providers, support groups for parents, and broad-based community education.

(EPA contact: Dan Robinson, 509-575-5845)

Incorporating Children's Environmental Health Into Youth-Based

Organizations

EPA is working with the Academy for Educational Development to incorporate

children's environmental health into the fabric of youth-based organizations. Five

national organizations, representing thousands of children and youth, have agreed to

participate. An event showcasing the efforts of these groups is planned for

September 2000. In addition, EPA is working with the Groundwater Foundation to

hold a Youth Summit of Environmental Health in November 2000. (EPA contact:

Ted Coopwood, 202-260-3410).

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Introduction Page 15

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Targeting Criminal Violations that Threaten the Health and Safety

of Children 

Through the Children First Initiative, EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID)

has expanded its response to the significant health threats that children continue to

face from environmental hazards. This initiative identifies criminal environmental

violations in which children are adversely affected or put at undue risk. At the end

of fiscal year 1999, the number of Children First cases increased to 143 criminal

investigations nationwide. This increase can be linked to CID’s continuous pursuit

of these violators and continuing educational efforts among their partners in state

and local law enforcement. Individual criminal fines totaling $271,189; restitution

totaling $389,998; 97 years of imprisonment; and 86.9 years of probation have been

imposed on 75 individual defendants. Seventeen corporate defendants have been

sentenced to pay a total of $22,783,000 in criminal fines; $4,150,000 in restitution;

and 23 years of probation.

State Profiles - Children's Environmental Health

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials is working in partnership

with the Environmental Council of the States to profile state children's environmental health data and activities. The goal of the project is to highlight successful efforts

to reduce hazards to children, provide state-by-state data on specific children's environmental health issues, and identify gaps in information. (EPA contact: Liz

Blackburn, 202-260-7935).

Promoting Children's Environmental Health With Pediatric Chief

Residents

EPA is supporting an educational session facilitated by the American Academy of

Pediatrics to heighten awareness of pediatric environmental health issues in residency training programs. The session targets Chief Pediatric Residents because of their

leadership in those programs. (EPA contact: Liz Blackburn, 202-260-7935).

Action to Eliminate Major Uses of the Pesticide Dursban to Protect

Children and Public Health

In June 2000, the EPA and the manufacturer of Dursban agreed to eliminate this

pesticide for nearly all household purposes. Dursban, also known as chlorpyrifos, is
the most widely used household pesticide product in the United States. Chlorpyrifos

belongs to a family of pesticides called organophosphates which can affect the

nervous system. The agreement will:

• Stop production of and phase out all home, lawn, and garden uses.

• Stop production of and phase out the vast majority of termite-control uses.

• Significantly lower allowable pesticide residues on several foods regularly eaten

by children.

EPA took this action under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which was

passed unanimously by Congress in 1996. The FQPA requires a systematic review

of all pesticides to ensure that they meet the tough new safety standards which, for

the first time, must be protective of children, who are among the most vulnerable to

adverse health effects from pesticide residues.

Tips to Protect Children from Environmental Threats

Because there are many things that parents and other caregivers can do to protect

children from environmental risks, EPA developed relatively easy-to-follow, effective “tips,” which are being widely distributed. Tips are available on both magnets

and flyers and in English and Spanish. The National Safety Council produced a

half-hour television program based on the tips which aired on Bravo and CNBC

and is now available on video. The television program was viewed by an estimated

2 million people. A Spanish-language radio series based on the tips is being broadcast and will reach an estimated 75 percent of the U.S. Latino population.

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Introduction Page 17

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Protect Children from

Environmental Threats

Help children breathe easier

Help children breathe easier

• Don't smoke or let others smoke in your home or car

• Keep your home as clean as possible. Dust, mold, certain household pests, secondhand smoke,

and pet dander can trigger asthma attacks and allergies.

• Limit outdoor activity when air pollution is bad such as on ozone alert days.

Protect children from lead poisoning

• Wash children's hands before they eat and wash bottles, pacifiers, and toys often

• Wash floors and windows sills to protect kids from dust and peeling paint contaminated with

lead - especially in older homes

• Run the cold water for 30 seconds to flush lead from pipes

• Get kids tested for lead - check with your doctor

• Test your home for lead paint hazards if it was built before 1978

Protect children from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning

• Have fuel-burning appliances, furnace flues and chimneys checked once a year

• Never use gas ovens or burners for heat and never use barbeques/grills indoors or in the

garage

• Never sleep in rooms with unvented gas or kerosene space heaters

• Don't run cars or lawnmowers in the garage

• Install a UL approved CO detector in sleeping areas

Keep pesticides and other toxic chemicals away from 

children

• Put food and trash away in closed containers to keep pests from coming into your home

• Don't use pesticides if you don't have to - look for alternatives

• Read product labels and follow directions

• Use bait & traps instead of bug sprays when you can and place the bait & traps where kids

can't get them

• Store where kids can't reach them and never put in other containers that kids can mistake for

food or drink

• Keep children, toys & pets away when using pesticides and don't let them play in fields,

orchards and gardens after pesticides have been used.

• Wash fruits and vegetables under running water before eating - peel them when possible

Protect children from too much sun

• Have them wear hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing

• Use sunscreen on kids over 6 months and keep infants out of the sun

• Keep them out of the mid-day sun - the sun is most intense between 10 and 4

Safeguard them from high levels of radon

• Test your home for radon with a home test kit

• Fix your home if your radon level is 4 pCi/L or higher. If you need help call your state radon

office or 1-800-644-6999

Protect children from contaminated fish and polluted water

• Call the local or state health department to learn about any local advisories for limiting the

amount of fish to be eaten or beach closing

• Take used motor oil to a recycling center and properly dispose of toxic household chemicals

• Find out what's in your local drinking water - call your local water system for your 

annual drinking water quality report or, if you have a private home drinking water well,

Get involved

Call toll free 1-877-590-KIDS for more information or check out EPA’s

Web site at www.EPA.gov/children

EPA Office of Children’s Health Protection EPA/100/F-00/008
References

1. Bates, D.V. 1995. The Effects of Air Pollution on Children. Environmental

Health Perspectives. Volume 103 (Supplement B), Pages 49-53.

2. National Institutes of Health. September 1999. Cancer Incidence and Survival

among Children and Adolescents: United States SEER Program 1975-1995.

NIH Publication Number 99-4649.

3. NCI. 1997. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1973-1994. U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute. NIH Publication

Number 97-2789, Page 457.

4. Devesa, S.S., W.J. Blot, B.A. Miller, R.E. Tarove, and J.F. Fraumeni, Jr. 1995.

Recent Cancer Trends in the United States. Journal: National Cancer Institute.

Volume 87, Pages 175-182.

5. David, J.R., R.C. Browonson, R. Garcia, B.J. Bentz, and A. Turner. 1993.

Family Pesticide Use and Childhood Brain Cancer. Archive of Environmental

Contamination and Toxicology. Volume 24, Pages 87-92.

6. Gold, E., L. Gordis, J. Tonascia, and M. Szklo. 1979. Risk Factors for Brain

Tumors in Children. American Journal of Epidemiology. Volume 109, Pages

309-319.

7. Olshan, A.F., N.E. Breslow, J.M. Falletta, S. Grufferman, T. Pendergrass, L.L.

Waskerwitz, W.G. Woods, T.J. Vietti, and G.D. Hammond. 1993. Risk Factors

for Wilm’s Tumor: Report from the National Wilm’s Tumor Study. Cancer.

Volume 72, Pages 938-944.

8. ATSDR. 1997. Healthy Children—Toxic Environments. Report of the Child

Health Workgroup. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public

Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

9. CDC. 1997. Update: Blood Lead Levels—United States, 1991-1994.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Volume 46, Number 7, Pages 141-

145.

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The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement
10. EPA. 1997. Should I Eat the Fish I Catch? Publication Number EPA 823-B97-009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

11. SOCMA. Undated. Fact Sheet: The Batch Chemical Industry. Washington,

DC: Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association.

12. NRC. 1993. Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. National Research

Council. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

13. ILSI. 1992. Similarities and Differences between Children and Adults:

Implications for Risk Assessment. International Life Sciences Institute.

Washington, DC: ILSI Press.

Introduction Page 19

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement
Asthma, a serious lung disease, is the leading chronic illness among children in the

United States. The number of children with asthma in the United States has more

than doubled in the past two decades, from 2.3 million in 1980 to an estimated 5

million in 1998. The number of deaths attributed to asthma in children 18 and under

also has increased, from 84 in 1977 to 280 in 1995. Minority children experience a

disproportionately high impact from asthma. Asthma accounts for 10 million lost

school days a year. In 1998, the cost of asthma to the U.S. economy was estimated

to be $11.3 billion, accounting for about 1 percent of all health care expenditures in

the United States.(1,2,3,4,5,6)

Asthma is a narrowing of airways in the lungs that produces difficulty in breathing

and can severely restrict the ability of a child to live a normal life. Poor indoor and

outdoor air quality has been linked with asthma symptoms as well as with other

respiratory problems, such as an increased frequency of respiratory infections,

bronchitis, and pneumonia in children.(5) There is substantial evidence that environmental exposures (including cigarette smoke, smog, and allergens, such as pollens,

dust mites, mold, and cockroaches) can trigger asthma attacks in children who have

a genetic or acquired predisposition to the disease.(7)

In 1999, the President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety

Risks to Children released a comprehensive national strategy (Asthma and the

Environment: A Strategy to Protect Children, http://www.epa.gov/children/asthma)

to reverse the increasing rates of asthma among U.S. children. EPA played a leadership role in developing the strategy. The Agency is developing a program to combat

the rising prevalence of asthma in the United States, with a focus on improving

indoor and outdoor air quality. Over the next several years, the Agency will expand

its research and public information initiatives to address indoor and outdoor asthma

triggers. Some of these initiatives are described below.

Improving Indoor Air Quality

Avoidance of asthma triggers in the environment, along with proper medical

management and self-monitoring of symptoms, can substantially reduce the

frequency and severity of asthma attacks. EPA’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) program

is focused on reducing the exposure of asthmatics—especially children with asthma—to indoor asthma triggers in homes, schools, and childcare facilities through a

multi-faceted program that emphasizes public education and outreach, training, and

extensive partnerships with the public and private sectors.

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Asthma and Other

Respiratory Effects
To establish a sound scientific basis for its indoor environments asthma program,

EPA requested that the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences

conduct a comprehensive assessment of the relationship between indoor air pollution and asthma. Released in January 2000, Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor

Air Exposures confirms the importance of addressing indoor environmental triggers

as part of a comprehensive asthma management program.

EPA works to educate parents, health care professionals, school administrators,

facility managers, and many other audiences about practical steps they can take to

improve the indoor environments where children spend time. A new national media

campaign, educational materials, such as the new brochure, Clear Your Home of

Asthma Triggers: Your Children Will Breathe Easier, a comprehensive new asthma

Web site (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma/), and co-sponsorship of major events,

such as Asthma Awareness Day on Capitol Hill help to get the word out. The

cornerstone of EPA’s national strategy, however, is a network of more than 30

national partner organizations and more than 1,000 collaborative partner organizations in communities across the nation.

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Goals of the Asthma and the Environment Strategy

• By the year 2005, the number of households in which children are regularly exposed to secondhand

smoke will be reduced to 15 percent (compared to 29 percent in 1994).

• By the year 2010, asthma hospitalization rates in children will have fallen to no more than 10 hospitalizations per 10,000 people (compared to 50 for children 0 to 4 years old and 18 for children 5 to 14

years old in 1992-1994).

• By the year 2010, emergency department visits will be reduced to no more than 46 per 10,000 people

(compared to 121 for children 0 to 4 years old and 81 for children 5 to 14 years old in 1992-1994).

• By the year 2010, no more than 10 percent of children with asthma will experience activity limitations

(compared to 22 percent for the overall population in 1992-1994).
Through these partners, EPA continues to promote the IAQ Tools for Schools

program, which empowers schools to prevent and resolve IAQ problems. Of particular note, EPA is working with the National Association of School Nurses to train

thousands of school nurses in strategies for reducing children’s exposures to asthma

triggers and indoor pollutants.

EPA continues to work with the American Lung Association to implement the

Open Airways program for inner city minority children who have higher-thanaverage asthma rates. EPA also is collaborating with partners, such as the DHHS,

the Consumer Federation of America Foundation, the American Medical

Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics to educate the public about

the dangers posed to children by environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), also known

as secondhand smoke.

EPA has partnered with a number of health organizations to develop interventions

that can reduce exposures to asthma triggers in the indoor environment. The

Agency also is assisting community groups in efforts to publicize effective intervention strategies, especially in the low-income, inner city communities where asthma

is most prevalent. In addition, EPA is conducting various research studies to measure the effectiveness and benefits of asthma interventions.

Improving Outdoor Air Quality

EPA’s efforts to control outdoor air pollution are focused on protecting everyone,

including children, from the harmful effects of ozone, particulate matter, and toxic

substances. The Agency develops standards that set safe limits for the most prevalent air pollutants, and works with the states to implement those standards. Recently,

the Clinton administration issued a strengthened air standard for ozone to protect

the health of asthmatics and children and established new standards for fine

airborne particles. The Agency estimates that the new standards will provide new

health protections to 125 million Americans, including 35 million children.

However, in May 1999 a federal appeals court ruled that these standards are unconstitutional. In January 2000 the U.S. Department of Justice filed a petition seeking

Supreme Court review of the decision.

In addition to conducting these regulatory efforts, EPA is studying the impacts of

outdoor air pollutants on the physical development of children and the characteristics of children that make them more susceptible to the effects of air pollution.

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EPA Projects on Asthma and Other Respiratory Effects

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools

Title: IAQ Tools for Schools

Description: EPA has developed IAQ Tools for Schools, an easy-to-use guide

intended to empower schools to prevent and resolve IAQ problems

at little or no cost using simple activities and in-house staff. More

than 30,000 IAQ Tools for Schools kits have been distributed nationwide since 1996. The program is directed from EPA headquarters

through agreements with a number of associations (see below).

EPA’s regional offices have active implementation programs as well.

Partners: National Parent-Teacher Association, American Association of

School Administrators, National Association of City and County

Health Officials, American Lung Association, National Education

Association

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Michele Guarneiri, 202-260-9099

Title: Working with Partners to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools

• National Education Association

The National Education Association Health Information

Network (NEA HIN) and EPA are supporting NEA’s 2.2

million members in improving the management of IAQ in

schools and homes. Through NEA’s training program, NEA

members and union liaisons are trained in school IAQ management. Trainees and workshop participants are currently

working with school districts and schools to implement EPA’s

IAQ Tools for Schools. Contact Office of Air and Radiation,

Jennifer Keller, 202-564-9338.

• American Association of School Administrators

EPA is working with the American Association of School

Administrators (AASA) to enable schools to prevent and

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resolve IAQ problems using the IAQ Tools for Schools Action

Kit. This project includes training courses, IAQ sessions during

workshops and conferences, and articles in newsletters to

educate administrators about IAQ problems and solutions, as

well as how to implement an IAQ program using in-house

school staff. AASA will conduct periodic surveys during the

project to assess the administrators’ understanding of IAQ and

how they resolve problems. Contact Office of Air and

Radiation, Paula Selzer, 202-564-9361.

• National Parent-Teacher Association

The National Parent-Teacher Association (NPTA) and EPA are

working cooperatively to support the participation of more than

6.5 million NPTA members in the environmental management

of homes, schools, communities, and ecosystems. NPTA’s

program has centered around environmental awareness, including training NPTA leaders on school indoor air quality, air

pollution, water pollution, drinking water quality, hazardous

materials, emergency planning, radon exposure, pesticides,

solid waste, and lead poisoning. NPTA also publishes Our

World Newsletter and sponsors Earth Week activities and literature. Contact Office of Air and Radiation, Michele Guarneiri,

202-564-9099.

• Urban Schools IAQ Project

The National Association of County and City Health Officials

(NACCHO), working cooperatively with EPA, will offer IAQ

Tools for Schools pilot training courses in low-income urban

communities. The courses are designed to encourage partnerships between local environmental justice organizations (or

organizations with similar community concerns) and local

public health and school officials. NACCHO has planned the

training to promote awareness of IAQ problems in schools,

management of IAQ, and strategies for managing asthmatic

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children’s exposures to indoor asthma triggers. Contact Office

of Air and Radiation, Laura Kolb, 202-564-9348.

• Training School Nurses on IAQ Tools for Schools and Asthma

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) and EPA

are working together on improving IAQ and addressing asthma

triggers in schools. School nurses across the country have been

trained on IAQ Tools for Schools and are conducting “train the

trainer” workshops in their school districts. NASN also is

developing asthma modules that school nurses can deliver

during staff meetings, PTA meetings, and health classes to

educate school communities about the seriousness of asthma

and environmental triggers. The modules will incorporate IAQ

Tools for Schools information and action items for reducing

exposures to asthma triggers and indoor pollutants. Contact

Office of Air and Radiation, Kim Smith, 202-564-9443.

• School Intervention Study

The School Intervention Study will provide a measure of the

effectiveness of IAQ Tools for Schools in improving the

management of school buildings for better IAQ. Success measures include activities to prevent problems, changes in staff

symptoms and perceptions of indoor air quality, reduced pollutant levels, and improved ventilation systems. Before-and-after

testing is being conducted in several schools and costs will be

monitored over a 1-year period. Results are expected in FY

2000. Contact Office of Air and Radiation, John Girman, 202-

564-9317.

• American Lung Association Open Airways

The American Lung Association is promoting EPA’s IAQ Tools

for Schools along with their Open Airways curriculum, which

teaches asthmatic elementary school children to manage their

own asthma. The program focuses on inner city children in

areas with higher-than-average asthma rates. The American

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Lung Association is developing an integrated training program

in which 15 master trainers will train 250 other trainers, who

will then train 5,000 local volunteers. Project directors estimate

that this combined program will result in 25,000 children graduating from Open Airways and 1,500 schools fully

implementing the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance. The

program has enhanced asthma management skills of children

and their parents, reducing the frequency of asthma attacks.

Several Regions are translating Open Airways into Spanish.

Additionally, all local American Lung Associations will begin

programs to implement EPA IAQ Tools for Schools in FY 2000.

Contact Office of Air and Radiation, Tracy Enger, 202-564-

9484.

Title: EPA Regional School-Based Programs to Improve Indoor Air

Quality

Region 1: Region 1 and its partners (including Harvard School of Public

Health, Tufts University School of Medicine, Massachusetts Public

Health Association, and the American Lung Association) have sponsored numerous workshops introducing the IAQ Tools for Schools

program to various segments of the education community. The New

England Coalitions for Occupational Safety and Health have worked

with schools to assist them in implementing the program; over 60

New England schools are implementing IAQ Tools for Schools.

Contact Eugene Benoit, 617-918-1639, or Mary Beth Smuts, 617-

918-1528.

With EPA funding, staff of the State of Vermont Department of

Health trained a teaching professional representing the pilot supervisory union in basic issues related to indoor air quality and

ventilation. After the training, initial concerns were addressed by the

school at the local level, and an indoor air quality management plan

was developed. The indoor air quality coordinator incorporated the

new knowledge into the supervisory union’s health education

curriculum. Contact Kristen Conroy, 617-918-1069.

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Region 4: Region 4 and the University of Tulsa presented 10 1-day workshops

to educate school officials on the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit.

(Approximately 1,400 kits were previously distributed to school

officials in the region.) Around 50 school officials attended each

workshop. Contact Henry Slack, 404-562-9143.

EPA funded a pilot project to deliver the American Lung

Association’s Open Airways curriculum to children with asthma in a

rural Florida county, while implementing the IAQ Tools for Schools

Action Kit at their school. EPA is also funding an American Lung

Association effort in northern Florida to promote the kit at schools

in a poor, rural county, and to offer Open Airways to children at the

schools. In a separate effort, Region 4 and the University of Tulsa

offered courses in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina on topics

including biological contaminants, asthma, and allergen control.

Contact Henry Slack, 404-562-9143

Region 5: The Marion County, Illinois, Health Department is working with

schools to implement the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit and is

studying the kit’s effectiveness. In addition, staff from Region 5 are

providing onsite technical assistance to help schools implement the

kit. Contact Helen Tsiapas or Sheila Batka, 312-886-6053.

The IAQ Tools for Schools program also is being implemented in a

Minnesota school that serves a high percentage of children from

Native American tribes. EPA is conducting IAQ Tools for Schools

overview sessions for tribes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan

during 1999 and 2000. EPA also held a 1999 meeting with the

Indian Health Services to discuss children’s issues, IAQ Tools for

Schools, and the potential for partnerships between the tribes and

Region 5. Contact Jeanette Marrero, 312-886-6543, or Sheila Batka,

312-886-6053.

The Chicago Health Corps is working to initiate the Clean Air for

Good Health in Schools Campaign within five Chicago public

schools. This project will raise awareness of indoor air quality

among teachers and building maintenance staff and improve the

quality of the indoor environment in schools. The Chicago Health

Corps will initiate an environmental assessment in the schools

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and provide recommendations for revising current maintenance policies. Contact Jeannette Marrero, 312-886-6543, or Sheila Batka,

312-886-6053.

EPA provided a grant to the Michigan School Indoor Air Coalition,

headed by the American Lung Association of Michigan, to improve

IAQ in Michigan schools. Contact Helen Tsiapas, 312-886-7901, or

Sheila Batka, 312-886-6053.

EPA also provided a grant to the Wisconsin Department of Health

and Family Services to increase awareness and implementation of

energy-efficient and healthful IAQ practices in Wisconsin schools.

Contact Sheila Batka, 312-886-6053, or Julie Magee, 312-886-6063.

Region 7: Region 7 completed IAQ Tools for Schools walk-throughs at schools

in Jefferson City, Missouri; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Liberty,

Missouri, as part of demonstration projects. Representatives

discussed the Tools for Schools program at the Regional IAQ meeting and Regional Tribal Operations Committee Annual meeting, and

hosted a Tribal Tools for Schools workshop/school walk-through in

South Sioux City, Nebraska. The Region also completed presentations at IAQ Tools for Schools workshops in Lincoln and Omaha,

Nebraska, and at the Kansas Schools Nurses Conference in Wichita,

Kansas; distributed 10 Tools for Schools kits at the Back to School

With New Ideas Seminar; and supplied the Kansas City/St. Joseph

Catholic Diocese with 54 kits for their schools. Finally, Region 7

participated in the IAQ Tools for Schools Stakeholder Meeting in

Washington, DC. Contact Michael Marshall, 913-551-7604.

Region 8: Region 8 is piloting the IAQ Tools for Schools program in several

school districts in Colorado and continues to offer workshops to

school personnel throughout the region. Contact Megan Williams,

303-312-6431.

Region 9: Region 9 is conducting a multi-pronged program to encourage

schools to adopt IAQ Tools for Schools. The Region 9 team has

trained more than 800 school district personnel and is now focusing

on individual pilot schools within selected districts. Partners include

state agencies, educational organizations, and the American Lung

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Association, which has created a pilot “Mentor” program with the

American Industrial Hygiene Association. Contact Barbara Spark,

415-744-1132.

Region 10: Region 10 coordinates and supports the IAQ Tools for Schools

program to conduct training and school walk-throughs in

Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska through small grants to the

Idaho Health Division, the Oregon State University Cooperative

Extension Energy Program, the University of Alaska (Fairbanks)

Cooperative Extension Energy Program, and the Washington State

University Cooperative Extension Energy Program. Each of these

agencies has committed to conducting at least four school walkthroughs and IAQ Tools for Schools training in each of their states.

Contact Brook Madrone, 206-553-2589.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke)

Title: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Media Campaign

Description: EPA is conducting a multi-year, national campaign to motivate

parents to keep their homes smoke-free. The first wave of this

campaign includes three products: 60- and 30-second television

spots, 60- and 30-second radio spots, and print public service

announcements (PSAs) of various sizes for newspapers. These products were distributed directly to more than 1,000 television stations,

500 cable stations, 5,400 radio stations, and 1,500 major daily newspapers. One of the PSAs was the second most frequently aired PSAs

in the country, appearing in 80 percent of U.S. television households

with an unusually high number of prime-time airings. EPA has also

equipped its local and national partners, such as National

Association of City and County Health Officials and American Lung

Association affiliates, as well as a national network of tobacco

control experts, with materials to market the PSAs to media outlets

in their states and communities.

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Wendy Kammer, 202-564-9152

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Title: Reducing Exposure to ETS through Child Care Outreach

Description: EPA is implementing training developed by the Pennsylvania

Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP-PA) in at

least five state systems this year. The program trains childcare center

operators on the risks to children from exposure to ETS at home.

The AAP-PA has provided professional credits to 160 providers who

passed an exam and implemented this program, resulting in an estimated 1,920 families who have reduced their children’s risk from

ETS.

Partners: American Academy of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania Chapter; National

Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Alison Freeman, 202-564-9455

Title: Community-Based Pediatrician Outreach

Description: The American Academy of Pediatrics is collaborating with EPA to

promote a secondhand smoke speaker’s kit for pediatricians to use in

community-based reduction efforts. The kit includes 35mm slides,

speaker’s notes, and other public information materials designed to

communicate the health risks associated with children’s involuntary

exposure to secondhand smoke. More than 1,300 pediatricians have

obtained the secondhand smoke speaker’s kit since it was developed

3 years ago. To meet the high number of requests for the kit, AAP

plans to post the kit on their Web site, http://www.aap.org, in the

near future.

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Kim Smith, 202-564-9443

Title: Hispanic Health Project

Description: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and EPA are working on

a two-part Hispanic Health Project. The first part is the “SmokeFree” homes campaign, which provides ETS training for members

of community-based organizations who then provide training and

counseling on ETS and secure “smoke-free” homes pledges from

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other community members. The second part of the Hispanic Health

project provides training to lay health educators in low-income and

minority communities on asthma, ETS, and other health-related

topics.

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Laura Kolb, 202-564-9438

Title: Outreach Campaign on Secondhand Smoke and Children

Description: Surveys show that 35 percent of children under age 6 in EPA Region

4 live in a home that allows smoking indoors. To reduce these

percentages, EPA is conducting outreach on secondhand smoke and

children in two states. In Kentucky, Region 4 funded the American

Lung Association of Kentucky’s “Smoke Outside . . . Please”

campaign, which features a poster and other materials that have been

distributed in physicians’ offices, buses, and other venues. Region 4

also funded efforts by the Tennessee Clearinghouse of the Tennessee

Alcohol and Drug Association to develop public service announcements urging people to smoke outside.

Contact: Region 4, Henry Slack, 404-562-9143

Title: Grant to Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Ohio

Description: EPA awarded a grant to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health on

behalf of the Greater Cleveland Asthma Coalition. The purpose of

the grant is to reduce exposures to ETS among Cleveland’s children,

especially in minority populations.

Contacts: Region 5, Helen Tsiapas, 312-886-7901, or Sheila Batka, 312-886-

6053

Title: Indoor Air Environment Program for Children

Description: Region 7 provided information to reduce smoking in homes where

children 6 years old or younger reside. Using an IAQ grant, Region

7 worked with the American Lung Association of Western Missouri

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to develop their ETS program for pregnant women. The issue of

smoking in homes with children was discussed during a Regional

IAQ meeting. The Region met with the Iowa Department of

Education in an effort to get EPA’s “Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Day Care Center Program” included in the Iowa childcare certification requirements. Copies of the ETS speaker’s kit were sent to

American Lung Association chapters in Kansas and Missouri and to

the state indoor air programs.

Contact: Region 7, Robert Dye, 913-551-7605

Title: ETS Outreach Project

Description: In cooperation with the American Lung Association, Region 8 is

providing outreach materials to health care professionals and to the

general public on the health risks associated with childhood exposure to secondhand smoke.

Contact: Region 8, Kathleen Craig, 303-312-6031

Title: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Outreach

Description: Region 10 and the American Lung Association of Washington

(ALAW) conducted ETS outreach efforts in Washington hospitals

and clinics. The outreach consisted of interviewing and counseling

parents of children discharged from hospitals and treated in clinics

for asthma exacerbations. Parents who smoked were counseled

regarding ETS as an asthma trigger and the importance of not smoking around their children. In addition, ALAW developed a manual

that could be used by nurses and other clinic or hospital staff to

provide this counseling. Distribution of these manuals, along with

training in their use, has taken place in 10 hospitals and clinics

throughout the state. Region 10 also worked with the Bellingham

Opportunity Council to provide ETS and asthma outreach and

education to childcare providers and parents, targeting low-income

and minority communities in northwest Washington.

Contact: Region 10, Mike Letourneau, 206-553-1687

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Indoor Air General Outreach and Interventions

Title: Asthma Media Campaign

Description: EPA is working to develop and promote a mass media campaign

designed to raise awareness that controlling indoor environmental

triggers is an integral part of managing asthma. The multi-level

campaign targets the general public, the health community, caregivers of children with asthma, and people with asthma.

Partners: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of

Health

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Kristy Miller, 202-564-9441

Title: Asthma Case Studies

Description: The National Association of County and City Health Officials, in

cooperation with EPA, is developing multi-disciplinary asthma case

studies for local health departments and other health professionals.

The case studies will concentrate on local health department asthma

control and prevention programs, specifically highlighting programs

that target children under 6 and low-income urban communities. The

case studies will document and describe successful community asthma

interventions that can be used as templates for other communities to

replicate, with the aim of increasing awareness and implementation

of local programs for the control and prevention of asthma.

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Laura Kolb, 202-564-9438

Title: Increasing Indoor Air Action in American Asian and Pacific

Islander (AAPI) Communities

Description: EPA is working cooperatively with the Association of Asian Pacific

Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) to reduce indoor airrelated health risks in AAPI communities. AAPCHO is developing a

culturally and linguistically appropriate asthma health education

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pamphlet for three Asian languages—Chinese, Korean, and

Vietnamese—based on EPA’s new brochure Clear Your Home of

Asthma Triggers: Your Children Will Breathe Easier. AAPCHO is

also providing technical assistance and support to three AAPI

community-based mini-grant recipients during implementation of

their indoor air activities, and is producing a four-language (English,

Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean) wall calendar featuring catchy and

positive messages about clean air in the home.

Partners: Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Paulina Chen, 202-564-9031

Title: Asthma and Allergy Essentials for Childcare Providers

Description: EPA is working cooperatively with the Asthma and Allergy

Foundation of America to make childcare settings safer for, and

more accessible to, children with asthma by (1) implementing the

best-practice standards set forth in the newly released Pediatric

Asthma Guidelines to ensure safe, healthy childcare for every child,

and (2) improving policies and procedures for access to quality

childcare for children with asthma and allergies as an essential part

of each child’s disease management program. This project involves

training licensed providers of childcare in appropriate asthma and

allergy management and environmental control.

Partners: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Brenda Doroski, 202-564-9764

Title Asthma Collaborative Program

Description: The Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) of the Department of

Health and Human Services provides financial support to more than

1,000 Community Health Centers and School-Based Health Centers

that provide medical services to low-income and minority underserved populations, many of whom do not have health insurance.

EPA is working with BPHC to incorporate appropriate indoor

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environmental trigger information into a new Breakthrough Series

Asthma Collaborative program designed to help the centers improve

health services for children and adults with asthma.

Partners: More than a dozen public and private sector partners, including

federal agencies, private foundations, and pharmaceutical

companies.

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Sheila Brown, 202-564-9439

Title: Early Intervention and Treatment of Asthma

Description: EPA is working cooperatively with the American Respiratory Care

Foundation to educate pediatric asthma patients in the emergency

room setting about environmental triggers for asthma and appropriate intervention techniques. The goal of the project is to reduce

children’s exposure to indoor asthma triggers and reduce asthma

episodes and future emergency room visits. The project is being

done in collaboration with Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital,

University Hospital of Cleveland, and Youngstown State University.

Partners: American Respiratory Care Foundation of the American Association

for Respiratory Care

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Tracey Mitchell, 202-564-9446

Title: National Civil League Coalition Building Training

Description: As part of a continuing effort to educate communities in southeastern Connecticut about the potential dangers of indoor air pollution,

the Southeastern Connecticut Indoor Air Quality Coalition held a

1-day forum on coalition building. The forum built upon concerns

about children’s exposure to ETS; efforts to reduce the number of

children who become ill due to asthma; and outreach to hospitals,

clinics, schools, and communities on issues of IAQ and health

concerns.

Partners: Southeastern Connecticut Indoor Air Quality Coalition

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Contact: Region 1, Mary Beth Smuts, 617-918-1528

Title: ZAP Asthma Community Conference

Description: This 1-day conference in Boston featured a speaker from Atlanta,

Georgia, who provided information on the ZAP Asthma Community

Project. The conference focused on strategies for changing the

emphasis on asthma from treatment to prevention.

Partners: Urban Asthma Coalition, Tufts University School of Medicine

Contact: Region 1, Mary Beth Smuts, 617-918-1528

Title: Urban Asthma Community Conference and Coalitions

Description: EPA co-sponsored this conference on urban asthma, held at a local

community college in Boston, so as to be readily accessible to the

inner city community. A panel of experts addressed diagnosis and

management of asthma, as well as asthma prevention. The emphasis

was on education and how citizens can maneuver through the health

care system to receive thorough treatment. Numerous Environmental

Asthma Community Coalitions have been working throughout New

England on home and school education evaluations to control environmental asthma triggers. In addition, the Asthma and Allergy

Foundation of New England developed a series for childcare

providers on controlling environmental asthma triggers.

Partners: Alternatives for the Environment, Boston Medical Center, Citizens

Energy Corporation, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative,

Environmental Diversity Forum, Roxbury Community College,

Urban Asthma Coalition, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of New

England

Contact: Region 1, Mary Beth Smuts, 617-918-1528

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Title: Puerto Rico Department of Health—Asthma Coordinator

Description: In 1996, EPA sponsored an asthma workshop in Cataño, Puerto

Rico, to discuss the high rate of asthma prevalence in Puerto Rican

children and to determine the most productive course of action for

combating asthma. The workshop identified a number of urgent

needs, including the need for an asthma study examining the importance of indoor allergens in Puerto Rico (see project description

below). Because the Puerto Rico Department of Health had no staff

available to dedicate to asthma issues, EPA granted funds for 1 year

to support an asthma coordinator, whose task is to implement the

recommendations of the Cataño Workshop and to help conduct an

asthma study.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Integrated Pest Management in Urban Low-Income Housing

Projects

Description: Hunter College’s Center for Environmental and Occupational

Health, in conjunction with the New York City Department of

Health, is working with the New York City Housing Authority to

implement integrated pest-management (IPM) strategies in lowincome housing projects in East Harlem. The goal of the effort is to

achieve sustainable reductions of cockroaches and rodents, both of

which produce allergens that can cause or aggravate asthma. The

team assembled to do the work is from the immediate community.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Educational Photoliterature as a Means to Reduce Cockroach and

Rodent Infestations Without Pesticides in a Low-Income Setting

Description: EPA Region 2 is developing a community-based educational photoliterature (photos with simple text) that describes integrated pest

management (IPM) techniques for reducing cockroach and rodent

infestations in inner city housing. Cockroaches and rodents produce

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allergens that can cause or aggravate asthma in sensitive populations,

especially children. The local community has been involved from

the outset in the development of the photoliterature, learning about

pest infestations and their association with asthma, developing a

storyline to educate community members about IPM techniques, and

helping to produce the photoliterature.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Asthma Education in East Harlem

Description: The Boriken Neighborhood Health Center will conduct bilingual

asthma education in East Harlem, which has been documented to

have the highest asthma mortality rate in the nation. Boriken will

work in partnership with the new EPA/DHHS Children’s Health

Center, recently established at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, to

deliver education that focuses on environmental triggers and proper

medical management of asthma.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Fighting Asthma in HUD Housing

Description: EPA has awarded a grant to the New York City Housing Authority

(NYCHA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and

Urban Development (HUD) housing program, to conduct an asthma

educational program for residents of the city’s public housing. The

educational program will use NYCHA’s 115 community centers as

the primary venue for reaching this population. A series of posters

will be developed and displayed, communicating critical messages

about the environmental control of asthma. In addition, NYCHA

will work with Hunter College’s Center for Environmental and

Occupational Health to offer educational workshops about asthma

for public housing residents.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

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Title: Clinical Directors Network Asthma Intervention Project

Description: The Clinical Directors Network (CDN) is a nonprofit association of

primary care providers who practice in low-income areas across the

country. The goal of this project is to develop and refine two interventions which, at moderate cost, can improve asthma health

outcomes. The two interventions, one clinical and one environmental, will be compared against “high-quality usual care.” The resulting

structure, or module, could then be used in CDN-associated lowincome clinics in other regions, with refinements for local variations

in the relevant environmental triggers.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Camden-Rutgers University Asthma Project

Description: This project will focus on building the capacity of residents and

community groups in Camden and Philadelphia to confront two

health problems that are strongly associated with treatable environmental factors: lead poisoning and asthma. Both Camden and

Philadelphia have populations of predominantly impoverished,

minority families in which many children are at risk from these

health problems. This project will identify children at risk through

cooperative agreements with health professionals (e.g., school nurses

and maternity care givers). Environmental management teams,

composed of community residents who have been specifically

trained for this purpose, will visit the families of identified children

and provide education and intervention for lead and asthma.

Followup visits will assess the effectiveness of training and allow

evaluation of the program. The project has a 1-year goal of impacting 400 families in Philadelphia and 600 families in Camden.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

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Title: English/Spanish Video on Reducing Indoor Asthma Triggers in

Inner City Dwellings

Description: Due to a number of factors, including dilapidated housing stock,

low-income urban populations often experience disproportionate

exposures to various indoor environmental asthma triggers (e.g.,

cockroach allergens, molds). The same populations can also experience disproportionate exposures to pesticides used to target the

roaches. Research has shown that these inequities are correlated to

some extent with the extremely elevated rates of asthma found in

these populations. Regions 2 and 7 are collaborating on developing

an instructional video to give low-income urban populations techniques to reduce their exposure to these substances. The video will

be translated into Spanish.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Indoor Asthma and Allergen Control

Description: EPA Region 4 and the University of Tulsa are presenting several

2-day training courses to educate public health officials on indoor

asthma and allergen control measures.

Contact: Region 4, Henry Slack, 404-562-9143

Title: Seminar Series on Asthma

Description: The Region 5 Children’s Health team and the Air Division’s Asthma

Workgroup conducted four seminars on asthma, featuring expert

speakers from the Chicago area. The seminars covered a range of

topics, including the effect of environmental exposures on asthma

hospitalizations, triggers and medications for asthma, use of the

Open Airways curriculum in schools, and the Ozone Action Day

Program.

Contacts: Region 5, Afif Marouf, 312-353-5550, Fayette Bright, 312-886-

6069, or Jeanette Marrero, 312-886-6543

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Title: Community Partnership to Improve the Lives of Asthmatic Children

in Chicago

Description: EPA and the DHHS are working together on this community-based

project to decrease asthma mortality and morbidity in Chicago. The

DHHS will develop a model to reduce exposures in the indoor environment by educating people about asthma triggers and helping

them change their behavior. The project is expected to lower children’s exposures to asthma triggers, thereby reducing asthma

episodes.

Contacts: Region 5, Fayette Bright, 312-886-6069, or Randy Cano, 312-886-

6036

Title: Managing Asthma in the Childcare Setting

Description: With EPA funding, the American Lung Association (ALA) of

Illinois conducts train-the-trainer sessions for childcare providers in

the East St. Louis metropolitan area. Using the Children’s Television

Workshop’s “A is for Asthma” video, the ALA educates the

providers about the environmental factors that trigger asthma attacks

in young children. The preschoolers then learn from their childcare

providers how to prevent or manage their asthma attacks.

Partners: American Lung Association of Illinois

Contact: Region 5, Suzanne Saric, 312-353-3209

Title: Childhood Asthma and Allergies Conference

Description: Region 6 hosted a 3-day Childhood Asthma Conference in May

2000 in Dallas, Texas, to address the prevention and treatment of

childhood asthma. The target audience for the conference includes

practicing health care professionals and organizations involved in

the prevention of asthma triggers. The unique aspect of this conference is that it brings together health care professionals and indoor

environmental engineering control professionals for a 2-day

exchange of ideas and information about the best available control

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and treatment technology for the prevention, control, or management

of asthma episodes in children.

Partners: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centers (Dallas and San

Antonio), Harris Methodist Health Plan, Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

(NIEHS), U.S. Public Health Service, University of Tulsa,

University of Washington

Contact: Region 6, Evelyn Daniels, 214-665-7543

Title: Environmental House Calls

Description: The South Texas Environmental Education and Research (STEER)

initiative of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San

Antonio offers physicians-in-training and other students in the health

professions a unique 1-month border environmental health elective.

STEER developed a pilot program of structured environmental

house calls that students conduct, under the guidance of training

professionals, by visiting homes of children with asthma in Laredo,

Texas. Laredo, a U.S.-Mexico border community, has one of the

highest rates of poverty and unemployment among U.S. cities. The

goals of the project are to (1) give a poor, minority population an

opportunity to improve environmental conditions that adversely

affect the health of their children, (2) train physicians and nurses in

environmental medicine, and (3) address the rising prevalence of

asthma.

Partners: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Contact: Region 6, Evelyn Daniels, 214-665-7543

Title: Colorado Asthma Summit

Description: EPA has provided funding to hold a statewide Asthma Summit in

Colorado. This summit will bring together the public and private

sectors to discuss and evaluate the high rate of asthma in Colorado

and identify key areas that need attention.

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Partners: The American Lung Association of Colorado

Contact: Region 8, Whitney Trulove-Cranor, 303-312-6099

Title: Girl Scouts Asthma Awareness Badge

Description: Region 8 is working with the Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry and the Mile-Hi Girl Scout Council to develop a

badge program on asthma. The program will allow Girl Scouts to

earn a badge for community health education activities related to

asthma.

Partners: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Mile-Hi Girl

Scout Council

Contact: Region 8, Alicia Aalto, 303-312-6967

Title: Neighbor to Neighbor Indoor Air Quality: Environmental Justice

Education Program

Description: Region 10 is collaborating with the Community Coalition for

Environmental Justice (CCEJ) of Seattle, Washington, on this

program, which will implement the tool recently developed by

CCEJ entitled Creating Indoor Air Quality Programs in Low-Income

Communities and Communities of People of Color: An Organizer’s

Handbook. Using the handbook to implement a community-based

education model, CCEJ will conduct workshops to train community

members about indoor air contaminants and the health effects of

exposures to indoor air pollution as well as other topics.

Contact: Region 10, Brook Madrone, 206-553-2589

Title: Master Home Environmentalist Program

Description: Region 10 is working with the American Lung Association of

Washington (ALAW) in Seattle, Washington, to provide a 40-hour

training course to community volunteers on key issues of indoor air

pollution, and in community outreach skills and cultural diversity.

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The training includes lectures on indoor air pollutants and their

health effects, including a section on asthma and asthma triggers.

The volunteers use a comprehensive training manual that focuses on

conducting home environmental assessments using the Home

Environmental Assessment List (HEAL), a comprehensive survey of

indoor air conditions. Volunteers are working with residents to

devise action plans that address the major concerns identified in the

HEAL. ALAW is also working to address disproportionate health

impacts of indoor pollutants on adults and children in low-income

and minority communities. The training and home assessments also

address the issue of lead poisoning in children.

Contact: Region 10, Barbara Ross, 206-553-1985, Brooke Madrone, 206-553-

2589, or Dan Robison, 509-575-5845

Title: Community Outreach on Indoor Air and Asthma

Description: Region 10 works with several coalitions to address asthma and

indoor air quality issues. One of these is the King County Asthma

Forum, a coalition of public health agencies, local government, and

nonprofit and community-based organizations including grassroots

environmental justice organizations. This coalition addresses the

increasing rates and morbidity of asthma in the Seattle-King County

area. Region 10 also works with the Indoor Air Coalition (Puget

Sound). This group’s current activities include the Little Lungs

Breathing Project, a project of the Seattle Chapter of the American

Lung Association. The project focuses on identifying asthma triggers

and other sources of indoor air pollution that can result in illness in

children enrolled in childcare centers.

Contact: Region 10, Brooke Madrone, 206-553-2589

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Research on Indoor Air Quality and Asthma and Other Respiratory

Illness among Children

Title: Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures

Description: The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Institute of Medicine

conducted a review of available literature to determine the specific

effects of indoor pollutants on asthma illnesses and deaths. The

report, released in January 2000, includes both a general evaluation

of asthma and indoor air quality and an analysis of the effects of

individual indoor air pollutants on asthma, with special consideration for children. The report recommends the best methods to reduce

exposures to indoor air pollutants that can cause or trigger asthma

episodes, and also makes recommendations for additional scientific

research in these areas. EPA will use the information to improve

public outreach, including teaching children, parents, and school

administrators about the benefits of reducing exposures to asthma

triggers in homes and schools. The report is available online at

http://www.nap.edu/books/0309064961/html.

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Pauline Johnston, 202-564-9425

Title: Direct and Indirect Costs of Asthma and the Potential Benefit of

Education and Intervention

Description: EPA is conducting a study of the national costs of asthma and the

factors that prompt some hospitals and health plans to sponsor asthma education programs. The study estimates the national costs of

asthma and the distribution of these costs, and estimates the savings

to the nation from meeting the proposed Healthy People 2010 asthma objectives. The study also reviews the state of knowledge about

asthma triggers and their control, reviews several hospital- and

health plan-sponsored asthma education programs, and assesses the

cost-effectiveness of some of these programs.

Contacts: Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, Nicole Owens, 202-

260-9514, or Lanelle Wiggins, 202-260-2692

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Title: Increased Vulnerability of Neonates to Naphthalene and Its

Derivatives

Description: Epidemiologic studies implicate maternal cigarette smoking as a

cause of a number of childhood respiratory diseases, though the

impact of other environmental contaminants on lung disease in

infants is not known. Recent studies with laboratory animals have

demonstrated that newborns are much more susceptible to lung

injury from certain environmental toxicants than are adults. This

project, which is a series of studies, focuses on the fundamental

differences between the developing cells in a newborn’s lung and the

fully developed cells in an adult’s lung. These studies focus on the

effects that a specific group of chemicals—naphthalene and its

derivatives—have on the lungs of adult and newborn rats, in an

attempt to understand why adults and newborns show different

susceptibilities to the chemicals.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

Title: Meeting of Hispanic Biomedical Association

Description: The Collaborative Study Group on Genetic-Environmental

Interactions in Asthma held a 1999 meeting in New York City to

define the genetic and environmental factors that need to be considered in studies involving the development of asthma in Puerto

Ricans. The participants assessed available approaches for the study

of genetic-environment interactions in asthma, and identified the best

sample size and type, and the best methodology, for studying the

genetic and environmental factors involved in the development of

asthma in Puerto Ricans. The meeting contributed to better understanding the type and nature of environmental factors triggering

asthma in Puerto Ricans and its relationship to their genetic makeup.

A report on this subject will be published.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

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Title: Asthma Intervention Study in Hunts Point

Description: Researchers from the Jacobi Medical Center, in cooperation with the

New York City Department of Health’s (DOH’s) Asthma Initiative,

will assess the effectiveness of asthma interventions in 30 homes.

The DOH will perform intensive asthma education in these homes

(which all contain at least one asthmatic child), including education

about asthma, medications, environmental triggers, and remediation

of environmental triggers. The researchers from the Jacobi Medical

Center will perform evaluations in all 30 homes, analyzing the dust

samples for allergen levels at the beginning of the project, the

midpoint, and the end. The researchers will also collect some limited

asthma morbidity data at each visit.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Montefiore Medical Center Asthma Intervention Project

Description: Montefiore Medical Center is conducting an asthma intervention

study using its Safe House, a low-allergen controlled setting. There

are three groups of participants, all severe asthmatics. The first

group is being moved temporarily into the Safe House, while their

homes are mitigated and cleaned to reduce allergens related to asthma. This group also will receive family counseling. The second

group remains in their own homes but receives the same professional cleaning services. The third group receives the current standard of

care—drug treatment. Symptoms and allergen levels in dust will be

analyzed at specific points in time throughout the intervention.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

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Title: Allergen Levels in Homes of Native Americans

Description: Preliminary data for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, a Native American

nation located in New York state, indicate that asthma prevalence

has risen in this population over the past decade, as in the nation at

large. EPA Region 2 is providing funding for a study involving a

small cohort of households, half with and half without asthmatics.

Questionnaires will be completed by the families. Dust will be

collected from these households and analyzed for the standard dust

mite allergens and a general mold count. These data will allow

researchers to compare tribal members’ environmental exposures

with those for groups whose environmental asthma has been more

thoroughly studied.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Indoor Allergens Study in Puerto Rico

Description: EPA Region 2 has funded an environmental allergen study in Puerto

Rico, in cooperation with the University of Ponce Medical School.

Measurements of the standard environmental allergens (dust mites,

cockroaches, cats, etc.) will be made in the homes of asthmatic children, along with measurements of heavy metals and other substances

of interest. The measurements will be complemented by an IAQ

survey in the homes, and allergenic skin testing for the asthmatic

children. This project will provide information on the levels of

known allergens and irritants in this tropical environment, and will

examine associations with the asthmatic children’s allergic profiles.

Asthma rates in children in Puerto Rico have been shown to be

extremely high, and this project will provide further information on

the environmental triggers critical to asthma in Puerto Rico.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

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Title: School Intervention Project—Headquarters/Springfield School

Indoor Air Risk Factors Study

Description: This study collected baseline measurements on pollutants and other

indoor environmental factors in schools to assess the general state of

schools’ IAQ. The study monitored the levels of particulate matter,

volatile organics, and biologicals, as well as ventilation conditions

and comfort parameters. Monitoring continued for 1 week, both

inside and outside the schools.

Contact: Region 5, Sheila Batka, 312-886-6053

Title: Asthma Risk Factor Study of Chicago Public School, Before and

After Implementation of an Integrated Pest Management Program

Description: This study is focusing on the indoor environmental risk factors associated with asthma in Chicago-area school children. The study,

which is being conducted at a Chicago public school, tested indoor

environmental factors, such as general comfort, bioaerosols, particulates (PM2.5 and PM10), and dust allergens. A visual inspection of

the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system also was

conducted. This year, an IPM program will be implemented at the

school.

Contact: Region 5, Sheila Batka, 312-886-6053

Title: Indoor Biological Risk Factors for Asthma in School Age Children

Description: The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) Division of

Epidemiology will perform a study of homes and schools of asthmatic children in order to determine methods or approaches for

reducing risk from exposure to biological agents. Asthmatic children

will be identified from kindergarten through the sixth grade in

selected Arkansas communities.

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Partners: Arkansas public school systems; Parent-Teacher Associations;

Statewide Educational Cooperatives; American Lung Association,

Arkansas Chapter; Arkansas Department of Education

Contact: Region 6, Mike Miller, 214-665-7550

Title: Indoor Environmental Intervention Study in Grade Schools and

Childcare Centers to Reduce Childhood Asthma Symptoms

Description: Region 8 and the University of Colorado at Boulder will conduct an

intervention study to examine ways to reduce exposure to certain

indoor environmental asthma triggers in schools and childcare

centers in the Denver area.

Partners: University of Colorado Department of Mechanical Engineering, EPA

Radiation and Indoor Environments National Laboratory

Contact: Region 8, Megan Williams, 303-312-6431

Title: Seattle Healthy Homes Project

Description: This 4-year study, funded by the National Institutes of

Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), is designed to improve

indoor environmental quality and reduce asthma morbidity. EPA and

the project’s Science Advisory Committee helped identify important

intervention focus areas around control of asthma triggers, asthma

self-management, and development of measurement tools.

Contact: Region 10, Brooke Mardone, 206-553-2589

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Outdoor Air Quality

Title: Let Kids Lead

Description: This pilot program enables youth to become involved in transportation choices that improve air quality and quality of life in their

communities. The program makes resources available to communities across the country who want to encourage youth to participate in

transportation problem-solving. The program is administered though

a partnership with the Academy for Educational Development, a

national nonprofit organization. Its Web site is www.letkidslead.org.

Partners: Academy for Educational Development, American Lung

Association of Gulfcoast Florida, Mid-America Regional Council,

Alternatives of Community and the Environment

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Connie Ruth, 734-214-4815

Title: Community-Based Environmental Monitoring with the Toppenish

School District and the Yakama Nation

Description: Region 10 is working with the Toppenish, Washington, School

District and the Yakama Nation on an air quality education project

with area schools. EPA is providing indoor and ambient air monitoring equipment along with training and short-term technical support.

The school district is developing an environmental education

curriculum focused on air quality. As part of the curriculum, both

students and teachers will engage in air quality monitoring in and

around their school. EPA will provide technical support in the short

term and the Yakama Nation’s air program will support the effort in

the long term.

Contact: Region 10, Dan Robison, 509-575-5845

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Research on Outdoor Air Quality and Asthma and Other Respiratory

Illness Among Children

Title: Childhood Susceptibility to Air Pollutants

Description: A collaborative study is under way to determine whether children

are more susceptible than adults to nasal metaplasia (abnormal cell

changes) and whether biochemical tests can detect effects of exposure to high ambient ozone and PM10 pollutants in Mexico City. A

separate study deals with a comparison of the dose of ozone delivered to the lungs of infant versus adult rats.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Linda Birnbaum, 919-541-

2655

Title: Oro-Nasal Ventilation Pattern in Children and Associated Fine

Particulate Matter Deposition

Description: The objective of this project is to determine how a child’s breathing

rate (“ventilation rate”) changes at various levels of activity, and at

what point children switch their mode of breathing from nose to

mouth-and-nose (the “oro-nasal switching point”). These parameters

are key determinants of both inhaled particle deposition and gas

uptake in the respiratory tract. These parameters have been characterized for a limited number of adult subjects. This study will

produce the first data on these important ventilation parameters in

children.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Annie Jarabek, 919-541-4847

Title: Exacerbation of Asthma among Inner City Children

Description: EPA and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

support a comprehensive indoor and outdoor monitoring program of

particulate matter and co-pollutants in conjunction with the Inner

City Asthma Study (ICAS). The ICAS study is examining

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respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function levels among 1,022

inner city children with moderate to severe asthma, residing in seven

U.S. communities.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hillel Koren, 919-966-6200

Title: Acute Respiratory Health and Ambient Air Quality in the Paso del

Norte Airshed

Description: The objective of this epidemiologic study, developed by a group of

public health professionals in Chihuahua, Mexico, is to determine if

there is an association between air quality and pediatric respiratory

health. The study area is the Paso del Norte airshed, an area of

approximately 300 square miles in the Rio Grande River valley,

incorporating parts of Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico. Researchers

are looking for associations between daily levels of air contaminants, pollens, and meteorologic variables and daily counts of

hospital emergency room visits for asthma and asthma-related

illnesses by children aged 1 to 17 who live in the study area. The

study is looking at data collected in 1994 and 1995.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, David Otto, 919-966-6226

Title: Mechanisms of Age-Dependent Ozone-Induced Airway Dysfunction

Description: Acute exposure to ozone causes airway hyper-responsiveness

(AHR), a defining feature of asthma. Though ozone may be a particularly important respiratory hazard for children, the mechanism for

ozone-induced AHR has not been established. The purpose of this

project is to examine age-related changes in ozone-induced AHR in

mice and to determine the mechanistic basis for observed changes.

Contacts: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

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Title: Deposition of Air Pollutants in the Developing Human Lung

Description: Using a validated mathematical model for computing air deposition,

researchers are studying total deposition within the whole lung, its

relative compartmental distributions, and its localized patterns. This

model also is being applied to predict the deposition of inhaled particles in the developing human lung.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Linda Birnbaum, 919-541-

2655

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References

1. The President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks

to Children. 1999. Asthma and the Environment: A Strategy to Protect

Children. Available at http://www.epa.gov/children/asthma.

2. Halfon, N., and P.W. Newacheck. 1993. Childhood Asthma and Poverty:

Differential Impacts and Utilization of Health Services. Pediatrics. Volume 91,

Pages 56-61.

3. CDC. 1996. Asthma Mortality and Hospitalization among Children and Young

Adults, 1980-1993. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention. Volume 45, Number 17, Pages 350-353.

May 3.

4. ALA. 1997. Asthma in Diverse Communities. American Lung Association,

Washington, DC.

5. Bates, D.V. 1995. The Effects of Air Pollution on Children. Environmental

Health Perspectives. Volume 103 (Supplement B), Pages 49-53.

6. National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

October 1998. Morbidity and Mortality: 1998 Chartbook on Cardiovascular,

Lung and Blood Diseases.

7. ALA. 1997. When You Can’t Breathe, Nothing Else Matters. American Lung

Association, Washington, DC.

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According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), cancer among children is a

substantial public concern:

Each year in the United States, approximately 12,400 children and

adolescents younger than 20 years of age are diagnosed with cancer.

Approximately 2,300 children and adolescents die of cancer each year,

which makes cancer the most common cause of disease-related mortality

for children 1-19 years of age. (For this same age group, cancer ranked

fourth as a cause of death behind unintentional injuries, homicides, and

suicides).(1)

The NIH also reports that the overall cancer incidence rate increased from the mid1970’s, but rates in the last decade have been fairly stable. The incidence of

leukemia among children younger than 15 years of age has shown a moderate

increase (0.9% per year) in the past 20 years. Central nervous system cancer rates

have increased from 1975 to 1995 (1.5% per year), though this trend has been the

subject of considerable debate concerning the roles of environmental exposure

and/or improvements in diagnostic technology.(1)

Certain toxic substances and radiation in the environment have the potential to initiate or accelerate the cell changes that lead to cancer. Examples of environmental

factors that may be associated with cancer are environmental tobacco smoke, radon,

asbestos, ultraviolet light, certain hazardous wastes, and some pesticides.(2,3,4)

EPA has an active program to address environmental threats that may contribute to

childhood and adult cancer. EPA works with state and local governments, schools,

and nonprofit organizations to reduce elevated radon levels in schools and homes.

Through these partnerships, EPA has promoted radon awareness, voluntary testing

programs, radon-resistant building practices, and methods to lower radon levels.

The Agency provides education and technical assistance to school districts to

inspect school buildings for materials containing asbestos and to take followup

actions. EPA also engages in outreach programs to educate students, teachers, and

the general public about the potential damage ultraviolet radiation may cause to

children’s skin. A new EPA program, the SunWise School Program, offers students

innovative learning opportunities, including monitoring daily UV levels (both forecast and actual), participating in cross-curricular classroom activities, and enhancing

school sun-safety policies and practices.

Childhood Cancer
EPA has recently developed a list of chemicals and environmental hazards that pose

the greatest risk to children’s health at or near Superfund sites. The Agency is using

this list to protect the health of children who live near hazardous waste sites. EPA

also is conducting research to determine how much exposure children receive to

toxic substances in the environment, and is developing methods and techniques to

assess the effects of exposure to the body.

EPA Projects Related to Cancer

Radon

Title: Radon Mitigation for School Maintenance Personnel

Description: EPA Region 4, working with the Kentucky and Tennessee Radon

Programs and the Southern Regional Radon Training Center, sponsored two courses designed to train school maintenance personnel

on how to mitigate radon problems in their own schools. Radon

mitigation techniques were applied at the host schools as part of the

course. The course at the Western Kentucky University campus

included mitigation of a building on the National Register of

Historic Places. Representatives from numerous surrounding school

districts participated.

Contact: Region 4, Patsy Brooks, 404-562-9145

Title: Radon Outreach

Description: Region 7 conducted a variety of radon outreach activities related to

real estate transactions. It promoted real estate disclosure laws and

radon testing, and handled more than 250 telephone calls about

radon. The Region worked with several states to review a draft

Radon and Real Estate fact sheet. Nebraska used radon grant funds

from EPA to host six radon and real estate courses involving 116

brokers, real estate agents, and appraisers. The region also promoted

radon-resistant new construction (RRNC). RRNC information was

displayed in the Regional Office during national Radon Action

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Week. Using EPA grants, Nebraska hosted a RRNC workshop.

Kansas assisted technical schools and high school vocational

programs in building radon-resistant homes. Region 7 also developed an IAQ and Radon Training Calendar that includes training

courses offered by states, and conducted a number of briefings.

Contact: Region 7, Steve Chambers, 913-551-7260

Title: Radon Outreach/Community Projects

Description: All of the states in Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, South and North

Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming) have active radon programs. These

programs’ objectives include (1) promoting radon-resistant building

practices for new homes; (2) testing and mitigating radon problems

in existing homes; and (3) outreach to nonprofit organizations, the

medical community, and local schools. An ongoing effort is being

made in each state to form partnerships with local governments, the

American Lung Association, and realtors. Progress in these areas has

led to healthier environments for families with children. In addition,

Region 8 has provided funding for many tribes to test and mitigate

tribal homes and schools.

Partners: The Western Regional Radon Training Center; American Lung

Association; state and local governments, including Departments of

Health and Departments of Environmental Quality

Contact: Region 8, Kathleen Craig, 303-312-6031

Asbestos

Title: Asbestos-in-Schools Rule

Description: EPA continues to monitor the requirements of the Asbestos-inSchools Rule (1982, 1987) and to enforce standards that protect

children against asbestos hazards. The rule includes requirements for

preschools and childcare centers to protect younger children. EPA

provides funds to 26 states to carry out asbestos and other inspections. States refer violations to the appropriate EPA regional office

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for enforcement. Contact EPA Headquarters: Jack Neylan, 202-564-

5033, or Karen Taimi, 202-564-5046. Examples of activities to

promote the Asbestos-in-Schools Rule follow.

Region 1: EPA staff mailed letters to all school superintendents in Region 1,

reminding them of their asbestos management responsibilities under

the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. Letters were also

mailed to state PTA contacts for use as meeting discussion items or

in their newsletters to members. Articles on current information

concerning asbestos will be prepared for distribution to school

newsletters. In cooperation with the National Conference of State

Legislatures, Region 1 developed an asbestos compendium

CD-ROM, a collection of statues, regulations, vinyl asbestos tile

(VAT) policies, and Web sites for the states and regulated community. Contact James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524.

Region 9: Region 9 developed a newsletter on asbestos issues and sent copies

to school districts. Region 9 staff participate in refresher training

courses targeted for school personnel and their consultants. Contact

Pat Maravilla, 415-744-1122.

Title: Asbestos Outreach and Technical Assistance

Description: Region 7 provided technical assistance to regulated and unregulated

communities and to tribal, state, county, city, and other federal

governmental agencies via telephone, workshops, direct response to

written inquiries, and mailings. The Asbestos team responded to

more than 850 phone inquiries in FY 1999.

Contact: Region 7, Greg Crable, 913-551-7391

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Title: SunWise School Program

Description: SunWise is a comprehensive environmental and health education

program for elementary and middle schools. SunWise Partner

Schools participate in classroom, school, and community projects

that teach them about the health risks of overexposure to the sun, as

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well as the science behind UV radiation and ozone depletion.

SunWise schools participate in a wide range of activities, such as

reporting daily UV ground and forecast data on the SunWise Web

site, participating in cross-curricular classroom activities, enhancing

school sun-safety policies and practices, and sponsoring guest speakers and partnerships. All program materials are provided to teachers

free of charge.

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Maura Cantor, 202-564-9096, or visit

the SunWise Web site at http://www.epa.gov/sunwise.

Title: Ozone Depletion Art Project

Description: The Ozone Depletion Art Project uses the Internet to motivate

students to learn about ozone depletion, UV radiation hazards, and

ways to reduce sun exposure. Using an EPA Web site

(http://www.epa.gov/ozone/art), teachers and their students learn

more about ozone depletion and UV exposure precautions. They

submit drawings on the ozone layer (how it protects us from UV

radiation), ozone depletion (how ozone-depleting substances harm

the ozone layer), how UV radiation is measured, and how we can

protect ourselves from the sun’s UV rays. EPA has received more

than 200 drawings so far. EPA also responds to approximately 50

questions and comments per month from students and teachers.

Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Christine Dibble, 202-564-9147

Title: SunWise

Description: A SunWise display was created for EPA Region 3's Public

Information Center, where numerous school groups came to learn

about the dangers of UV radiation. In addition, 20 SunWise videos

and information were sent to requesting schools for use as part of

their health curriculum. The SunWise team participated in several

health fairs and modified the EPA Region 3 Web site to include

information on the SunWise Program.

Contact: Region 3, Fran Dougherty, 215-814-2083, or Christina Schulinkamp,

215-814-2086

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Research on Childhood Cancer

Title: Assessment of Genetic Alterations in Newborns and Adults

Description: Specific chromosomal alterations are associated with specific human

tumors. This research addresses the question of whether the frequencies of certain chromosome alterations are similar in newborns and

adults or lower in children in the absence of known exposures. In

addition, the response in the laboratory of cells from children and

adults to specific exposures will be considered.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Kavlock, 919-541-

2771

Title: Fetal Metabolism of Aflatoxin B1 and Susceptibility to Childhood

Cancer

Description: The initial peak of cancer incidence occurs during the first 5 years of

life, and available evidence indicates that a primary risk factor for

childhood cancer involves prenatal exposure to cancer-causing

agents. The rapid changes that occur during fetal development may

result in critical windows of susceptibility to toxic injury. The objective of this research study is to understand the genetic and

developmental risk factors associated with a specific dietary carcinogen (Aflatoxin B1) that can be transferred to the fetus through the

placenta. The researchers also hope to identify particularly sensitive

age groups and windows of developmental susceptibility to prenatal

carcinogen exposure. Once risk factors and critical susceptibility

windows are identified, then appropriate risk avoidance or minimization strategies can be employed.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

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Title: Environmental Justice and Children’s Health Data: Investigating

Potential Relationships with Spatial Data

Description: Region 8 has initiated a project to combine current geographic information system (GIS) data on environmental justice with child health

data in an effort to investigate potential relationships between exposure to environmental hazards and patterns of disease in Colorado.

In particular, the program will evaluate several types of cancer and

blood lead levels.

Partners: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Contact: Region 8, Jan Buhrmann, 303-312-6557

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References

1. National Institutes of Health. September 1999. Cancer Incidence and Survival

among Children and Adolescents: United States SEER Program 1975-1995.

NIH Publication Number 99-4649.

2. Zahm, S.H., and S.S. Devesa. 1995. Childhood Cancer: Overview of Incidence

Trends and Environmental Carcinogens. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Volume 103 (Supplement 6), Pages 177-184.

3. Weinstein, I.B. 1988. The Origins of Human Cancer: Molecular Mechanism of

Carcinogenesis and Their Treatment. Cancer Research. Volume 48, Pages

4135-4143.

4. NRC. 1993. Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. National Research

Council. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

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Exposures to neurotoxic substances (substances that can damage the nervous

system) may have only temporary effects on adults, but may cause permanent

damage to a child’s developing nervous system, especially the brain.(1,2)

Neurotoxic substances, such as heavy metals, solvents, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), may have harmful effects on brain function, including

intelligence and behavior, and interfere with the normal workings of the entire nervous system.(3,4,5,6)

Lead is one of the most pervasive developmental toxic substances in the United

States today.(7,8) To prevent lead exposures in children, EPA and other federal

agencies enforce regulations on the use and removal of lead-based paint, promote

public education on the health risks posed by lead-based paint, and conduct research

on lead poisoning and on the impact that lead-contaminated hazardous waste sites

may have on children. To minimize children’s exposures to lead via drinking water

systems, the Safe Drinking Water Act controls lead levels at the tap, as well as the

lead content in solder, water pipes, and plumbing fixtures.

EPA has completed a report to Congress on mercury and is studying the adverse

health effects of mercury on nervous system development in children. EPA has

begun a public education program to prevent mercury poisoning.

The Agency is developing a multi-year research strategy on endocrine (hormone)

disruptors and is coordinating research throughout the federal government. The

Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program focuses on providing methods and procedures to detect and characterize endocrine activity of pesticides, commercial

chemicals, and environmental chemicals. EPA continues to conduct research on

methods to assess reproductive, embryo, and fetal toxicity. In addition, EPA routinely conducts risk assessments of reproductive and developmental effects.

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Developmental and

Neurological Toxicity
EPA Projects on Developmental and Neurological Toxicity

Lead

Title: Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning: A Federal Strategy

Targeting Lead Paint Hazards

Description: The strategy Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning was developed

by an interagency work group of the President’s Task Force on

Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children. The

vision of the strategy is to eliminate lead poisoning in children in the

United States. The goals focus on: 1) eliminating lead paint hazards

in housing where children under age 6 live; and 2) early intervention

for at-risk children.

Contact: Office of Children’s Health Protection, Joanne Rodman, 202-260-

7778

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Goals of Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning:

A Federal Strategy Targeting Lead Paint Hazards

 By 2010, eliminate lead paint hazards in housing where children under six live. This goal can be

accomplished through the following:

• Federal grants and leveraged private funding to identify and eliminate lead paint hazards in order

to produce an adequate supply of lead-safe housing for low-income families with children.

• Outreach and public education to increase awareness of lead hazards and how to address them.

• Enforcement of lead safety laws and regulations.

 By 2010, elevated blood lead levels in children will be eliminated through:

• Increased compliance with existing policies concerning blood lead screening.

• Increased coordination across federal, state, and local agencies responsible for outreach,

education, technical assistance, and data collection related to lead screening and abatement.
Title: Identification of Lead Exposure and Risk Reduction

Description: Pediatric lead exposure is a significant health concern along the

U.S.-Mexican border. Researchers are conducting lead screening

investigations at three sites: Tijuana, Mexico; the Chihuahua-New

Mexico border; and the Sonora-Arizona border. The Sonora-Arizona

study was recently completed. The study concluded that blood lead

levels of children in the tested area do not appear to be a major

public health problem. The low prevalence of elevated blood lead

levels demonstrates the success of lead-reduction programs in the

community.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

Title: Environmental Lead Risks

Description: The aim of this research is to evaluate and refine tools for assessing

risks from environmental lead. A principal focus is on exposures of

young children to lead in soil and house dust. The results also will

be applicable to assessment of risks from airborne lead, lead in

drinking water, and lead in food. Another research focus is the application of direct statistical modeling of epidemiologic data on blood

lead levels to evaluate environmental risks. EPA also provides technical support in lead risk assessment and risk characterization for the

states and other organizations. (Web address:

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/lead/index.htm).

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Paul White, 919-541-0238

Title: Public Education and Outreach Grants

Description: In FY 1998, EPA awarded grants under the new Lead Poisoning

Prevention and Lead Hazard Awareness Public Education and

Outreach Grant Program. Their purpose is to provide public education and outreach that increases awareness of lead-based paint

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hazards and promote lead poisoning prevention among those at risk,

including primarily low-income, minority communities located in

large metropolitan areas or communities with predominantly older

housing. Children living in these communities are at risk for elevated levels of lead exposure. Nine projects across the country received

funding this year totaling approximately $459,000.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Megan

Carroll, 202-260-7269

Title: The National Cinema Outreach Pilot Project

Description: In December 1998 and January 1999, EPA piloted the National

Cinema Outreach Project to provide lead hazard awareness information on theater screens. This nationwide program was piloted in 17

states, 57 cities, 510 screens, with 1530 screenings each day, or

45,900 viewings each month. The slides featured medical backgrounds with different messages (“Protect Your Children From Lead

Poisoning,” “Grow Them Up Healthy,” and “Get Your Child Tested

Today”) and the 1-800-424-LEAD number and the Lead Web site. It

is estimated that the lead hazard awareness messages were viewed

by one-half million people.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Susan Laing,

202-260-0248

Title: Environmental Justice Grant: Lead Action Collaborative, Boston,

Massachusetts

Description: The Lead Action Collaborative is a partnership of nonprofit organizations, foundations, and public agencies whose goal is to

significantly and comprehensively reduce the incidence of childhood lead poisoning in Boston’s high-risk neighborhoods. The

Collaborative provides centralized support, technical assistance, and

training to community-based organizations. The project strengthens

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communication and fosters collaboration and resource sharing

among grassroots organizations, nonprofit organizations, and public

agencies through community forums, briefings, and workshops.

Partners: Lead Action Collaborative, public and private organizations in

Greater Boston

Contact: Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

Title: Consortium of North East States and Tribes (CONEST)

Description: CONEST was developed through the efforts of the Region 1 Lead

Program in 1991. The Consortium developed the first interstate and

intertribal Memorandum of Understanding in the country outlining

state and tribal lead program standards for training accreditation and

auditing, contractor licensing, tracking, and third party examination

requirements.

Partners: Region 1 and Region 2 states, Region 1 tribes

Contact: Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524

Title: New England Lead Coordinating Committee (NELCC)

Description: NELCC is a collaboration of government agencies and nonprofit

groups throughout New England, working in collaboration with

public, private, and nonprofit health and housing organizations to

develop and strengthen a coalition for lead poisoning prevention in

New England. NELCC coordinates the “Keep It Clean” campaign,

which informs “do-it-yourself” home renovators, contractors, and

those who employ contractors about the risk of lead poisoning in

children and adults during the renovation and repainting of older

homes, and creates a link between consumers and hardware store

employees.

Partners: Consortium of North East States and Tribes, state and local departments of health and/or environment, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Contact: Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

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Title: Tribal Based Environmental Protection (TBEP) Program

Description: The Tribal Based Environmental Protection Program was developed

as part of the Consortium of North East States and Tribes

Memorandum of Understanding. Each tribal member has applied for

program authorization from EPA under sections 402 and 404 of the

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for their respective state and

tribal lead licensing and enforcement activities. The main goal of

TBEP is “protection of our most valued natural resource, our children . . .”

Contact: Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524

Title: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community

Tracking (EMPACT) Lead Safe Yard Program

Description: This federally funded EPA project focuses on Boston’s low-income

Spanish- and Haitian-speaking neighborhoods. EMPACT conducts

environmental monitoring of lead in soils, delivers time-relevant

lead in soil data and interpretation to residents, provides public

access and community tracking, and carries out low-cost landscaping and other soil remediation measures.

Partners: Bowdoin Street Health Center, Dudley Street Neighborhood

Initiative, Boston University School of Public Health, Garden

Futures, graduates of the Boston Urban Gardeners’ City Gardener

Certificate Program

Contact: Region 1, Rob Maxfield, 781-860-4640

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Title: EPA National Lead Poisoning Prevention and Lead Hazard

Awareness Public Education and Outreach Program: Crittenton

Hastings House, Boston, Massachusetts

Description: Crittenton Hastings House addresses the needs of young people who

are low-income, pregnant, parenting, or at risk for early pregnancy

and who live in areas where most severely lead-poisoned children

are found. Working in collaboration with Boston organizations,

Crittenton provides children and families with information regarding

lead hazards and lead poisoning prevention to decrease the number

of children at risk of lead poisoning, increase the number of children

who receive regular blood screening, and increase awareness of

tenant rights and landlord responsibilities regarding lead paint

removal.

Contact: Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

Title: EPA Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEP), Providence,

Rhode Island

Description: EPA has provided nearly $400,000 in Rhode Island to remove lead

from dozens of childcare facilities. Funding was made available

from an EPA federal enforcement action against the Rhode Island

Department of Transportation for the improper storage of large

amounts of hazardous waste.

Partners: Rhode Island Department of Public Health

Contact: Region 1, Amelia Katzen, 617-918-1869

Title: Keep It Clean Campaign, Video, Posters, Billboards

Description: Region 1 conducted a lead awareness campaign targeted to homeowners and stores. The goal is to educate hardware stores to provide

lead-safe tools and advice to consumers. The tools include an

8-minute video, pamphlets, and billboards.

Partners: Region 1 states, local hardware stores, Tufts University

Contacts: Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524, or Katie Mazer,

617-918-1523

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Title: Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor’s Safe Housing Lead Task Force

Description: The Providence Safe Housing Lead Task Force is charged with

establishing a comprehensive strategy for protecting Providence

children and improving Providence housing. The Task Force has

produced a master plan, A Healthier and Brighter Future for the

Children of Providence: A Strategic Framework for Healthy

Children and Well-Maintained, Lead-Safe Housing in Thriving

Neighborhoods.

Partners: Providence public and private partners

Contact: Region 1, Kristi Rea, 617-918-1595

Title: IMPACT CD-ROM Technology

Project: An Interactive Module For Lead Awareness Course Technology

(IMPACT) manual was designed to train those conducting renovation, remodeling, and painting. The manual is used in conjunction

with the interactive CD-ROM, which is a 6-hour self-study course

for vocational technical high school/college students who are future

painters, carpenters, home renovators, etc.

Contact: Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524

Title: Lead Safe Renovation Training - Interactive CD-ROM

Description: An interactive CD-ROM was developed for painters, home owners,

and renovators. Video clips of “right” and “wrong” renovation

activities are used with a 16-hour worker and an 8-hour supervisor

training.

Partners: Consortium of North East States and Tribes, Massachusetts

Department Workforce Development

Contact: Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524

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Title: First Steps: Childcare Provider/Parent Lead Awareness Manuals,

Video, and CD-ROM

Description: The First Steps Program is designed as a primary prevention

program for childcare providers to provide a lead safe training

messages to parents with young children. It also allows childcare

providers to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that can be

used to meet regulatory or professional requirements. A threevolume manual for the program includes What You Should Know

About Lead Poisoning: A Manual for Child Care Providers

(English); Lo Que Debe Saber Acerca de la Intoxicacion por Plomo

(Spanish); and Little Moccasins, a Lead Poisoning Prevention

Manual and Video for Tribal Day Care Providers and Families

(Native American version).

Partners: Tribal Based Environmental Protection Committee, Houlton Band of

Mauseet Indians, Phil Quint

Contact: Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524

Title: Urban Environmental Initiative (UEI) Cooperative Agreement:

Urban Revival, Inc., Prevent Lead Poisoning Project

Description: UEI is a Region 1 pilot program to address environmental and public

health problems in urban areas. UEI facilitates community-based

environmental protection in Boston, Massachusetts; Providence,

Rhode Island; and Hartford, Connecticut. This project focuses on

coordination of lead paint poisoning prevention and housing education outreach across multiple neighborhoods in Boston and East

Boston with linguistically and culturally appropriate information and

education.

Partners: The Tenant Action Network, comprising City Life/Viva Urbana,

East Boston Ecumenical Community Council, and the Massachusetts

Tenants Organization

Contact: Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

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Title: Time Related Environmental Numeric Health Data System

(TRENHDS) CD-ROM

Description: TRENHDS is an environmental and health tracking program on a

GIS mapping platform. TRENHDS can map, track, and overlay

environmental sample sites with health problems on a map to identify clusters. The system can be installed on laptops and is user

friendly. It is currently developed for tribes in the Northeast.

Partners: Tribal Based Environmental Protection Committee, Trevor White,

Passamaquoddy Indian Township

Contact: Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524

Title: UEI Cooperative Agreement: Lead Poisoning Prevention Awareness

Program for Childcare Providers

Description: The Hartford, Connecticut, Department of Public Health trained

Community Environmental Educators to teach lead poisoning

prevention to Hartford childcare centers located in areas of high risk

for lead poisoning. The training uses the First Steps lead awareness

manuals to provide materials for Spanish-speaking, Englishspeaking, and Native American childcare providers.

Partners: Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Cooperative

Extension; Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Houlton, Maine;

Hartford Department of Public Health

Contact: Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

Title: UEI Cooperative Agreement: Codman Square Lead Poisoning

Prevention Initiative

Description: This project developed a lead poisoning prevention program that

will serve as a model for high-risk, low-income African-American

neighborhoods in other cities. The UEI grant money made possible

the completion of planning, materials development, recruitment, and

training essential to implementing an effective community action for

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the primary prevention of childhood lead poisoning initiative in the

high-risk neighborhoods of Boston.

Partners: The Medical Foundation of Boston and its Massachusetts Prevention

Center in Codman Square, National Center for Lead Safe Housing

Contact: Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

Title: UEI Cooperative Agreement: ReVision House, Roxbury,

Massachusetts

Description: ReVision House, a residential program for homeless young mothers

and their children, designed and implemented an environmental

education curriculum that included lead paint poisoning prevention,

urban gardening, urban fish farming, and vocational training.

Participants converted the porches of their triple-decker home to a

thriving greenhouse and fish farm.

Partners: ReVision House, Garden Futures, Boston Urban Gardeners, Roxbury

Community College, New England Aquarium

Contact: Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

Title: Healthy Beginnings: Lead Safe Families

Description: Healthy Beginnings is a set of user-friendly curriculum materials

used as classroom resources for teachers of English as a second

language. Healthy Beginnings teaches basic life and language skills

to recent immigrants; interwoven into the language development

skills are steps to identify and prevent childhood lead poisoning.

Although they were developed for use in Region 1, the materials are

currently in use in 27 states.

Contact: Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

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Title: Lead Suite CD-ROM

Description: An interactive CD-ROM provides turn key software to run a lead

program. The CD contains tracking, testing, teaching, regulations,

and guidance documents.

Partners: Tribal Based Environmental Protection Committee - Houlton Band

of Maliseet Indians, Phil Quint

Contact: Region 1, James M. Bryson, 619-918-1524

Title: Camden-Rutgers University Asthma Project

Description: This project will focus on building the capacity of residents and

community groups in Camden and Philadelphia to confront two

health problems that are strongly associated with treatable environmental factors: lead poisoning and asthma. Both Camden and

Philadelphia have populations of predominantly impoverished,

minority families in which many children are at risk from these

health problems. This project will identify children at risk through

cooperative agreements with health professionals (e.g., school nurses

and maternity care givers). Environmental management teams,

composed of community residents who have been specifically

trained for this purpose, will visit the families of identified children

and provide education and intervention for lead and asthma.

Followup visits will assess the effectiveness of training and allow

evaluation of the program. The project has a 1-year goal of impacting 400 families in Philadelphia and 600 families in Camden.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Environmental Education Project

Description: This EPA-funded project is coordinated by the Childhood Lead

Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) of the City of Philadelphia

Department of Public Health. CLPPP provides free public workshops on safe methods of reducing lead hazards at various sites

throughout the city, such as home repair supply stores. Workshops

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held at paint and hardware stores teach both staff and customers how

to abate lead hazards in their own homes, in a manner that ensures

the safety of the residents. All program materials are designed to be

understood easily by the “average person.”

Partners: City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Pennsylvania

Contact: Region 3, Nan Ides, 215-814-5546

Title: Lead-Safe Babies Project

Description: This project is being funded by the Children's Health Program to

educate new mothers in high-risk areas of North Philadelphia about

the dangers of lead poisoning to their babies. Specially trained

outreach workers are visiting new mothers in their homes and showing them how to take preventative measures to protect their

newborns. This intervention has been successful in reaching what is,

traditionally, a hard-to-reach population. Of 45 new mothers identified in the target area, 44 of them (98%) have agreed to participate

in the program and have already been visited once by the outreach

specialists. This extraordinarily high level of participation is likely

due to the use of outreach workers who are from the community

who are trained and supported by the highly respected, nurse practitioner-led neighborhood health clinics. Follow-up visits will be made

to the homes to reinforce practices and encourage mothers to have

their babies tested for lead when they reach 9 months of age. The

City of Philadelphia will provide free testing and the Regional

Nursing Centers Consortium will assess and report on the results

next year.

Partners: Regional Nursing Centers Consortium and Philadelphia's

Department of Public Health

Contact: Region 3, Gail Tindal, 215-814-2069, or Dan Welker, 215-814-2744

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Title: Reducing Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water in Philadelphia’s

School District

Description: During 1999, EPA determined that there may be a potential health

risk at a few schools due to lead leaching from some of the plumbing fixtures. In the beginning of 2000, the Philadelphia School

District signed an agreement with the Health Department to

(1) immediately institute daily flushing activities; (2) test all sources

of drinking water for lead in schools; and (3) take corrective action

wherever elevated lead levels are found. EPA Region 3 is providing

ongoing technical assistance to the city and the school district. This

project is especially important because (1) Philadelphia exceeds the

national level for elevated blood lead levels in children and (2) the

Philadelphia School District is the fifth largest in the country. This

project, which will last a year or two, will test all potable water

sources in approximately 295 buildings that the Philadelphia School

District owns or operates and correct any lead plumbing problems.

Contact: Region 3, Marie Holman, 215-814-5463, or Karen Johnson, 215-

814-5445

Title: Lead Umbrella Workshop

Description: EPA funded a 1-day lead information and education workshop for

parents, representatives of local governments, policy makers, health

providers, representatives of tenants’ interests, members of religious

communities, and education and childcare providers. The workshop

addressed the issue of lead poisoning in children. Experts in lead

education conducted the workshop, reinforcing their efforts with

printed materials. As a followup to the workshop, a coalition (the

Lead Umbrella) was created to develop a comprehensive plan to

educate members of communities affected by the issue and work to

eliminate childhood lead poisoning in the community of

Birmingham.

Partners: Citizens’ Lead Education and Elimination Project, Alabama

Contact: Region 4, Janie Foy, 404-562-4300

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Title: Elevated Blood Lead Levels - Region 5 States

Description: Region 5 has finalized a report entitled County and Zip Code BloodLead Data for Children Under Six Years of Age Testing Above Ten

Micrograms Per Deciliter in Region 5 States. This study, compiled

in cooperation with all six state health departments, presents data on

the numbers of reported cases of children with elevated blood lead

levels across the region, broken out by county and zip code, and

displayed on geographic information system (GIS) maps. The

Region has also completed lead assessments in each of its five

Geographic Initiative Areas in conjunction with community-based

programs and organizations. The GIS maps and the community lead

assessments are being applied to help target program efforts toward

those areas of greatest need.

Contact: Region 5, Phil King, 312-353-9062

Title: Outreach to Migrant Farm Worker Health Promoters on Reducing

Lead Exposure Risks to Children

Description: In August 1999, EPA staff conducted lead exposure risk reduction

training in Spanish for health promoters of the Community Health

Partnership of Illinois. The health promoters are current or former

migrant farm workers who now also work as health educators

among the migrant farm worker community in the area around

Momence, Illinois.

Contact: Region 5, Edward Master, 312-353-5830

Title: Environmental WATCH Small Grants

Description: Region 5 issued small, community-based grants that promote

children’s environmental health and pollution prevention to organizations that participated in the Environmental Workshop on Actions

to Take for Children’s Health (WATCH). In the area of lead poisoning awareness and prevention, the organization—Improving Kids’

Environment in Indiana—received funding for a Lead Poisoning and

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Pollution Prevention project. As part of the project, cooperative

agreements will be developed with paint suppliers who will teach

homeowners about lead hazards. The Oak Park Health Department

in Illinois will carry out lead poisoning awareness and training of

code enforcement officers and building inspectors.

Contact: Region 5, Holly Wirick, 312-353-6704

Title: Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Training

Description: In September 1999, Region 6 awarded a grant to the Deep South

Center for Environmental Justice, located at Xavier University. This

grant will help to develop a community “train the trainer” program

for lead poisoning awareness. Fifty community leaders will be

trained on the hazards of lead-based paint, who then will organize

several community forums to train residents on how they can protect

their children from lead poisoning. Two Environmental Justice

communities in the New Orleans area will be targeted for this

program.

Partners: Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Xavier University

Contact: Region 6, Paula Flores-Gregg, 214-665-8123

Title: TSCA Section 406(b) Pre-Renovation Notification Rule

Description: EPA Region 6 has been actively working with trade associations,

hardware stores, local governments, and state government agencies

to spread the word about the Federal Pre-Renovation Notification

Rule. Region 6 has begun mailing thousands of letters directly to

renovation and remodeling contractors in rural areas throughout the

region to notify them about the requirements of the rule and where

they can obtain information on how to comply with the rule.

Contact: Region 6, Jeff Robinson, 214-665-7577

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Title: Region 7 Lead-Based Paint Activities

Description: Region 7 conducted a variety of lead outreach and technical assistance activities. It provided technical assistance to states, tribes,

regulated communities, and concerned citizens, including participating in 34 outreach meetings for landlords, not-for-profit groups,

childcare centers, and health fairs.

• It conducted quarterly meetings with the states and tribes to

provide updates on federal, state, and tribal programs, and to

discuss issues and resolutions on a regional level.

• It provided compliance assistance to trainers regarding a new

Accreditation, Training, and Certification Rule. It worked

closely with four tribes that conduct ongoing lead hazard reduction programs.

• It presented a “brown bag” outreach session to Region 7

employees on disclosure requirements for sale or lease of residential property.

• It conducted outreach to childcare centers, county health departments, WIC programs, and other regional offices.

• It participated in home shows, health fairs, Earth Day activities,

and other environmental outreach activities; conducted mass

mailings on all of the new lead regulations, and developed a

Web page to discuss lead regulations with the regulated

community and supply links to other agencies that have federal

lead program responsibilities.

• In efforts to reduce children's blood lead levels, Region 7’s

Superfund program has removed lead-contaminated yard soil

from a total of 1,600 homes and childcare facilities in

Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas. The program plans

to remove lead-contaminated soil from nearly 100 homes and

childcare facilities in Omaha, Nebraska in FY 2000.

• In St. Francois County Missouri, EPA, HUD, the State and

County Health Departments, and area mining companies have

partnered to address the multiple exposure routes of lead (e.g.,

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paint, dust, yard soils, etc.) in homes of children with elevated

blood levels. At homes where EPA is considering the cleanup

of yard soils, the Missouri Department of Health, using funds

from a HUD grant, and the mining companies are addressing

interior lead cleanup, thus providing a holistic approach to

reducing blood lead levels in children.

• Jasper and Newton counties (in Missouri) are developing a

joint Environmental Master Plan to address environmental

problems in the region on a holistic basis. This plan is being

developed as a direct result of the community's involvement in

Superfund lead cleanup and the heightened concern for limitations on development due to environmental problems.

Contact: Region 7, Mazzie Talley, 913-551-7518

Title: Local Lead Awareness Campaign

Description: EPA funded this project to raise awareness of the hazards of lead

poisoning and the necessity of screening children age 6 and under.

The project changes the approach to the management of cases of

exposure to implement intervention at the community level. It

targets the population of children at risk through prevention, rather

than confining itself to the care of the individual child suffering

from lead poisoning. Key partnerships with local media increase the

number of people the program can reach.

Partners: Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, Iowa; KLSS

radio; KISS-TV

Contact: Region 7, Lori Walker, 913-551-7926

Title: Region 9 Lead Poisoning Prevention

Description: The Region 9 Lead Program has developed partnerships with state

and local children’s health programs and community advocacy

groups, allowing the region to better focus efforts on reducing lead

hazards for children at greatest risk (lower income families in older

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housing). The Region continues to conduct extensive outreach on the

issues of childhood lead poisoning, the regulatory requirements in

the lead-based paint disclosure rule, the remodeling notification rule,

and the training and certification regulations. The Region established

lead training and certification programs in Arizona, Hawaii, and

Nevada.

Contact: Region 9, Paula Bisson, 415-744-1128

Title: Community-Based Lead Projects in Oregon

Description: Region 10 works with the Oregon Health Division to support

community-based lead screening projects and environmental investigations. This program focuses on two activities: (1) blood lead

testing for children at risk for lead poisoning who are without

resources to pay for this testing and (2) reimbursement of county

health departments for environmental investigations for children

with high blood lead levels. These funds are projected to cover the

cost of 350 to 460 blood lead tests, 15 to 16 environmental investigations, and 32 sets of environmental samples.

Contact: Region 10, Barbara Ross, 206-553-1985

Title: Urban League Lead Outreach Program

Description: Region 10 is working with the Urban League of Portland to expand

the Urban League’s lead outreach program to Portland’s other

distinct, at-risk communities: Spanish-language, recent immigrant,

and labor communities. The overall goals are to encourage informed

communities to access public-sector and other community-based

programs, and to be involved in the policy decisions and development of strategies for lead poisoning prevention.

Contact: Region 10, Mike Letourneau, 206-553-1687

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Title: Lead Hazard Reduction Act Compliance, Oregon

Description: Region 10 collaborated with the Oregon Health Division (OHD),

The Urban League of Portland, the Oregon Environmental Council

(OEC), the Environmental Justice Action Group (EJAG), the

Coalition of Black Men (COBM), Physicians for Social

Responsibility (PSR), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development, Oregon Legal Services (OLS), the City of Portland

Bureau of Environmental Services (BES), the Oregon Child

Development Coalition (OCDC), and the Multnomah County Health

Department to support compliance with the Lead Hazard Reduction

Act and to develop a Statewide Comprehensive Plan for Oregon.

Contacts: Region 10, Barbara Ross, 206-553-1985, or Kirstin Andersen, 206-

553-0244

Title: “Runs Better Unleaded” Bus Campaign

Description: Region 10 ran a bus advertising campaign in Portland and Yakima

from September 1 through October 31, 1999. The campaign encouraged parents to call the Lead Hotline (1-800-424-LEAD) or access

the EPA lead Web site (http://www.epa.gov/lead) for information on

preventing childhood lead exposure. The EPA posters depicted children playing, with the text “Runs Better Unleaded” superimposed.

Plans are under way to repeat this campaign with Spanish-language

posters.

Contacts: Region 10, Barbara Ross, 206-553-1985, or Robert Jacobson, 206-

553-1203

Title: Tri-Regional Lead Conference

Description: Representatives of western states and tribes met in mid-October

1999 in Portland, Oregon, to discuss lessons learned in implementing state and tribal lead programs. States and tribes represented

included Oregon, Idaho, Washington, California, Hawaii, Utah,
Crow, Umatilla, Colville, Yankton Sioux, Blackfeet, Chippewa Cree,

and Flandreau Santee Sioux. In addition, private lead consultants,

painting contractors, training providers, and EPA Regional and headquarters staff were in attendance.

Contacts: Region 10, Barbara Ross, 206-553-1985, or Kirstin Andersen, 206-

553-0244

Title: Advance Notice of Funds Available for Lead Grant Program for

Indian Tribes

Description: Region 10 staff have been working to notify tribes in Alaska, Idaho,

Oregon, and Washington about new grant funds available exclusively for Indian tribes. The primary purpose of this grant program is to

fund tribal blood lead screening of children and educational outreach

activities to encourage Indian tribes to consider continuing such

activities in the future. EPA plans to award 25 to 50 grants for

amounts in the range of $15,000 to $50,000 each.

Contact: Region 10, Barbara Ross, 206-553-1985, or Kirstin Andersen, 206-

553-0244

Title: Focused Outreach to Realtors

Description: Region 10 mailed compliance assistance letters with information

about the Disclosure Rule to approximately 700 real estate firms in

the region. In the letter, it was stated that Region 10 is conducting

Disclosure Rule inspections, and that the real estate firm may be

subject to the rule. Additionally, Region 10 staff exhibited and

presented information about lead paint hazards at the Portland Home

Show, the Portland Home and Garden Show, the Federal Facilities

Conference, the Nisqually Indian Health Fair, the Washington

Council of Painting and Decorating Constructors, the Lead Summit

Meeting, the National Association of Real Estate Property

Managers, the Washington Realtors Convention, the Shoshone

County Realtors, the Peoples Coalition in Silver Valley, the Real

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Estate Conference in Silver Valley, the King Dome Home Show in

Seattle, and the Puyallup Home Decorating and Remodeling Show.

Contact: Region 10, Barbara Ross, 206-553-1985

Title: Preventing Lead Exposure in Northern Idaho

Description: Region 10 has been working with the Agency for Toxic Substances

and Disease Registry, the State of Idaho, and the Panhandle Health

District to prevent childhood exposures to widespread lead contamination in soil resulting from decades of lead production in Northern

Idaho. Sampling is conducted at residences, schools, childcare

providers, and parks. Results from a 1999 survey indicate that blood

lead levels continue to decline at the Bunker Hill Superfund Site, but

remain unacceptably high in the communities upstream of Bunker

Hill. The Panhandle Health District has followed up with all of the

families of children with elevated blood lead levels. Lead-contaminated soil was removed and replaced with clean soil at 26 residential

properties, three schools, and one park. Water filters were installed

at 10 homes with high levels of lead in their drinking water; future

plans include providing safe, municipally supplied water to these

homes. Lead-contaminated recreational sites also have been identified and remediation efforts are under way.

Contacts: Region 10, Roseanne Lorenzana, 206-553-8002

Title: Yakima County, Childhood Lead Poisoning Reduction Program

Description: EPA has provided funding to the Washington State Department of

Health to supplement its work on education of low-income and

minority homeowners on how to reduce lead poisoning of children.

Part of the funds will be to print copies of a Spanish-language

fotonovella, a picture book that shows ways a family can reduce

lead exposure to children. The bulk of the funding will go toward

development of PSA radio spots for airing on an all-Spanish radio

station in Granger, Washington.

Contact: Region 10, Dan Robison, 509-575-5845

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Endocrine Disruptors

Title: Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Theme

Description: Researchers have identified and are investigating several Endocrine

Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) that primarily target the reproductive

systems of developing (i.e., in pregnancy, perinatal, or pubertal

stages) and adult animals. The goals of this research include identification of molecular mechanisms of toxicant action.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, David Otto, 919-966-6226

Title: Receptor and Signal Transduction Pathways in Developmental

Toxicity

Description: Environmental estrogens and endocrine disruptors interfere with

reproduction and development through mechanisms that involve

altered expression and/or function of steroid receptors and endocrine

hormones that bind to these receptors. These agents can also produce

deleterious biological responses through effects on gene cascades

that regulate and/or respond to endocrine signaling. EPA is investigating these mechanisms of developmental toxicity.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Linda Birnbaum, 919-541-

2655

PCBs

Title: PCBs in Schools

Description: Region 10 is collaborating with the Oregon State School Boards

Association to address the hazards of PCBs in schools, specifically

PCB regulations applicable to the storage, treatment, and disposal of

fluorescent light ballasts. A case study based on four 1999 PCB

inspections in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District is being

used as a teaching tool in conjunction with a newly developed informational brochure entitled Safe and Correct Handling of PCBs Is

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Your Responsibility. Region-wide outreach on PCBs in schools is

planned for later this year.

Contact: Region 10, Dan Duncan, 206-553-6693, or Gretchen Schmidt, 206-

553-2587

Mercury

Title: Environmental WATCH Small Grants

Description: Region 5 issued small, community-based grants that promote children’s environmental health and pollution prevention to

organizations that participated in the Environmental Workshop on

Actions to Take for Children’s Health. The Fond du Lac Band of

Chippewa, Minnesota, was funded to conduct a thermometer

exchange with residents to replace mercury thermometers with

mercury-free thermometers. This will complement activities to

prevent illegal dumping of solid waste.

Contact: Region 5, Holly Wirick, 312-353-6704

Title: Elemental Mercury Exposures in Children: A Workshop to Examine

the Scope of the Problem and Opportunities for Prevention

Description: On June 23, 1999, Region 5 and the Agency for Toxic Substances

and Disease Registry (ATSDR) sponsored a 1-day workshop,

“Elemental Mercury Exposures in Children: A Workshop to

Examine the Scope of the Problem and Opportunities for

Prevention.” The specific goals of the workshop were to (1) share

and compile current information on the potential sources that have

resulted in exposure or the potential for elemental mercury exposure

in children; (2) identify what is being done in the region to prevent

acute exposure to mercury; and (3) determine how EPA, ATSDR,

state health and environmental agencies, and their partners can

further reduce the potential for elemental mercury exposure to children. Speakers represented a wide range of experts from state health,

environmental, and agricultural agencies, as well as physicians from

the Children’s Center for Environmental Health at Cook County
Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Attending the workshop were more than

60 people, including representatives of state and local health and

environmental agencies, industry (American Drugstores), and poison

control centers.

Contact: Region 5, Colleen Olsberg, 312-353-4686

Other Research

Title: Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology (DART) Database

Description: An Interagency Agreement among EPA, the National Institute of

Environmental Health Sciences, the National Center for

Toxicological Research, and the National Library of Medicine

supports the further development of the National Library of

Medicine’s DART database. DART contains references to and

abstracts of published literature on agents that may cause birth

defects and other developmental disorders. DART contains approximately 37,000 references. Including an earlier reference source,

nearly 80,000 references to the developmental toxicity literature

from 1959 to the present are available. In addition to references on

drugs and environmental chemicals, DART contains information on

biological and physical agents that have been tested for developmental and reproductive toxicity.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Jim Cogliano, 202-564-3269

Title: Heat Shock Model (Mechanisms) for Developmental Toxicity

Description: This project is part of a larger collaborative effort among EPA and

three academic institutions to develop biologically based doseresponse models for developmental toxicity effects. Recent studies in

this effort have begun to examine the cellular events that control the

developmental process, including genetic expression, cell growth

and cell death, and protein synthesis. The current project extends

these findings by further defining the cellular responses and their

relationship to developmental problems.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Gary Kimmel, 202-564-3308

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Title: Biologically Based Dose-Response Modeling of Developmental

Toxicity

Description: This research focuses on developing models to describe in quantitative terms the relationship between biological processes and the

development of adverse developmental outcomes. These models

consider the physiologic and mechanistic factors that lead to adverse

outcomes and evaluate the effects of varying route, dose, dose-rate,

etc. This research is anticipated to advance the scientific basis for

human health risk assessment.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Kavlock, 919-541-

2771

Title: Texas Neural Tube Defect Project

Description: This is a 4-year case-control study of risk factors for neural tube

defects (NTDs) in 14 counties along the Texas-Mexico border. An

anticipated outcome of this project is the identification of unique

biological indicators of environmental exposure, genetic susceptibility, and gene-environment interaction that lead to the development of

NTDs in a Hispanic high-risk population.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, David Otto, 919-966-6226

Title: Cellular and Molecular Markers of Developmental Neurotoxicity

Description: This project will improve testing for developmental neurotoxicity,

by developing a number of cellular and molecular markers that can

be used to identify hazardous substances. This project uses proteins

found in nervous system cells as indicators of neural damage or

alteration in critical phases of nervous system development. The

effects of known developmental neurotoxins on selected

cellular/molecular processes at critical periods of development will

be determined.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hugh Tilson, 919-541-2671

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Title: Environmental Exposures and Human Neurological Function

Description: Valid tests of sensory, motor, cognitive, and affective functions are

needed to determine the neurotoxic potential of environmental exposures. This project involves the development, modification, and

validation of behavioral and nerve cell tests and test methods for

evaluating effects of nerve cell neurotoxins on neurological function

in children and adults.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hugh Tilson, 919-541-2671

Title: Role of Apoptosis in Developmental Toxicity

Description: The goal of this research project is to better understand the mechanism responsible for apoptosis (cell death) in the embryo. The

current focus is on the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a

possible inducer of apoptosis. Because of the relationship between

the regulation of cell cycle and the induction of cell death, an important component of this research will focus on cell cycle changes

produced in the embryo.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Kavlock, 919-541-

2771

Title: Improved Evaluation of Gamete Function

Description: New and more specific reproductive endpoints, including direct

measures of sperm motion and structure, are now requirements specified in the new EPA Harmonized Reproductive Test Guidelines.

This research aims to improve methods for these measures, with

emphasis on using advanced computer technology to make these

measures more objective and practical.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Kavlock, 919-541-

2771

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Title: Molecular Characterization of a Biological Threshold in

Developmental Toxicity

Description: The goal of this research is to characterize, in molecular terms, the

biological basis of a threshold (a minimum level that causes effects)

in developmental toxicity. The data generated will be incorporated

into computer simulations to help risk assessors predict when a

prenatal environmental exposure might trigger birth defects.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

Title: Using Biomarkers of Exposure and Neurobehavioral Test Batteries

to Assess Children’s Neurological Vulnerability to Residential

Exposure to Tetrachloroethene (Perc)

Description: EPA considers perc a problematic pollutant in urban areas. The

objectives of this study are to (1) assess perc exposure and neurological vulnerability of children and adults by measuring personal air

and indicators of dose in exhaled breath, blood, and urine; (2) determine the relationship between environmental perc concentrations

and biological indicators of dose; (3) assess behavioral functions in

the exposed and unexposed groups; and (4) determine if doseresponse relationships exist between the environmental and/or

biological measures of exposure and neurological effects. The

research will take into account age, gender, and activity levels. The

data can be used to assess and compare neurological risk of perc

exposure in children and adults, evaluate susceptibility to support

human health risk assessment for perc neurotoxicity, and

establish/assess a reference concentration (RfC) for perc.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

Title: Childhood Risk Assessment at Superfund Sites

Description: The Region 3 Superfund Program has been concerned about the

potential health effects that hazardous waste sites may have on

sensitive subpopulations—including children. Risk assessments

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which are designed specifically for children are routinely performed.

These assessments include a consideration of factors which identify

children as being different from adults, such as body weight, inhalation rate, their proximity to the ground, and food and water intake.

Potential routes of exposure to hazardous waste which might be

specific for children are also considered, including playing in dirt

and wading in surface water. The health effects of lead are analyzed

with models specifically designed to predict blood lead levels in

children under six years of age. Teenage children are also routinely

considered in the event that they may play, ride bikes, etc. on accessible hazardous waste sites. Frequently, the decision to clean up a

site is based on potential risks to children. As a result of these measures, the Region is confident that children's health has been protected

at the hundreds of Superfund sites that have been cleaned up so far

and that the Region’s actions will continue to be protective of

children.

Contact: Region 3, Lynn Flowers, 215-814-3115

Title: Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe Reproductive Health

Description: In 1992, Region 10 learned that over 90 percent of pregnancies in

the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe between 1990 and 1992 had ended

in miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death within the first year of life.

In 1993, a Health Advisory Board was formed for the tribe, consisting of physicians, toxicologists, epidemiologists, and other health

professionals. To investigate a possible environmental cause, a

special team of Region 10 scientists and field staff gathered information, conducted onsite investigations, and analyzed samples. Results

of the research were published in an EPA document, The Shoalwater

Bay Reservation: A Limited Environmental Assessment 1994–1995

(EPA Publication 910/R-96-013). As a result of the EPA study, the

tribe is receiving high-level attention by relevant health professionals

and epidemiologists. In addition, the tribe has been able to fund and

build a new health clinic which has greatly improved the level of

medical care for all tribal members. Through funding from EPA and

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others, the Shoalwaters also have recently developed their own environmental laboratory.

Partners: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of

Washington School of Medicine, Indian Health Service, Agency for

Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, American Medical

Association, Washington State Department of Health

Contact: Region 10, Roseanne Lorenzana, 206-553-8002

References

1. NRC. 1993. Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children. National Research

Council. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

2. Needleman, H.L., and C.A. Gastonis. 1990. Low-Level Lead Exposure and the

IQ of Children: A Meta-Analysis of Modern Studies. Journal of American

Medical Association. Volume 263, Pages 673-678.

3. Bellinger, D., A. Leviton, and C. Waternaux. 1987. Longitudinal Analysis of

Prenatal and Postnatal Lead Exposure and Early Cognitive Development. New

England Journal of Medicine. Volume 316, Pages 1037-1043.

4. Needleman, H.L., A. Schnell, and D. Bellinger. 1990. The Long-Term Effects

of Exposure to Low Doses of Lead in Childhood: 11-Year Follow-Up Report.

New England Journal of Medicine. Volume 322, Pages 83-88.

5. McLaughlin, J.G., R.W. Telzrow, and C.M. Scott. 1980. Neonatal Mercury

Vapor Exposure in an Infant Incubator. Pediatrics. Volume 66, Number 6,

Pages 988-990.

6. Maker, E.L., T.J. Smith, and P.L. Landrigan. The Neurotoxicity of Industrial

Solvents: A Review of the Literature. American Journal of Industrial

Medicine. Volume 8, Pages 207-217.

7. ATSDR. 1997. Healthy Children—Toxic Environments. Report of the Child

Health Workgroup. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public

Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

8. CDC. 1997. Update: Blood Lead Levels—United States, 1991-1994.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Center for Disease Control and

Prevention. Volume 46, Number 7, Pages 141-145.

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Pesticides are a concern for children because of their widespread use and children’s

special vulnerabilities. Children can be exposed to pesticides in their diets and

drinking water, or through activities at home, play, and school. Potential health

effects of pesticide exposure include cancer, acute and chronic injury to the nervous

system, lung damage, reproductive dysfunction, and possibly dysfunction of the

endocrine and immune systems.(1,2)

The 1996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) includes specific regulatory requirements to protect susceptible members of the population, including children, from

pesticide residues in food. EPA regulates pesticide residues in food through a

system of standards called food tolerances. Under FQPA, the Agency will reassess

approximately 10,000 existing pesticide tolerances and will focus first on those

pesticides that pose the greatest hazards.

EPA has announced cancellation agreements and risk reduction strategies to

increase protections for American families and their children from risks posed by

two of the oldest, most widely used chemical compounds that remain in use as

pesticides today. EPA is eliminating use of methyl parathion on all fruits and many

vegetables. The Agency is reducing application rates of azinphos methyl and requiring practices that will result in significant reductions in allowable residues on

apples, pears, and peaches. The Agency also recently announced an action to

eliminate major uses of the pesticide Dursban.

EPA is calling for new studies of neurological and developmental effects on

hundreds of pesticides to better understand their effects on children. These studies

will allow EPA to evaluate pesticides more protectively than ever before.

In addition, EPA has committed to a number of activities to spread the word about

adverse effects of pesticide exposure on children below the age of 12 who work in

agriculture or are otherwise present in pesticide-treated fields. These activities

include:

• Using community mentors and parents to communicate pesticide health and

safety concepts to farm worker children at the Young Workers Academy in

Brownsville, Texas, a pilot project which can serve as a national model.

• Expanding earlier efforts with the Hispanic Radio Network to convey information to Spanish-speaking agricultural workers.

• Increasing pesticide safety training through cooperative efforts with AmeriCorps

and existing grants to develop pesticide health and safety curricula in elementary schools.

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Health Effects of

Pesticides
• Exploring the possibility of requiring label-specific language prohibiting children (age specified) in pesticide-treated fields, as well as label language

specifying the full range of potential health effects of concern.

It is important to fully assess whether farm worker children are currently at risk

from pesticide exposure and, if so, to properly address that risk. This is being

carried out in a number of ways, including:

• Conducting a national assessment of the Worker Protection Standard with the

help of non-governmental stakeholders.

• Examining information EPA has collected for other purposes to determine if it

might be relevant to learning about exposure of children in agricultural settings.

EPA Projects on Health Effects of Pesticides

Strengthened Standards and Better Public Information

Title: Proposed Labeling Restriction for Insect Repellents used on Infants

and Children

Description: On May 10, 2000, EPA proposed restrictions on the labeling of

insect repellents marketed for use on infants and children. The

proposed changes are part of a draft Pesticide Registration (PR)

Notice, which will be available on EPA’s web site at

www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides. The Agency is concerned that

packaging and labeling specifically targeted to children (e.g., “for

children” or “for kids”) may encourage inappropriate handling and

use by children. In many cases, such labeling contradicts directions

or precautions on the same product labels (usually in much smaller

print) that prohibit such handling and use by children. EPA believes

that labeling targeted for infants and children may be misleading to

parents because these products are not formulated differently for

children than they are for adults.

EPA is also proposing restrictions on the use of food fragrances and

colors in insect repellents. The Agency is concerned that insect

repellents made with food fragrances and colors (e.g., grape, waterHealth Effects of Pesticides Page 95

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melon, orange) and packaged with graphics of the same food may

encourage children to eat the product. The draft PR Notice outlines

the proposed procedure and time frame for registrants to make

changes to the labels of currently registered insect repellents with

claims targeting use on infants and children, and to reformulate

products that contain food colors or fragrances. Under this policy,

EPA would not allow registrants to sell or distribute products that do

not follow these restrictions as of March 1, 2001, and existing stocks

may be sold or distributed by others only until March 1, 2003. A

Federal Register Notice announcing the availability of the PR

Notice is also available on EPA’s Web site at the above address. A

final PR Notice is expected by the end of 2000.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Robyn Rose,

703-308-9581

Title: Cockroaches, Kids and Asthma Video

Description: EPA developed a video with the American Lung Association for the

“Open Airways” program on how cockroaches can trigger asthma in

young children, and how to prevent cockroaches from entering the

home.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Ralph

Wright, 703-308-3273

Title: One Way to Increase the Commitment: Conference on the Food

Quality Protection Act

Description: The March 1999 conference was designed for food producers,

commodity groups, state and federal regulators, and others focused

on issues, such as pesticide-related risk assessments, implementation

of the Food Quality Protection Act, and data needs. Panel discussions were held on such topics as crop profiles, the U.S. Food and

Drug Administration’s monitoring program, and the impact of pesticides on drinking water and university activities.

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Partners: University of Massachusetts Extension, Massachusetts Department

of Food and Agriculture, other New England state cooperative

extension systems and pesticide regulatory agencies.

Contact: Region 1, Rob Koethe, 617-918-1535

Title: Bilingual (English/Spanish) Pesticide Safety Bingo Game

Description: During FY 1998, Region 6 developed an Urban Initiative project to

reduce the misuse of pesticides among urban, inner city, and nonEnglish-speaking groups. The resulting product is the Bilingual

(English/Spanish) Pesticide Safety Bingo Game for elementary

school children. In March 1999, the Bingo Game was pilot-tested in

the Dallas Metroplex area in elementary schools (grades 1 through

6). Following game participation, students showed a 97 percent

retention rate of material presented. Once demonstration game packets are completed, the game will be provided to Region 6 State

Education Agencies for their review and approval. Region 6 anticipates eventual incorporation of the Bingo Game into the states’

supplemental school curricula.

Partners: Texas School Systems, Parent-Teacher Associations, Texas

Education Agency

Contact: Region 6, Sarah Perham, 214-665-2752

Title: Determining the Effectiveness of a Pesticide Risk Reduction

Program for Migrant Farm Workers in Colorado

Description: This project is an evaluation of pesticide safety training provided to

farm workers, which includes information about how to prevent

exposure to children and other family members. The evaluation used

a structured interview and observations of work practices to determine how training influenced the knowledge and behavior of

migrant workers related to pesticide safety.

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Partners: Colorado State University Department of Environmental Health

Contact: Region 8, Debbie Kovacs, 303-312-6020

Title: Farm Worker Safety in San Luis Obispo, California

Description: The Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (ECOSLO) will work

to minimize environmental health risks facing farm workers and to

facilitate and improve communication and coordination among the

county’s environmental health stakeholders and farm worker support

groups. Three hundred farm workers and their families will be

surveyed to provide information to regulatory officials, public agencies, and nonprofit service organizations on household hazardous

materials and pesticide use. Survey participants will be drawn from

Migrant Head Start, Promotoras Comunitarias (a nonprofit support

program for Latina women), and FUERZA (a county nonprofit

Latino support organization).

Contacts: Region 9, Raymond Chavira, 415-744-1926, or Norman Calero,

415-744-1586

Support for Integrated Pest Management

Title: IPM in School Projects

Description: Through EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program

(PESP) Grant, the University of Florida Web site

(http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/~schoolipm/) was designed to assist schools

and other organizations develop pesticide stewardship programs. In

addition, a National Directory of IPM in School Web site

(http://www.epa.gov/reg5foia/pest/matilla/ipm.html) has been created to assist individuals with finding specific information about each

state IPM program, as well as appropriate IPM state contacts. The

IPM in Schools Web site is at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Sarah

Roman, 703-305-5475

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Title: IPM in Schools Training/Workshops

Description: EPA is considering the need to institute national training requirements for any applicators who apply pesticides in certain sensitive

areas, such as schools and hospitals. A Pesticide Regulators

Education Program (PREP) training course on IPM in schools was

held in April 1999. The course is being repeated in mid-April in

East Lansing, Michigan. A national workshop on IPM/Schools

Implementation was sponsored by EPA in March 1999.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Jim Boland,

703-308-8738

Title: Educational Photoliterature on Pesticide Misuse

Description: An integrated pest management specialist from the New York State

Department of Health will develop a photoliterature document to

educate low-literacy urban populations on the dangers of misusing

pesticides. This document will be translated into Spanish and

Chinese to help the Region reach more of the population in need.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Pesticide Regulatory Education Program

Description: EPA Region 5 sponsored a Pesticide Regulatory Education Program

(PREP) in Detroit in April 1999 to educate state regulators on IPM

in schools. EPA also created a Web page to provide easy public

access to a list of state authorities on IPM in schools for each of the

Region 5 states.

Contact: Region 5, Don Baumgartner, 312-886-7835

Title: Environmental WATCH Small Grants

Description: EPA issued small, community-based grants promoting children’s

environmental health and pollution prevention to organizations that

participated in the Environmental WATCH. The City of Milwaukee

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Health Department received funding for an Integrated Pest

Management in Schools project.

Contact: Region 5, Holly Wirick, 312-353-6704

Title: Reducing Use of Pesticides in Schools

Description: EPA Region 9 has awarded a $30,500 grant to the Pajaro Valley

Unified School District to assist them in reducing the use of chemicals for pest management on school grounds. The District has

assembled a committee of parents, teachers, and district staff to work

with EPA to find alternative methods for controlling indoor and

outdoor pests at all school sites. The committee is holding meetings

at each site to explain IPM and to gain support for the project.

Information developed in this project should be useful for other

districts in the region.

Contact: Region 9, Mary Grisier, 415-744-1095

Title: IPM in Schools

Description: The IPM in Schools program offers a variety of resources to schools

concerned about using pesticides and herbicides on school property.

The program offers small grants to schools to facilitate the implementation of IPM programs. The program also provides speakers,

educational videos and publications, and training courses for

grounds and maintenance personnel.

Contact: Region 10, Don Priest, 206-553-2584

Expanded Enforcement Efforts

Title: The National Urban and Residential Pesticide Control and

Enforcement Program (Urban Initiative)

Description: According to data collected from the American Association of

Poison Control Centers, in 1998 alone, an estimated 73,260 children

were involved in common household pesticide-related poisoning

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exposures in the United States. Through the Urban Initiative, EPA

and other partner agencies and organizations work cooperatively to

communicate health risks and prevent human and environmental

harm by deterring the illegal misuse of agricultural pesticides in

urban settings. Since this initiative is national in scope, educational

tools will be developed for numerous audiences including prekindergarten through high school students. Communication

strategies also will be developed with organizations, such as parentteacher associations, church groups, 4-H, and other youth-oriented

programs. The program also helps identify misuse of methyl

parathion or other restricted-use pesticides and initiate appropriate

enforcement action. Approximately 44 state and local arrests and

two federal criminal convictions in Region 4 resulted from actions

associated with the misuse of pesticides.

Contact: Region 4, Randy Dominy, 404-562-8996

Title: Reducing Pesticide Misuse

Description: EPA is working with state partners to develop an enforcement and

public outreach strategy to eliminate the import, sale, and use of

insecticidal chalk, a product that looks like ordinary blackboard

chalk. An educational brochure highlighting the hazard to children

has been developed and distributed, and has been translated into

Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese. EPA also has initiated a compliance assistance campaign to educate school maintenance personnel

about the importance of using registered products only and of

following label directions for safe use. EPA has filed civil

complaints against two companies selling insecticidal chalk and

three companies selling unregistered moth repellents, and has issued

a press release to publicize the risks to children.

Contact: Region 9, Kay Rudolph, 415-744-1065

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Understanding Risks to Children’s Health

Title: Study of Exposure and Body Burden of Children of Different Ages

to Pesticides in the Environment

Description: This study will examine exposure to various pesticides (chlorpyrifos,

diazinon, malathion, and atrazine) and the resulting doses experienced by children and adults from both rural and urban homes. The

main objective is to test the hypothesis that children have significantly higher environmental exposures and resulting doses than do

adults living in the same homes. The study will test whether the

distribution of exposures for children living in urban environments is

different from that for children living in rural environments.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

Title: Ingestion of Pesticides by Children in an Agricultural Community

on the U.S.-Mexico Border

Description: An environmental measurement and correlation study will be

conducted in the area of Laredo, Texas, on the Rio Grande River.

Researchers will test hand rinses of the children and house dust for

pesticides and will measure pesticides and their metabolites in urine

samples of the children. Observations of children’s behavior (hand to

mouth, hand to object, hand to surface, and object to mouth) will be

made to evaluate the possible ingestion of pesticides from environmental sources. The information obtained in this study will be used

to reduce the uncertainty in risk assessments for children and

improve exposure measurements for children of different ages. The

results will identify the magnitude of potential environmental risks

to a minority population.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

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Title: Exposure of Children to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Pesticides

Description: This research is a larger-scale extension of several recently completed pilot studies on preschool children’s exposure to persistent

organic pollutants. The aim is to obtain scientifically valid, statistically robust information that describes these children’s exposures. In

this study, researchers are investigating the total exposures to persistent organic compounds of pre-elementary school children through

ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Nancy Wilson, 202-260-1910

Title: NAFTA Border Project: Pesticides and Kids

Description: The purpose of this project is to describe the relationship of health

outcomes in children along the U.S.-Mexico border with repeated

pesticide exposures via multiple sources and pathways. Researchers

will develop predictive models based on links between health

outcomes, biological indicators, and exposure data. It will be possible to use this knowledge to design appropriate intervention

strategies to reduce the risk associated with pesticide exposure.

Research will be conducted in the U.S.-Mexico border states of

Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas as part of the

Environmental Health Workgroup of the Border XXI Program.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Stephen Hern, 702-798-2594

Title: Microenvironmental Methods for Residential Exposure to Pesticides

Description: This research involves developing and testing methods for estimating residential exposure to pesticides, with special emphasis on

small children. These methods are needed to accurately determine

dermal and nondietary oral exposures of infants and toddlers, and

are critical to understanding total human exposure. The research

also will improve understanding of transport routes and mechanisms

for movement of pesticides from the outdoors to the indoor

environment. The long-term objective is to contribute to better

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understanding of residential exposure to pesticides, especially for

small children. The short-term objective is to assist in the development of guidelines for the assessment of residential exposure to

pesticides.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Bob Lewis, 706-355-8629

Title: Exposure of Children to Pesticides and Toxics

Description: The Food Quality Protection Act requires that multimedia, multipathway exposures be considered when setting food tolerances for

pesticides. FQPA also requires that an emphasis be placed on exposures to infants and children. The overall goal of this task is to

identify those pesticides, pathways, and activities that represent the

highest potential exposures to children and to determine the factors

that influence these exposures. The research will be used to develop

methods, data, and models for evaluating aggregate exposure to

pesticides and toxic chemicals. For infants and children, methods

will be developed to account for important activities that take place

in home, school, and childcare settings.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Linda Sheldon, 919-541-2205

Title: Exposure of Children to Pesticides in Yuma County, Arizona

Description: The goal of this study is to determine whether children living in

Yuma County have greater pesticide exposure than people living

elsewhere in Arizona and whether the pathways of exposure are the

same. The specific aims of the project are to (1) measure pesticide

concentrations in water, air, and soil; (2) evaluate and compare

routes of exposure; (3) employ biological methods and screening

techniques as measures and predictors of exposure; (4) compare

pesticide exposure among children to adults and children living elsewhere in Arizona; (5) develop a model for assessing exposure and

risk among children; and (6) assess the potential for health care

providers to carry out risk reduction activities.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

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Title: Vulnerability of Young Children to Organophosphate Pesticides and

Selected Metals Through Intermittent Exposures in Yuma County,

Arizona

Description: The goal of this project is to accurately determine the routes and

amounts of exposure to organophosphate pesticides and metals for

young children. Researchers will measure rates of dermal contact,

and hand-to-mouth and mouthing activity among children using

videotape. They will evaluate media contacted by children (air,

house dust, hands) for concentrations of pesticides commonly used

in the area (including chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion), as well

as lead, manganese, and other metals. Urine assays for specific

pesticide metabolites will be evaluated and compared to environmental concentrations. The study is expected to enhance exposure

assessment models and help identify factors that minimize exposure.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Chris Saint, 202-564-6909

Title: Exposure of Children to Pesticide Residues

Description: This project will address exposure and epidemiologic measures of

children’s health in relation to pesticide exposure. Proposed pilot

studies include an exposure survey of school-aged children to determine if proximity to agricultural fields is associated with higher

prevalence of pesticide urinary metabolites, surveillance for pesticide poisoning clusters, and studies of birth weight and infant

mortality.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Michael Dellarco, 202-564-

3239

Title: Interactions and Mechanisms of Pesticide Mixtures—Children’s

Risk

Description: This project focuses on the effects of exposure to pesticide mixtures

among animals in different age groups. The research will provide

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new data on the methods of pesticide interactions, biological measures of effects, and susceptibility for pesticide mixtures. The

dose-response data obtained can be used for extrapolation from

animals to humans for conducting risk assessment.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Femi Adeshina, 513-569-7147

Title: Pesticide Interactions Affecting Fate and Transport and Children’s

Risk

Description: This project will develop a model to estimate internal dose from

intermittent exposures to multiple herbicides. Researchers will

develop a procedure for cumulative health risk assessment for reproductive toxicity.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Rick Hertzberg, 404-562-8663

Title: Long-Term Potentiation as a Model System for Cognitive Function

Description: This research focuses on the alterations in cell function that accompany neurotoxic exposure and effects on intellectual function. The

results could lead to improved, cost-effective test methods to examine the potential adverse effects of pesticides on learning and

memory.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hugh Tilson, 919-541-2671

Title: Pilot Study of Symptomatic Young Children for Pesticide Exposure

Description: This study will test methods to determine whether children’s nonspecific illnesses may be associated with exposure to organophosphate

pesticides. Approximately 150 children age 2 to 5 in agricultural

communities in Southern California and North Carolina with specific symptoms will be assessed for recent pesticide exposure and

elevated cholinesterase levels.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hillel Koren, 919-966-6203

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Title: Pilot Study of Immunologic Effects of Pesticide Exposure in Infants

Description: This study will test methods for evaluating the association between

estimated insecticide exposure and immunologic, developmental,

and enzymatic outcomes. The study will use exposure assessment

methods and clinical sample collection to decide if it is practical to

include these components in a longitudinal study of a larger group.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hillel Koren, 919-966-6203

Title: Biochemical Effects of Pesticides on the Central Nervous System

Description: This research will determine if the adverse effects of exposure to

certain pesticides during development of the central nervous system

are different from effects observed following adult exposure. The

overall objective of this project is to determine empirically the agerelated differences in sensitivity to cholinesterase inhibitors. The

research will help support the application of a safety factor for children’s health for cholinesterase-inhibiting compounds.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hugh Tilson, 919-541-2671

Title: Cognitive Effects of Pesticide Exposure During Development

Description: This research project will evaluate the cognitive and neurochemical

effects of pesticides on memory, learning, and behavior following

developmental or adult exposure of rodents. Immediate and longterm effects will be evaluated and attempts will be made to

associate behavioral changes with underlying alterations in brain

cholinesterase activity. The overall objective is to determine agerelated differences in response to pesticides that inhibit enzyme

activity. This research will help support the application of a safety

factor for children’s health for cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hugh Tilson, 919-541-2671

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Title: Identifying the Mode and Mechanism of Action of Atrazine on

Endocrine Function in the Female Rat

Description: The chlorotriazines, a class of pesticides, have been under Special

Review in EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs since November 1995

because of their widespread use, and because they have been reported to induce mammary gland tumors. Several laboratories are

conducting research to expand knowledge of the reproductive effects

of these compounds and identify the mechanism through which

these agents have their primary effect on endocrine function.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Kavlock, 919-541-

2771

Title: The Effects of Pesticides on the Immune System and Allergic

Response

Description: Researchers are examining the impact of exposure to pesticides on

the development of allergy to house dust mites in adult and young

animals to test two hypotheses: (1) that pesticide exposure promotes

development of allergic sensitization, and (2) that this effect is

greater in young than in mature rodents. Allergic sensitization is

being evaluated using immune parameters, lung inflammation, and

pulmonary hyperreactivity.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Linda Birnbaum, 919-541-

2655

Title: Perinatal Exposure of Rats to Toxic Chemicals and Pesticides and

the Effects on Immune Function Development

Description: In this study, researchers are evaluating immune function and lymph

cells at various ages following perinatal exposure to pesticides or

toxic chemicals. This will determine if developmental exposure

results in persistent alterations in the immune system.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Linda Birnbaum, 919-541-

2655

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Title: A Study of Childhood Pesticide Poisoning in the Lower Rio Grande

Valley

Description: This study will investigate pesticide poisoning reports in children 6

years of age or younger in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and selected non-border counties in Texas. The study will evaluate whether

these children are at an increased risk for pesticide poisoning, identify risk factors associated with childhood poisoning, and develop

intervention/prevention strategies for reducing pesticide poisoning in

this population.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, David Otto, 919-966-6226

Title: Non-Occupational Pesticide Illness Surveillance

Description: This is a study in Texas to determine illness associated with the nonoccupational exposure to pesticides. The goals are to better direct

intervention efforts, identify risk factors, and determine the feasibility of expanding the program to other border states. This study

includes both adults and children.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, David Otto, 919-966-6226

Title: Pesticide Exposure and Health Effects in Young Children along the

U.S.-Mexico Border

Description: Researchers are examining the risks and possible health effects from

persistent exposure to pesticides via multiple sources and pathways

in children living along the U.S.-Mexico border. A three-phase

approach is being used. In Phase I, pesticide usage and associated

health data along the border were reviewed. Geographic information

systems are being used to identify agricultural areas to aid in the

study design. A workshop on health effects assessment in young

children was held to review health endpoints appropriate for use in

the project. In Phase II, infants and young children in Yuma,

Arizona, and Imperial County, California, will be screened for

evidence of pesticide exposure. Phase III will include a more

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complete monitoring of children classified as “high-end exposures”

in Phase II. An epidemiologic study will be linked to these efforts to

examine specific hypotheses about the impact of pesticide exposure

on health status/outcome of children.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hal Zenick, 919-541-2671

Title: Neurobehavioral Characterization of Susceptible Populations and

Pesticide Neurotoxicity

Description: There is concern that neurological development of children may be

adversely affected following exposure to pesticides. This project

involves dose-response and time-course comparisons of the behavioral and biochemical effects of cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides

as a function of age (using rats at ages representing toddlers, preadolescents, and young adults) and gender. These studies will

examine the effects of pesticide exposure using a battery of neurological tests at various times after acute exposure. This research will

provide direct support for the application of applying a safety factor

for children’s health.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hugh Tilson, 919-541-2671

Title: Metabolic Basis for Age-Dependent Effects of Pesticides

Description: Several studies have found that younger animals are more sensitive

to the toxic effects of pesticides, particularly pesticides that inhibit

acetylcholinesterase. This project examines factors that may be

responsible for differences in the sensitivity of young versus adult

animals to high-volume, high-use cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides. Once identified, the factors contributing to the differential age

sensitivities will be applied to predict changes in children. This work

will address the applicability of applying a safety factor for children

in risk assessments for this class of pesticides.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hugh Tilson, 919-541-2671

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Title: Assessment of Urban Residential Exposure to 2,4-D

Description: This study will examine actual exposure to 2,4-D of Ft. Collins,

Colorado, residents and their children through biomonitoring at two

different times of year. The study will also correlate actual exposure

with perceived exposure and possible sources of exposure in the

urban or residential setting.

Partners: Colorado State University Department of Environmental Health

Contact: Region 8, Debbie Kovacs, 303-312-6020

Title: Pesticides at the Border

Description: EPA Region 9 is participating on the San Diego Advisory

Committee for the California Department of Health Services

(CDHS) outreach project. Their report, Pesticide Use in California,

analyzed pesticide use levels around schools in Imperial and San

Diego Counties. CDHS collected information about pesticide use

along the U.S.-Mexico Border as part of an EPA research effort on

pesticides’ health effects in children at the border. EPA published a

brief summary of the findings, and CDHS published a more detailed

report. CDHS is planning an outreach effort to educate the public

about the report, and has established Advisory Committees in both

Imperial and San Diego Counties to work on outreach strategy. The

group hopes to contact land use planners and city officials to encourage them to use this information in land use planning decisions,

particularly in the siting of schools and childcare centers.

Contact: Region 9, Kay Rudolph, 415-744-1065

References

1. Zahm, S.H., and S.S. Devesa. 1995. Childhood Cancer: Overview of Incidence

Trends and Environmental Carcinogens. Environmental Health Perspectives.

Volume 103 (Supplement 6), Pages 177–184.

2. Goldman, L.R. 1995. Children—Unique and Vulnerable: Environmental Risks

Facing Children and Recommendations for Response. Environmental Health

Perspectives. Volume 103 (Supplement 6), Pages 13–18.

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Contaminants in drinking water and surface water are a potential health threat to

children in the United States. Drinking water in the United States is safe for most

healthy adults and children, and contamination of drinking water is rare. However,

outbreaks of waterborne illness, such as that caused by Cryptosporidium, may

occur. Swimming in sewage-contaminated surface water may result in contact with

organisms that cause hepatitis, gastrointestinal illness, fever, and ear infections.

Bodies of water and their sediments also may be contaminated with toxic

substances, such as PCBs and heavy metals.(1,2,3,4,5,6) If women of childbearing

age and children eat fish from these waters, the contaminants may cause serious

health effects, such as cancer, birth defects, and nervous system damage.(7)

To protect drinking water, EPA is currently developing more stringent standards that

will further reduce the rate of waterborne illnesses. The Safe Drinking Water Act

calls for better regulatory science, including an analysis of contaminants’ health

effects to children. The Act provides for special consideration of the risks to susceptible members of the population, such as children, in determining which

contaminants to regulate. EPA is conducting several studies to determine the potential health effects in children from drinking contaminated water. The results will

allow EPA to better document the susceptibility of children to microbial and chemical contaminants and respond appropriately.

To protect surface water, EPA regulates discharges of contaminated waste under the

Clean Water Act. Under this Act, any point-source discharge is prohibited unless

authorized by a permit. Through the permit process, EPA and the states control

chemical and other discharges to surface waters. EPA also manages the Beach

Health Program. EPA works with local officials and groups to inform the public

about contamination at beaches and thus reduce children’s exposure. Finally, EPA,

along with state and tribal health departments, is improving the effectiveness of fish

consumption advisories, which if followed help reduce health risks to children who

eat fish and to the fetuses of pregnant women who eat fish.

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Potential Risks From

Contaminated Water
EPA Projects on Contaminants in Water and Fish

Contaminants in Water

Title: Children and Drinking Water Standards Brochure

Description: A question many people have on their minds is, “Should I be

concerned about the tap water my children are drinking?” This

brochure contains information on contaminants to which children

may be particularly sensitive, their sources, and what to do if their

water contains high levels of these contaminants. It also tells readers

where to get information on their local drinking water quality. The

brochure explains how national standards contribute to drinking

water safety, and helps readers make informed, reasonable choices

about the water they and their children drink.

Contact: Office of Water, Sherri Umansky, 202-260-0432

Title: Chronic Arsenic Exposure and Reproductive Effects from Drinking

Water

Description: This study is investigating the relationship of chronic exposure to

arsenic and reproductive outcomes. University of Kentucky

researchers will analyze existing data obtained from official and

hospital records and try to confirm preliminary findings that arsenic

exposure is associated with certain congenital anomalies. They also

will investigate general fetal, neonatal, and maternal mortality and

morbidity. A prospective study will investigate the association of

arsenic exposure and specific outcomes, including low birth weight,

prematurity, and pre-eclampsia. The researchers will assemble a

cohort of pregnant women recruited in their second or third trimester

of pregnancy and study them until the birth of their children. The

researchers also will measure maternal urinary arsenic levels as an

indicator of exposure from maternal ingestion of arsenic. They will

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measure newborn hair arsenic concentrations as an indicator of fetal

exposure through placental transfer.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Herman Gibb, 202-564-3334

Title: Evaluation of Arsenic Metabolic Profiles in Adults and Children

Description: EPA is studying populations exposed to arsenic in drinking water to

determine arsenic metabolic profiles in urine. Children and adults are

being studied to determine if there is any difference in metabolism

related to age or differences in ingestion habits.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hillel Koren, 919-966-6203

Title: Disinfectant Byproducts and Birth Defects

Description: This collaborative project with the National Center for

Environmental Health at the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention is examining the potential association of neural tube

defects and cardiac defects with exposure to disinfectant byproducts

in drinking water.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hillel Koren, 919-966-6203

Title: Community Intervention Studies for Drinking Water

Description: This study looks at communities before and after changes or

improvements in drinking water supplies or treatment. The study

monitors families with children between the ages of 2 and 10 for the

incidence of microbial enteric disease.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hillel Koren, 919-966-6203

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Title: Exposure of Children and Susceptible Populations to Chemicals in

Drinking Water

Description: Researchers on this project are analyzing data collected in the

National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) to determine whether such data can be used to improve the accuracy of

drinking water risk assessments and to identify specific subpopulations at risk. Chemicals of interest include selected metals,

pesticides, and volatile organics.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Michael Dellarco, 202-564-

3239

Title: Microbial Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts

Description: EPA has promulgated the first two of a group of rules that strengthen control of microbial pathogens, including Cryptosporidium, while

simultaneously reducing risk from potentially cancer-causing

byproducts that form when disinfectants come into contact with

organic material in water. These rules are collectively known as the

Microbial-Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts (M-DBP)

Rules. The new rules, the Interim Enhanced Surface Water

Treatment Rule and Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection

Byproducts Rule, were promulgated December 1998. Water systems

will be required to comply with the new standards by January 1,

2002. Future standards will continue to address the “risk-risk

balance” between protecting against microbial contaminants and the

byproducts of chemical disinfection. Children are among the sensitive subpopulations considered, and therefore will be protected by

these regulations.

Contact: Office of Water, Jennifer McLain, 202-260-0431, or Dan

Schmelling, 202-260-1439

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Title: Non-PRASA (Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority) Initiative

Description: There are 234 community public water systems in Puerto Rico that

are not in the PRASA system. Typically, these systems are owned

and operated by the community, serve poor rural communities of

fewer than 500, and are not incorporated; some provide no treatment

while others provide less than effective disinfection. Most systems

violate the coliform Maximum Contaminant Level and thus fail to

comply with U.S. drinking water standards. This initiative is

designed to increase public awareness of the need for safe drinking

water, provide basic disinfection, and improve overall drinking water

quality for the individuals served by these systems. EPA’s strategy

includes public education, curriculum development, technical assistance, financial assistance, and enforcement.

Contact: Region 2, Jose Font, 787-729-6826

Title: Safe Drinking Water Branch Compliance Workshops

Description: Contamination of drinking water by nitrate and bacteria can pose a

particular threat to infants. During the past year, Region 5 and

Ohio’s EPA staff conducted a series of seven compliance workshops

directed at small drinking water treatment systems that were in

violation of nitrate and total coliform monitoring regulations.

Representatives of 58 systems attended the workshops and signed

bilateral compliance agreements to conduct the required monitoring

and notify the public of their previous failure to test drinking water.

Timely monitoring will ensure that if there is a health threat, it will

be identified and corrected.

Contact: Region 5, Holly Wirick, 312-353-6704

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Title: Reduction/Elimination of Persistent Toxic Substances in Great

Lakes

Description: EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office and Region 5 continue

to work with several partners to eliminate the releases of specified

persistent toxic substances to the Great Lakes Basin. The strategy

targets PCBs, DDT, mercury, dioxins, and certain canceled pesticides for percentage reductions within a 10-year time frame on the

path to virtual elimination of these substances.

Partners: Environment Canada, Great Lakes states, industries, tribes, environmental groups, non-government organizations.

Contact: Region 5, Rita Cestaric, 312-886-6815

Title: Water Awareness Program

Description: Region 6 is developing a risk-based children’s health initiative to

target outreach efforts and technical assistance for communities with

degraded water quality and impaired recreational use. The Region

uses GIS data to obtain a geographic focus for water-related children’s health activities. The risks are analyzed using child

demographics, degree of vulnerability, and degree of impact. The

Region has developed a series of children’s educational games,

interactive activities, and children’s health displays as part of the

communication/outreach strategy for selected areas.

Contacts: Region 6, Paula Flores-Gregg, 214-665-8123, or Laura Talbot, 214-

665-6678

Title: Protecting Drinking Water Supplies

Description: Region 10 is working with Valley Family Health Care, Inc., in

Payette, Idaho, to address improper disposal and illegal dumping of

chemicals and sewage that impact farm workers, Hispanic migrant

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and seasonal farm workers, family members, children, and young

adults. The program participants are educated about contaminated

drinking water, improper methods of storing or consuming drinking

water, and other activities that can further contaminate water

supplies. The expected results are that program participants will

understand how to protect themselves from exposure to pesticides

and other chemicals.

Contact: Region 10, Cecila Contreras, 206-553-2899

Contaminants in Fish

Title: Non-Commercial Fish Consumption Kit for Health Care Providers

Description: EPA, in partnership with the Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry, is developing materials to assist health care

providers assess and educate clients who consume non-commercial

fish.

Contact: Office of Water, Jeff Bigler, 202-260-1305

Title: Fish Advisories

Description: EPA Region 2 has been actively involved in the public communication of fish advisories in the states of New York and New Jersey for

the past 3 years. The communication takes the form of flyers (some

translated into other languages), public service announcements, and

consultations with local health care providers, most particularly

prenatal and neonatal clinics. The bodies of water most involved are

the Hudson River, the New York/New Jersey Harbor, the Passaic

River, the Niagara River, and the Great Lakes. The advisories

communicate information about contaminants in fish to particular

populations at risk: sustenance anglers, pregnant and nursing

women, and children.

Contact: Region 2, Ann Rychlenski, 212-637-3672

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References

1. ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for PCBs. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry.

2. ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Arsenic. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry.

3. ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Mercury. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry.

4. ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Lead. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry.

5. ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Chromium. U.S. Department of Health and

Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry.

6. EPA. 1997. Before You Go to the Beach. Publication Number EPA 820-K-97-

001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

7. EPA. 1997. Should I Eat the Fish I Catch? Publication Number EPA 823-B97-009. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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EPA uses risk assessment to identify and judge the severity of potential harmful

effects to humans or ecosystems from exposure to environmental hazards. Risk

assessment is a complex, analytical process involving expertise in chemistry,

biology, ecology, statistics, medicine, and other disciplines.

For drinking water, EPA is working to ensure that the developmental studies used to

determine national drinking water standards are designed to evaluate lifetime effects

from exposures by infants and children during their formative years. To better

protect children and adults from swimming-related illnesses, EPA is addressing

limitations of current methods to measure, monitor, and communicate recreational

water quality. In the area of hazardous waste, EPA’s Superfund program analyzes

possible risks to children from exposure to hazardous waste sites. EPA uses several

exposure factors in the risk calculations that apply to children, including body

weight, inhalation rates, and ingestion rates to account for age-specific activities,

such as playing in soil.

A number of current EPA studies are under way to better characterize childhood

exposures, identify subpopulations that may be at risk, and improve exposure estimates for infants and children to toxic substances, such as pesticides, lead, and toxic

molds. EPA is identifying critical periods in a child’s development when exposure

can pose the greatest risks, and is determining the mechanisms that may increase or

decrease the likelihood of adverse outcomes in children compared to adults. Finally,

EPA is developing better risk assessment methods to account for combined exposures to a variety of substances and multiple routes of exposure. For instance, an

individual may be exposed to lead from several sources, such as contaminated

drinking water, lead-based paint, and airborne lead in densely populated or industrial areas. The exposures from all sources could be combined into one measure for an

assessment of combined risk to children.

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Predicting Health Risks

to Children
EPA Projects to Improve Risk Assessment

Water

Title: Genetic Damage Associated with DBPs

Description: In this project, researchers will address the differences in the distribution and metabolism of specific disinfectants/disinfection

byproducts (DBPs) among individuals and between adults and children. Estimates of these differences will be analyzed using models

constructed for adults and children. The cytochrome P-450 enzymes

in the liver are the focus of this study, because they are responsible

for a number of metabolic reactions that increase the toxicity of lowmolecular-weight compounds.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, John Lipscomb, 513-569-

7217

Title: Rapid Scientific Methods for Measuring the Quality of Bathing

Beach Waters

Description: Researchers are developing new ways to measure the quality of

recreational water and to address some of the limitations of current

methods that measure the density of E. coli or Enterococci bacteria.

Their methods make use of genetically engineered microbes, nucleic

acid probes, and immunological methods. The methods can quantitatively measure water quality indicators and can produce rapid results

without complex instruments. If successful, these methods will

provide water quality data in a timely manner and help protect adults

and children from swimming-associated illnesses.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Kristen Brenner, 513-569-

7317

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Title: Bathing Beaches Monitoring Protocols and Communicating

Swimming Activity Risk to the Public

Description: Current EPA-recommended monitoring practices for bathing beach

water quality have some limitations in their ability to protect the

people who are most at risk from swimming-associated illness,

particularly children. Researchers are addressing these limitations by

developing a scientifically defensible monitoring protocol for

bathing beach water that accounts for spatial and temporal variability, has national applicability, and can be translated into a simple

system that the public can use to make personal decisions about risks

associated with swimming and other recreational water activities.

The use of this protocol will ultimately result in greater protection of

adults and children from swimming-associated illnesses.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Kristen Brenner, 513-569-

7317

Hazardous Waste 

Title: Development of Guidance on the Use of Probabilistic Analysis in

Risk Assessment at Superfund Sites

Description: The Superfund program’s risk assessment process is used to evaluate

potential cancer risks and other hazards to children from exposure to

hazardous waste sites placed on the National Priorities List. EPA has

developed a document that provides technical guidance on the application of probabilistic analytical methods to human health risk

assessment, including risks to children. Probabilistic analysis is a

useful tool to characterize and quantify variability and uncertainty in

risk assessment. Risk assessors select exposure factors that predict

the potential risks of children living near a Superfund site. Risk

information is used to evaluate the potential need for site cleanup.

Contact: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, S. Steven Chang,

703-603-9017

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Title: Community Involvement in Superfund Risk Assessments

Description: EPA’s Superfund program staff is improving the way in which risks

to children and adults are assessed by enhancing the role of community involvement in risk assessment. EPA has developed a series of

new learning tools for both EPA staff and the public. A guidance

document provides suggestions to risk assessors for involving

communities in planning a risk assessment, identifying sites to

sample, and describing how people could be exposed to a Superfund

site. Information and fact sheets for the public describe risk assessment in clear terms and illustrate how people’s knowledge about a

site and their community can help EPA with risk assessment.

Educational videotapes, developed with the help of people across the

country who live near hazardous waste sites, help communicate how

EPA assesses risks and the ways in which people can help improve

site assessments in their communities.

Contact: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Jayne Michaud,

703-603-8847

Title: Superfund Basic Research Program

Description: EPA supports children’s health research through the Superfund Basic

Research Program (SBRP) administered by the National Institutes of

Environmental Health Sciences through an interagency agreement.

In FY 1999, EPA committed $37 million to the SBRP. The basic

research funded by EPA helps to reduce uncertainties in risk estimates and allows the agencies to better protect children and

susceptible communities. Children’s health research helps us understand the impact of chemical exposures on children during critical

periods of vulnerability. Examples of research supported by this

program include studies on the influence of in utero PCB exposures

on infant development and molecular epidemiology of childhood

leukemia.

Contact: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Jayne Michaud,

703-603-8847

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Title: Office of Solid Waste Risk Assessments

Description: EPA’s Office of Solid Waste recognizes the importance of evaluating

children’s health risks as part of risk assessments supporting

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste

regulations. EPA routinely uses information on childhood exposure

to assess child health risks associated with exposure to hazardous

waste. Recently published EPA rulemakings in which risks to children are explicitly considered include final standards for controlling

hazardous air pollutants emitted from hazardous waste incinerators,

proposed standards for the management and beneficial use of cement

kiln dust, and proposed hazardous waste listing determinations for

dye and pigment production wastes and wastes from the production

of chlorinated aliphatic chemicals. EPA also acknowledges the

uncertainties involved in assessing health risks to children as part of

its regulatory efforts, noting that methodologies for estimating environmental threats to children’s health are relatively new, are

currently being debated within the scientific community, and will

continue to evolve and improve.

Contact: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Charlotte Bertrand,

703-308-9053

Title: Determining Potential Exposure of Children near Superfund Sites

Description: EPA’s Superfund program staff evaluates potential risks to children

from exposure to hazardous waste sites. These evaluations include

assessing risks through ingestion of soil and inhalation, as well as

risks to children trespassing onto abandoned hazardous waste sites.

Risk assessors make appropriate changes to body weight, inhalation

rates, and ingestion rates to account for age-specific activities when

assessing risks to children. To assess potential risks to children from

lead exposure, risk assessors use the Integrated Exposure and Uptake

Biokinetic model for children 6 years old and under. The model

predicts changes in blood lead levels in the population and this information is used to evaluate the potential need for remediation.

Contact: Region 2, Audrey Galizia, 212-637-4352

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Title: Vega Baja Solid Waste Disposal

Description: The Vega Baja landfill site is an inactive, unlined landfill, located in

a rural area of Río Abajo Ward, Puerto Rico. Open burning occurred

on the landfill between 1948 and 1979. Approximately 200

dwellings are located on 11 acres of the site. The Puerto Rico

Environmental Quality Board conducted sampling to explore possible lead hazards in soil, tap water, and homegrown fruits and

vegetables. Also, the Puerto Rico Department of Health tested blood

lead levels of young children living in the Vega Baja site. Results

revealed no indication of health concerns. Future planned activities

include collection of indoor dust samples from homes at the site.

Contact: Region 2, Audrey Galizia 212-637-4352

Title: Children’s Exposure Priorities at/near Superfund Sites

Description: Region 5’s Superfund Division has developed a priority list of those

chemicals and environmental hazards commonly encountered at or

near Superfund sites that pose the greatest risk to children’s health.

This list will be used by policymakers to allocate resources and

implement appropriate actions for protecting children’s health at or

near Superfund sites. It will also be used to develop strategies for

protecting children’s health (e.g., developing outreach campaigns,

incorporating the chemical list in site investigation). This list will be

updated as new information becomes available.

Contacts: Region 5, Afif Marouf, 312-353-5550, or Ben Maradkel, 312-886-

2064

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Exposure

Title: Human Exposure-to-Dose Models: Models and Modeling Methods

for Assessing Human Exposure and Dose to Toxic Chemicals and

Pollutants

Description: This project aims to strengthen the general scientific foundation of

EPA’s regulatory risk assessment, management, and policy processes

by developing state-of-the-art mathematical modeling and solution

methods to describe the relationship between exposure and dose.

Differences in physiology, metabolism, and anatomy may create

alterations in absorption and hence risk among adults, children, and

infants. One result of this research will be to produce a modeling

framework and an integrated group of models that can be easily

modified for a variety of exposure assessment and risk characterization problems.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Jerry Blancato, 702-798-2456

Title: Dietary Exposure of Children

Description: The purpose of this research is to develop a protocol and model for

assessing a young child’s combined dietary intake of pesticides or

other environmental contaminants, including those “inherent” in

their foods as well as those that contaminate their foods during the

eating process (from hands, surfaces, etc.). Laboratory testing is

being conducted to characterize surface transfer coefficients and

related factors. Video analysis is helping the researchers analyze

contacts between foods and surfaces. Field testing will validate

protocols and measure dietary intakes of small children.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Maurice Berry, 513-569-7284

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Title: Developing Risk Assessment and Risk Management Models for

Exposure of Children to Toxic Mold, Using Stachybotrys chartarum

as the Model Mold

Description: The health effects caused by exposures of children to indoor molds

are complex and controversial. This proposed research project will

attempt to further our ability to assess and manage the risks associated with such exposures using a combination of aerobiologic,

epidemiologic, and modeling approaches. Stachybotrys chartarum

will serve as a model subject of the investigation for several reasons:

it is common in water-damaged buildings, it produces a series of

well-characterized and particularly potent toxins, and exposure to it

has been implicated in infant deaths from a disease known as

pulmonary hemosiderosis (PH). The project will bring to bear new

and rapid methods for the quantitative analyses of the spores and

toxins of this organism, and will attempt to correlate the occurrence

of PH disease with levels of exposures to these agents in a defined

population of potentially at-risk infants in the Cleveland, Ohio,

metropolitan area.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Steve Vesper, 513-569-7367

Title: Multipathway Exposure Modeling of Children and Adults to

Pesticides and Toxics

Description: The goal of this research is to develop a mathematical model to estimate exposure and absorbed dose to pesticides by children and

adults. Because young children are potentially at higher risk for

greater exposures to pesticides, this research emphasizes exposures

to children. Exposures to other toxics in the environment will subsequently be investigated using a multimedia/multipathway modeling

framework similar to that being developed for pesticide exposures.

Initially, a probabilistic exposure model for chlorpyrifos will be

modified. This model characterizes both uncertainty and variability

in input distributions and exposure factors. Additional microenvironments and pathways that are important for children’s exposure to

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pesticides, including the dermal exposure pathway and gastrointestinal absorption, will be incorporated into the new model.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Haluk Ozkaynak, 919-541-5172

Title: Workshop to Identify Critical Windows of Exposure for Children’s

Health

Description: A workshop was held in September 1999 in Richmond, Virginia, to

develop a “time line” of critical periods of development, and identify

the health effects that could result from exposures during those

times. The time line describes key exposure periods within human

development for selected health outcomes. Exposures may occur

pre-conceptionally (to either parent), prenatally, and postnatally.

Endpoints of interest for this project include developmental

outcomes identified at birth, asthma, cancer, neurologic/behavioral

effects, reproductive system effects, cardiovascular effects, diabetes,

and effects on general growth.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Sherry Selevan, 202-564-3312

Title: Childhood Exposure Factors Handbook

Description: This handbook is a compilation of statistical data on child-specific

exposure factors. The handbook includes data on sociodemographic

factors that affect exposure. A computer model will be developed to

access the applicable databases and calculate exposure using userdefined exposure scenarios.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Jacqueline Moya, 202-564-

6245

Title: IEUBK Model Expansion

Description: The Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) Model for

Lead in Children (version 0.99d), released in March 1994, has been

widely accepted in the risk assessment community as a tool for

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implementing the site-specific risk assessment process for childhood

lead exposure. The model has four components, or modules: exposure, absorption/uptake, biokinetics, and statistical output. There is a

need to expand the model to include adult exposure and to add

several features not currently available. In FY 1998, the exposure

module was expanded to a full age range (0 to 84 years) and revised

to incorporate several new model features and user options. The

uptake and biokinetic modules will be expanded in the same

manner. Each of the modules will undergo a limited circulation for

review and comment, to be completed during FY 2000. In FY 2000,

the all-ages lead model will be released for scientific review and

evaluation.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Elias, 919-541-4167

Title: EPA’s Contribution to Children’s Assessment in NHANES IV

Description: EPA is helping to support data collection through the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention in the National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey (NHANES) directed towards children between

the ages of 6 and 19 years. For approximately 1,100 adolescents and

young adults ages 12 to 19, the serum levels of the following

persistent organochlorines will be tested: B-HCH, chlordane, DDT

metabolites, dieldrin, heptachlor/HE, hexachlorobenzene, lindane,

mirex, oxychlordane, PCBs, toxaphene, and trans-nonachlor. These

individuals will also be tested for thyroid function. For approximately 800 children ages 6 to 11 and 800 adolescents ages 12 to 19, the

following high-priority pesticides will be tested in the urine: chlorpyrifos; diazinon; permethrin; 2,4-D; ortho-phenyl phenol; and

methyl parathion. EPA also is supporting the blood and urine collection procedures and the administration of research related to

potential exposures to these chemicals. Sample collection is taking

place in 1999 to 2000, and results are expected in 2001.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Sue Perlin, 202-564-3284

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Title: Children’s Risk: Summary Statistics of Selected Data Elements of

NHANES III

Description: As part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

(NHANES), this project generated databases and descriptive data on

a variety of exposures and health characteristics as a first step in

identifying topics for further exploration. The project report includes

tables of data by gender, age, and race/ethnicity.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Sherry Selevan, 202-564-3312

Title: Evaluation of Methods to Scale Pharmacokinetic Parameters

between Adults and Children

Description: This project will analyze the pharmacokinetic differences between

adults and children based on existing studies and will characterize

the variability of pharmacokinetic parameters among children within

given age groups.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, William Pepelko, 202-564-3309

Title: Ethnic and Minority Highly Exposed Children’s Populations

Description: This project examines and documents differences in exposure to

environmental contaminants in children of different racial, ethnic,

and socioeconomic groups.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Sherry Selevan, 202-564-3312

Title: Children’s Environmental Health and Safety Inventory of Research

Description: The Children’s Environmental Health and Safety Inventory of

Research (CHEHSIR) is an Internet-accessible database of federally

funded or sponsored research on environmental health risk and/or

safety risks that may uniquely or disproportionately affect children.

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The database was created as an interagency effort co-chaired by

EPA’s National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) and

the DHHS National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

(NIEHS). The database is available at http://www.epa.gov/chehsir.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Bruce Rodan, 202-564-3329

Title: Protective Mechanisms Theme

Description: The developmental processes of gametogenesis and embryogenesis

are protected from the effects of toxicants by a variety of biological

mechanisms. This research focuses on identifying and characterizing

protective mechanisms dependent on heat shock proteins (HSPs)

and/or glutathione (GSH). The research will determine specific

biological mechanisms potentially relevant to a wide range of reproductive and developmental exposures. Results from these

experiments will help define thresholds in dose-response studies,

validate biomarkers of response as useful components of predictive

dose-response models, and provide information for identifying

susceptible subpopulations.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Kavlock, 919-541-2771

Title: North Carolina Birth Cohort Study

Description: This long-term project, still under development, will establish a

cohort of children starting during gestation and follow them for the

next 20 years. Researchers will examine several exposure issues

(pesticides, persistent organochlorines, indoor and ambient air pollutants, and drinking water contaminants) while measuring

age-appropriate health endpoints (developmental, immunological,

neurological, and respiratory). Counties selected for study will be

representative of both urban and rural environments and provide

racial diversity.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hillel Koren, 919-966-6203

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Title: A Survey of Health and Environmental Conditions along the TexasMexico Border

Description: This study will establish a baseline of environmental health conditions along the Texas-Mexico border. The results will be used to

assess the need for environmental health education, environmental

monitoring, and promotion of targeted health services. The results

are also expected to lead to active surveillance for health conditions

related to environmental exposures, such as hepatitis A, pesticide

poisoning, lead poisoning, and asthma. The study will involve the

collection of existing demographic, environmental, and health data

from 2,100 randomly selected households in the principal population

areas along the border.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, David Otto, 919-966-6226

Title: Preparing Maps of Region 4 Depicting Environmental, Health, and

Demographic Characteristics

Description: This project is designed to determine how and if existing environmental, demographic, and health data can be utilized to identify

potential relative risks from environmental factors to children’s

health in Region 4. The areas of concern for the initial evaluation

include asthma, disorders caused by neurological/developmental

toxicants, childhood cancer, waterborne diseases (biological

pathogens), and acute responses to environmental contaminants (not

including accidental poisonings).

Contact: Region 4, Wayne Garfinkel, 404-562-8982

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Title: Environmental Pollutant Exposures in Children (EPEC) Project

Description: The EPEC workgroup is compiling exposure information for a list

of environmental pollutants that have potential health impacts for

children in Region 5. The purpose of this project is to assess exposure of children to environmental pollutants, including benzene,

dioxins, formaldehyde, lead compounds, mercury compounds,

nitrates/nitrites, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, toxaphene, trichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride.

This project will reduce data gaps in knowledge about childhood

exposures to environmental pollutants by addressing such questions

as: does exposure to environmental pollutants represent a health

concern for children? If so, what are the pollutants of concern and

what are the health concerns?

Contact: Region 5, Colleen Olsberg, 312-353-4686

Title: Site Assessment in Response to Cancer in Children: McFarland,

California

Description: McFarland is a small, largely Hispanic, agricultural community in

California’s Central Valley. For the past 21 years, it has had an

increased rate of childhood cancers documented by the California

Department of Health Services. EPA is sampling and analyzing

drinking water, soil, and air for releases of hazardous substances

associated with past industrial and agricultural practices to determine

current environmental conditions and identify any issues that may be

of concern to children’s health. Two rounds of sampling of drinking

water, including home faucets, and soil sampling have been

completed. EPA is continuing with plans for air monitoring in the

year 2000.

Contacts: Region 9, Mark Calhoon, 415-744-2376, or Elizabeth Adams, 415-

744-1704

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Title: West Oakland Urban Pilot Project

Description: West Oakland is a predominately minority community with mixeduse zoning. It includes many residences located near industrial

activities, and many children are living next door to high-hazard

facilities. EPA is engaged in several efforts to assess the environmental conditions and help build the community’s capacity to

respond to and advocate for environmental issues. EPA Region 9

arranged for an initial round of blood lead testing in the South

Prescott neighborhood of West Oakland.

Contact: Region 9, Carla Moore, 415-744-1938

Title: Defensible Space Project

Description: The African American Development Association was given a grant

to fund the “Defensible Space Project.” The project goal is to assess

and map all of the known polluters and storage facilities and their

locations with respect to sensitive receptors, such as schools or other

places where children gather. The project will provide an environmental snapshot of West Oakland and will be useful for many

aspects of community planning and building. It will also support

efforts to determine whether there is a correlation between public

health and the location of industrial facilities.

Contact: Region 9, Carla Moore, 415-744-1938

Cumulative Risk

Title: Assessment of Chemical Mixtures

Description: Children are frequently exposed in the environment to multiple

chemical mixtures. However, little is known about the age-dependent response to chemicals with similar modes of action. This project

examines the effects of chemical mixtures on various neurochemical

and functional measures in rodents of different ages. The overall

objectives of the project are (1) to assess the principle of additivity

as it relates to the effects of environmentally relevant chemicals in

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the brain, and (2) to determine if additivity varies as a function of

age. This research addresses the problem of cumulative toxicity, in

which children are exposed to many chemicals with similar modes

of action.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Hugh Tilson, 919-541-2671

Title: Update on Chicago Cumulative Risk Initiative (CCRI) Project

Description: This project, which examines complex exposures in urban industrial

areas around Southeast Chicago and Northwest Indiana, has entered

its second phase. Argonne National Laboratory is currently conducting a project to evaluate cumulative hazard impacts on children.

Contact: Region 5, Cheryl Newton, 312-353-6730

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EPA’s leadership in building international cooperation and technical capability is an

essential part of the U.S. role in promoting children’s environmental health in international organizations and other nations. The 1997 Declaration of the Environment

Leaders of the Eight on Children’s Environmental Health was adopted unanimously

at a summit hosted by EPA Administrator Carol Browner in May 1997. Seven

specific areas for international collaboration were identified:

• Improving environmental science and risk assessments by using more explicit

scientific knowledge of children’s characteristics.

• Reducing blood lead levels in children to below 10 micrograms per deciliter and

reducing child, infant, and maternal exposure to lead.

• Improving access worldwide to microbiologically safe drinking water.

• Reducing air pollution.

• Reducing children’s exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

• Increasing and coordinating scientific research on endocrine (hormone) disrupting chemicals.

• Taking decisive international action to confront the problem of global warming.

EPA is coordinating U.S. efforts to put into action the steps called for in the

Declaration. The Agency is working with other countries of the Eight, as well as

other international organizations, to further the goals of the Declaration.

In August 1998, EPA helped to fund and participated in the First International

Conference on Children’s Health and the Environment. This conference provided an

international forum for the latest research findings in pediatric environmental health,

identified opportunities to minimize childhood exposure to environmental contaminants worldwide, and initiated a review of future research in the field of children’s

environmental health.

In June 1999, EPA led a U.S. delegation to the World Health Organization’s

(WHO’s) Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health. The

Conference included more than 900 participants, including 72 ministers of environment and health. The London Declaration, adopted by 50 countries from the WHO

European Region, affirmed the countries’ commitment to specific measures that

will reduce the harmful effects of environmental degradation on human health. The

member states agreed to give greater emphasis in all relevant programs to the need

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Protecting Children

Worldwide
to prevent exposure of children to environmental threats, recognizing the special

vulnerability of children and reproductive health to environmental threats. They

agreed to endorse the priorities highlighted at the Conference: preventive strategies

for asthma and allergies, childhood accidents and injuries, environmental tobacco

smoke, and areas of emerging concern about effects of the environment on children’s health.

EPA International Projects

Asthma and Other Respiratory Effects

Title: Particulate Matter Epidemiology in Children

Description: This is a project to analyze and publish reports of an epidemiologic

study of children’s and adult’s respiratory health in relation to particulate matter (PM) exposure in the four Chinese cities of Chongqing,

Guangzhou, Lanzhou, and Wuhan. Reports from this study will

describe how exposure to size-specific ambient PM and indoor coal

smoke affect the prevalence of respiratory illness and symptoms in

children and their parents. The reports will also describe the effect of

these exposures on the long-term growth of spirometric lung function in the children.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Chapman, 919-541-

4492

Title: China Urban Respiratory Health Study

Description: The four Chinese cities of Chongqing, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, and

Wuhan exhibit a very wide range of ambient particulate matter

levels. Under the China-U.S. Environmental Protection Protocol,

China and the United States are cooperating in a longitudinal study

of respiratory health status and changes in respiratory health in relation to air pollution exposure in these cities. The health outcomes

being measured are the frequency and severity of respiratory illnesses and symptoms in children and adults, as determined by a

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standardized questionnaire, and the growth of ventilatory lung function in children, as determined by twice-yearly spirometric lung

function testing in elementary school children.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Robert Chapman, 919-541-

4492

Title: Children’s Lung Function Study in China

Description: This U.S.-China cooperative study in four Chinese cities will determine long-term effects on children’s lung function caused by several

air pollutants, including (1) ambient acid aerosols, particulates, and

sulfur oxides; and (2) indoor air pollution (coal smoke, environmental tobacco smoke). The study also examines the effects of changes

in ambient pollution levels on children’s lung function. Pilot study

results have shown a clear association between particulate matter

exposure and long-term reduction in elementary school children’s

lung function. The Children’s Lung Function Study in China is

ongoing and expanded as of 1999. The expansion will assess

changes in respiratory health status in relation to changes in outdoor

and indoor air pollution exposure over a 7-year interval (1994 to

2001).

Partners: China National Environmental Protection Agency, Robert Wood

Johnson Medical School, New Jersey

Contact: Office of International Activities, Marianne Bailey, 202-564-6429

Title: U.S.-Canada Air Quality Agreement

Description: This agreement covers priority air pollutants and involves reducing

smog pollution of the Midwest-Eastern regional airshed. It involves

federal, provincial, and state governmental cooperation and significant public and private stakeholder involvement. EPA and

Environment Canada also review, assess, and report on ground-level

ozone and its effects through joint biennial progress reports.

Partners: Environment Canada, others

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Contact: Office of Air and Radiation, Laurel Schultz, 919-541-5511

Developmental and Neurological Toxicity

Title: The Effects of Lead in Children and Adolescent Development

Description: EPA scientists are working with the National Institute of

Occupational Health (NIOH) in Ahmedabad, India, to study the

health effects of lead, specifically on growth and puberty in children.

The project is evaluating the effects of lead in a high traffic area of

Ahmedabad, as well as the effects of a lead smelter in Calcutta. The

project looks at multipathway exposure, dose, and health effects in

children.

Contact: Office of Research and Development, Gary Kimmel, 202-564-3308

Title: Alaska Native Cord Blood Monitoring Program

Description: This program is designed to monitor the levels of selected heavy

metals and persistent organic pollutants in umbilical cord blood and

maternal blood of indigenous groups of the Arctic, with an initial

focus on Alaska Native American populations. The project will take

50 percent of the samples from the Inuit population and 50 percent

from the Yupic population. Expansion of the project to other populations is under consideration.

Partners: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, State of Alaska, Tribal

Agencies, others

Contact: Office of International Activities, Seth Low, 202-564-6414

Title: National Strategy for Lead Risk Reduction in Russia

Description: A Russian federal strategy was prepared with U.S. expert support to

address sources of lead risk identified in 1996 by Russian experts.

U.S. assistance will continue in identifying effective economic

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mechanisms to reduce lead exposure in key sectors and incorporate

lead risk reduction measures into regional economic planning, industrial restructuring schemes, and privatization guidelines.

Partners: U.S. Agency for International Development, Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention

Contact: Office of International Activities, Sylvia Correa, 202-564-6443

Title: Children’s Blood Lead Level Screening in Russia

Description: This is the first study of pediatric blood lead levels in Russia. After

findings of an initial survey of the City of Saratov were presented in

January 1997, the United States and Russia agreed to repeat the

study in other Russian cities to establish a baseline for measuring

results of lead reduction activities. In 1998, EPA, the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, and the Russia Ministry of Health

investigated three additional Russian cities, Ekaterinburg,

Krasnouralsk, Volgograd. Data will be used to characterize the overall lead exposure problem in Russia.

Partners: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Contact: Office of International Activities, Sylvia Correa, 202-564-6443

Title: Mobile Source Training/Lead Phase-Out Training

Description: Working with international organizations, EPA has developed a

training program designed to encourage the phase-out of leaded

gasoline and reduce motor vehicle pollution. The course has been

delivered in two Latin American countries, two Chinese cities, the

English-speaking Caribbean countries, and central and eastern

Europe. It has been partially credited with China’s subsequent

commitment to phase lead out of gasoline by 2000. Additional deliveries are planned for Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Partners: World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization,

World Bank

Contact: Office of International Activities, Sylvia Correa, 202-564-6443

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Title: Epidemiologic Survey of Lead Exposure of Children in Tijuana,

Mexico

Description: An epidemiologic study of blood level concentration, lead use, and

socioeconomic and demographic factors will be conducted for children, ages 2 to 6, in Tijuana. The study will evaluate associations

between blood lead concentration in children and potential sources

of lead exposure at the neighborhood and household levels. As part

of this project, a blood lead testing laboratory will be established in

Tijuana. Information derived from this study will be used to establish public health priorities and to plan public health programs for

lead surveillance and control in Tijuana.

Partners: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Contact: Region 9, Winona Victery, 415-744-1021

Health Effects of Pesticides

Title: Pesticides Management Project in Central America

Description: This program assists governments of Central American countries to

regulate, monitor, and ensure safe use of pesticides. The national

program focuses on building capacity to develop regulations for

pesticide handling, storage, and use. The community-level program

targets agricultural workers and public health and safety issues related to pesticide use. It focuses on using protective equipment, safe

pesticide handling and application, container disposal, and avoiding

pesticide contamination of drinking water.

Partners: U.S. Agency for International Development

Contact: Office of International Activities, Pam Teel, 202-564-6424

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Potential Risks from Contaminated Water

Title: U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA)

Description: Under this agreement, EPA and Environment Canada review, assess,

and report biennially on ecosystem and health protection including

discharges of toxic substances and their effects in the Great Lakes

basin. A GLWQA Binational Strategy signed in April 1997 lists

targeted persistent toxics and sets ambitious discharge reduction

goals to better protect women of childbearing age, pregnant women,

and children. These provisions are particularly targeted to minority

cultures dependent upon family subsistence fishing and to other

people who depend on fish from the Great Lakes for food.

Partners: Environment Canada, others

Contact: Region 5, Rita Cestanic, 312-886-6815

Title: Microbiologically Safe Drinking Water Laboratory Capacity in Latin

America

Description: Illness associated with contaminated drinking water and inadequate

sewage management poses serious threats to public health throughout the Americas, and disproportionately afflicts children. EPA will

provide technical assistance from its national laboratories to help

convert the Pan-American Health Organization’s training laboratory

in Lima, Peru, to a microbiological drinking water reference laboratory serving all of Latin America. Technical expertise, technology

transfer, and training will be provided to assist with monitoring

programs and certifying compliance with World Health Organization

drinking water quality guidelines.

Partners: World Health Organization, Pan-American Health Organization

Contact: Office of International Activities, Stephanie Adrian, 202-564-6444

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Title: Municipal Water Management in Latin America

Description: This project seeks to improve human health and child survival in

Latin American and Caribbean countries through better access to

microbiologically safe drinking water. Activities include training

Peace Corps volunteers on ways to improve drinking water supplies,

protect watersheds, and improve community sanitation and wastewater treatment practices.

Partners: U.S. Peace Corps

Contact: Office of International Activities, Stephanie Adrian, 202-564-6444

Title: The Central American Small Community Wastewater Treatment

Project

Description: This project focuses on the use of appropriate wastewater treatment

technologies to reduce microbiological contamination of water used

for household purposes and to ensure safer water for communities

downstream.

Partners: U.S. Agency for International Development

Contact: Office of International Activities, Stephanie Adrian, 202-564-6444

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As part of its National Agenda to Protect Children’s Health from Environmental

Threats, EPA is committed to expanding educational efforts with health and environmental professionals to identify, prevent, and reduce environmental health

threats to children.

Some EPA-sponsored environmental education programs teach children about environmental health issues of particular interest to them and their families. Other

programs provide skills and knowledge that parents, educators, and community

leaders can use to help protect children from environmental health risks. The principles of environmental justice—that all people must have the opportunity to live in a

healthy environment and that environmental laws apply without discrimination

based on race, ethnicity, culture, or economic status—guide EPA’s efforts to

promote improved access to information and educational programs for poor and

disadvantaged communities.

EPA Environmental Education Projects

Health Care Providers

Title: Environmental Health Workshops

Description: The East Texas Area Health Education Center (AHEC), in cooperation with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,

designed a workshop curriculum to promote an increased awareness

among health care providers of the unique problems associated with

the exposure of children to hazardous substances in the environment

and enhance skills important for the diagnosis and treatment of

exposed children. The curriculum will be used to present five handson workshops to health care providers in Texas, including

U.S.-Mexico border cities.

Partners: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Area Health

Education Centers, University of Texas Medical Branch at

Galveston, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health

Resources and Services Administration

Contact: Region 6, Evelyn Daniels, 214-665-7543

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Environmental Education

Related to Children’s

Health
Title: Community-Based Training for Lay Health Promoters (Promotores)

and Primary Care Clinicians

Description: By means of an interagency agreement between EPA and the Health

Resources and Services Administration, a contract was awarded to

the Farm Worker Justice Fund to implement community-based training for lay health promoters (promotores) and primary care

clinicians along the U.S.-Mexico border. The training is aimed at

preventing exposure to environmental health hazards and promoting

early recognition and treatment of environmentally related illness,

especially with regard to children. The training will take place in

four locations along the border in Regions 6 and 9, and at least 200

persons are expected to be trained.

Partner: Health Resources and Services Administration

Contact: Region 6, Nelda Perez, 214-665-2209

Pediatric Centers

Title: Pediatric Environmental Health Speciality Unit

Description: EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

(ATSDR) have established a Pediatric Environmental Health

Speciality Unit (PEHSU) in Region 4 at Emory University. The

PEHSU will provide medical education, expert consultation, and

training to evaluate the potential adverse health impacts to young

children exposed to environmental contaminants. The Unit will

serve as a resource for pediatricians, other health care providers,

parents, teachers, the public, and EPA and ATSDR staff nationwide.

The Unit will also focus on pediatric environmental medicine as

well as clinical specialty referrals for children.

Contacts: Region 4, Wayne Garfinkel, 404-562-8982, or Delores RodgersSmith, 404-562-8688

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Environmental Education Related to Children’s Health
Title: Center for Children’s Environmental Health at Cook County

Hospital, Chicago, Illinois

Description: The Center for Children’s Environmental Health, established in May

1999, provides professional training, clinical services, consultation,

diagnostic evaluation, technical assistance, and data collection in the

area of pediatric environmental health and illness in Region 5. The

Center is jointly funded by EPA and the Agency for Toxic

Substances and Disease Registry. Cook County Hospital is the

primary provider of pediatric health services for indigent children in

the Chicago area. This allows the Center to focus on the environmental health needs of disadvantaged children at increased risk of

environmental exposures, while providing services regionwide. The

Center will also implement an EPA-supported Environmental

Exposure Questionnaire. The Center will be able to provide

geographically specific data on environmental health problems to

help EPA target intervention, prevention, and outreach activities

more effectively.

Contact: Region 5, Edward Master, 312-353-5830

Other Environmental Education Projects

Title: Environmental Justice in the “Hood” 1999

Description: For the fourth year, EPA has co-sponsored this popular and growing

symposium to gather activists and residents from the Massachusetts

communities of Chelsea, Chinatown, Dorchester, East Boston,

Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End

to discuss current issues surrounding environmental justice. This

year’s event was held on April 10, 1999, at Roxbury Community

College in Boston. Topics included lead in homes and yards, urban

air toxins, issues surrounding exhaust fumes from MBTA buses, and

environmental hazards indoors. All of these concerns directly affect

the health of urban children and their families.

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Partners: ACE, Bowdoin Street Health Center, Dudley Street Neighborhood

Initiative, Egleston Square Neighborhood Association,

Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods Against

Urban Pollution, Roxbury Community College.

Contacts: Region 1, Kristy Rea, 617-918-1595, or Lois Adams, 617-918-1632

Title: An Afternoon with UEI: Community Gardens/Urban Agriculture

Description: EPA’s Urban Environmental Initiative (UEI) hosts a number of seminars that highlight the efforts of many of EPA’s partners. An April

28, 1999, workshop in Boston focused on the positive health and

social effects that community gardens and urban agriculture have on

urban neighborhoods. Not only are the gardens a source of civic

pride and a chance to reclaim abandoned or vacant lots and turn

them into a “sea of green,” but they provide a safe place for children

to spend time and enhance their awareness of the beauty of nature

and the importance of their environment. Community gardens can

also provide a safe source of food and nutrition for communities

with limited finances.

Contacts: Region 1, Kristy Rea, 617-918-1595, or Lois Adams, 617-918-1632

Title: Healthy Schools: Designing, Renovating, and Maintaining Our

School Buildings

Description: EPA participated in a statewide conference at Clark University in

Worcester, Massachusetts, on June 2, 1999, to explore the current

best practices for designing and maintaining healthy buildings for

the education of children in Massachusetts. Also explored were

ways to renovate existing schools in a manner that is safe and

reduces adverse health effects to children, teachers, and construction

workers. Participants learned how to reduce toxins and health

hazards in schools, and learned about the importance of community

and civil rights. Follow-up surveys and workshops are being scheduled to continue the Healthy Schools Network.

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Environmental Education Related to Children’s Health
Partners: Massachusetts Healthy Schools Network, Massachusetts Medical

Society, Massachusetts Public Health Association, Massachusetts

Teachers Association, U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil

Rights, Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health

Contacts: Region 1, Mary Beth Smuts, 617-918-1528

Title: Urban and Environmental Initiative

Description: Region 1’s Urban Environmental Initiative (UEI) works aggressively

to identify and solve local environmental and environmental health

issues in Providence, Hartford, and Boston. UEI program managers

are incorporating children’s environmental health issues into local

community planning efforts. The initiative includes programs to

address asthma and lead poisoning in these key New England urban

centers.

Contact: Region 1, Lois Adams, 617-918-1632

Title: Education about Asthma, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, and Lead

Description: Region 2 provided $15,000 to a community group called West

Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT), located in Harlem, New

York. WE ACT will conduct education in childcare centers and other

relevant locations in Harlem, Washington Heights, and other lowincome parts of the city regarding asthma, environmental tobacco

smoke, and lead.

Contact: Region 2, Rachel Chaput, 212-637-4001

Title: Asthma and Lead Abatement Training and Education (ALATE),

Camden, New Jersey, and Northern Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description: This project, funded at $287,635, is designed to build the capacity of

residents and community groups in Camden and Philadelphia to

confront and reduce the problems of lead poisoning and asthma.

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ALATE trains selected community residents (adults and high school

students) to educate care givers about the hazards of exposure to

lead and asthma-inducing allergens. The program also aims to

educate care givers about the importance of screening and followup

care for children at risk of lead poisoning and asthmatic episodes.

ALATE hopes to develop mechanisms to promote healthy home

environments for all community members and increase public

awareness of the hazards of lead poisoning and asthma for all

people, especially young children. ALATE also intends to work for

housing and health care policies that effectively protect children

from the hazards of lead poisoning and asthma.

Contact: Region 2, Maureen O’Neill, 212-637-5025

Title: Environmental Education Grants

Description: EPA is in its sixth round of awards of Environmental Education

grants, authorized under section 6 of the National Environmental

Education Act of 1990. In 1998, Region 2 awarded $196,000 in

grants.

Contact: Region 2, Terry Ippolito, 212-637-3671

Title: Environmental Justice Grants

Description: Since 1994, the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program has

awarded grants to nonprofit grassroots organizations. During FY

1998, $240,000 in grant funds were awarded to organizations that

targeted children’s health issues, primarily the prevention of leadpaint poisoning.

Contact: Region 2, Melva Hayden, 212-637-5027

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Environmental Education Related to Children’s Health
Title: Getting a Head Start on Environmental Education

Description: This EPA-funded project provides education in environmental health

for teachers and parents of preschool children who live in the vicinity of the highly contaminated San Jose lagoon in the San Juan Bay

Estuary. Two eight-part workshops target teachers, health professionals, and parents. Participants develop educational materials (suitable

for a tropical environment) that teach children how pollution, environmental health, and human behavior are connected. Activities

include identification of specific risk factors and behaviors in the

participants’ immediate communities and development of a guide

that focuses on health issues relevant to nearby communities and

Head Start centers. Staff of Head Start programs develop activities to

help children form healthy habits.

Partners: Technological College of the Municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico

Contact: Region 2, Terry Ippolito, 212-637-4445

Title: Newark Asthma and Lead Poisoning Education and Risk Reduction

Project

Description: This EPA-funded project reaches 1,000 parents and care givers of

young children, teaching them about risk reduction and better

management of chronic conditions related to asthma and lead

poisoning. Through the program, 12 participants in the Youth

Corps/School-to-Work program and 16 members of Volunteers In

Service to America (VISTA) are being trained to work with the

parents and care givers, encouraging them to adopt practices in the

home that can help reduce the risks of asthma and lead poisoning.

The International Youth Organization (IYO) uses its network of

childcare centers, elementary schools, block clubs, tenant associations, and community centers in Newark’s Enterprise Community

target area to reach its intended audience and educate people about

important indoor air quality issues that affect children’s health.

Partners: International Youth Organization, New Jersey

Contact: Region 2, Terry Ippolito, 212-637-4445

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Title: Children’s Pesticides, Asbestos and Lead (PAL) Initiative

Description: The Children’s PAL Initiative, begun in 1998 in Baldwin County,

Georgia, is a community-based outreach and education program

designed to minimize children’s exposures to environmental health

hazards like lead-based paint, pesticides, secondhand smoke, radon,

polychorinated biphenyls, and asbestos. The program is designed to

use resources in the community and government to help empower

families and neighborhoods to take better care of their children’s

environment. A multi-agency steering team made up of representatives from federal, state, and local agencies that address children’s

health issues provides direction and guidance to the citizen’s advisory panel.

Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health has been working with Region 4 to implement this initiative and conduct an

assessment to provide community-specific information on children’s

environmental health issues. The community-specific data will help

establish community-tailored interventions to address the environmental health hazards to children. As a result of the relationships

established with the local government, health care, education, interfaith organizations, and communities, interventions have been well

received and supported by the community. These interventions used

new environmental health outreach and education material. Students

from the School of Health and Sciences at Georgia College and

State University are participating in the educational outreach activities. Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health has

presented information on the children’s environmental health education interventions developed from this project at national clinical and

public health conferences.

Contacts: Region 4, Wayne Garfinkel, 404-562-8982

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Environmental Education Related to Children’s Health
Title: Second Annual Region 5 Children’s Environmental Health

Conference

Description: Region 5 organized its second annual Children’s Environmental

Conference, held in July 1999. This year’s event, called the

Workshop on Actions to Take for Children’s Health (WATCH),

focused on helping communities learn about prevention, intervention, education, and collaboration efforts to reduce environmental

health risks to children. The workshop was attended by more than

220 community organization representatives, health care providers,

educators, tribal members, and representatives from local, state, and

federal agencies. More than 50 speakers discussed a variety of

topics, including prevention of asthma, pesticide exposures, and lead

and mercury poisoning; safe drinking water; educating tribal health

care professionals; community coalition building; and training health

care providers about environmental health issues. Workshop attendees identified actions needed to protect children’s environmental

health at the local level.

Contact: Region 5, Holly Wirick, 312-353-6704

Title: Pollution Prevention Educational Demonstrations

Description: Pollution prevention educational demonstrations, involving activities

from the Pollution Prevention Education Toolbox, were conducted

for numerous educator, student, and general audiences at Chicago

public schools and other Chicago-area schools, national and regional

conferences, tribal events, and environmental festivals. The Pollution

Prevention Toolbox can be downloaded from the EPA Region 5

Pollution Prevention Home Page at

http://www.epa.gov/region5/waste/p2pages/toolbox.htm.

Contact: Region 5, Dolly Tong, 312-886-1019

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Title: Environmental WATCH Small Grants: Operation Clean Sweep

Description: Region 5 issued small, community-based grants promoting children’s environmental health and pollution prevention to

organizations that participated in the Environmental WATCH. As

part of “Operation Clean Sweep,” the Campfire Boys and Girls of

Chicago has been funded to create a self-reliance class to teach

parents and children about environmental health risks.

Contact: Region 5, Holly Wirick, 312-353-6704

Title: Children’s Video: “E-Hazards”—They’re Out There...

Description: Children can join investigators Lana and Wolf on a mission to identify environmental hazards in a neighborhood just like their own.

Complete with whiz-bang gadgets, mischievous characters, and the

latest information for kids, this tale is told in “X-Files” fashion, full

of mystery, discovery, and humor. As kids enjoy this video, they will

become more aware of how to protect themselves from everyday

environmental hazards in and near their homes.

Contacts: Region 6, Paula Flores-Gregg, 214-665-8123, or Laura Talbot, 214-

665-6678

Title: Children’s Health Booklet: “E-Hazards”—They’re Out There...

Description: This information booklet links with the video described above,

offering additional precautions and health information, as well as

useful Web sites, hotlines, and other information to parents and

educators.

Contacts: Region 6, Paula Flores-Gregg, 214-665-8123, or Laura Talbot, 214-

665-6678

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Environmental Education Related to Children’s Health
Title: Educating Parents about Environmental Dangers to Children

Description: Chance, Inc., reaches an under-served segment of ethnically diverse,

low-income families participating in traditional financial service

needs programs. With EPA funding, as part of their home visit

program, Chance is educating their clients about environmental

health issues, including pest control, pesticide use, lead poisoning,

poisoning from gas heaters, radon, mercury, asbestos, secondhand

smoke, and poisonous plants.

Partners: Chance, Inc., Texas

Contact: Region 6, Jo Taylor, 214-665-2204

Title: Healthy Environments and Living Places (HELP) for Kids

Description: This community-based children’s health project trains residents to

perform indoor environmental assessments of homes, home-based

childcare, and schools. Indoor environmental risks that children are

exposed to are identified, and recommendations are made for risk

reduction. All environmental media are included; however, the

project centers on issues that are within the control of the care giver.

Environmental risks to be evaluated include lead-based paint, radon,

environmental tobacco smoke, pesticides, carbon monoxide,

hazardous household chemicals, and asthma triggers.

Partners: American Lung Association of New Mexico, City of Albuquerque

Environmental Health Department, Albuquerque Community Health

Partnership, Sawmill Advisory Committee, University of Tulsa

Contact: Region 6, Mike Miller, 214-665-7550

Title: Childhood Asthma and Allergies Conference

Description: Region 6 hosted a 3-day Childhood Asthma Conference in May

2000 in Dallas, Texas, to address the prevention and treatment of

childhood asthma. The target audience for the conference includes

practicing health care professionals and organizations involved in the

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prevention of asthma triggers. The unique aspect of this conference

is that it brings together health care professionals and indoor environmental engineering control professionals for a 2-day exchange of

ideas and information about the best available control and treatment

technology for the prevention, control, or management of asthma

episodes in children.

Partners: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centers (Dallas and San

Antonio), Harris Methodist Health Plan, Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

(NIEHS), U.S. Public Health Service, University of Tulsa,

University of Washington

Contact: Region 6, Evelyn Daniels, 214-665-7543

Title: Environmental Education in the Paris School District

Description: With EPA funding, the Edgar County Public Health Department and

Southeast Missouri State University work with teachers and students

in the Paris School District to provide training and resources for the

implementation of an environmental education program that features

the investigation of an ecosystem adjacent to the city’s drinking

water source. The program establishes and implements an innovative multidisciplinary science education and research program that

includes both classroom and field components for 1,000 students in

grades 6 through 12.

Partners: Edgar County Public Health Department, Missouri

Contact: Region 7, Lori Walker, 913-551-7926

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Environmental Education Related to Children’s Health
Title: Children’s Health Forum

Description: Region 8 and the Colorado Department of Public Health and

Environment held a children’s health forum in May of 1999. The

purpose of the forum was to help bridge the gap between environmental and health officials on issues relating to asthma, pesticides,

and lead. Bringing these groups together built awareness of efforts

occurring throughout the State of Colorado and promoted better

collaboration and more efficient use of resources.

Contact: Region 8, Whitney Trulove-Cranor, 303-312-6099

Title: Children’s Health Display

Description: Region 8 developed a Children’s Health Display that has been used

for several events in Colorado, including the Globeville Community

Health Fair, Asthma Awareness Day, the Girl Scouts Tri-S’more

Health Fair, and the National Right-to-Know Conference.

Contact: Region 8, Whitney Trulove-Cranor, 303-312-6099

Title: Hazardous Materials Awareness and Preparedness Training

Description: The Oakland, California, Fire Service Agency was awarded a

$20,000 grant to develop and implement this program. The Fire

Department has prepared a workbook that includes maps of the

neighborhoods of West Oakland. It has also been training community members to read hazardous material placards, set up emergency

command posts, and respond appropriately in case of a hazardous

material emergency. This training includes instruction on which

chemicals are most harmful to young children and people with respiratory difficulties.

Contact: Region 9, Carla Moore, 415-744-1938

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Title: Environmental Health Resources for Schools

Description: To provide schools with “one-stop shopping” for EPA’s environmental health resources and programs, Region 10 has recently

coordinated school outreach dealing with children’s health issues. A

mailing has been sent to every school district in the region outlining

the programs and resources available to them from EPA to support

their work in children’s environmental health protection and

providing additional information on their responsibilities to protect

children’s health. Additionally, Region 10 has launched a new web

page on which this information is consolidated and is updating the

popular Environmental Hazards in Schools manual.

Contact: Region 10, Pam Emerson, 206-553-1287

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Enhanced Community

Right-to-Know

EPA is enforcing the requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community

Right-to-Know Act and is vigorously expanding public access to Agency information on pollution. With this information, parents can help prevent pollution in

their neighborhoods and protect the health of their communities’ children.

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a national database that provides the

public with annual information on the environmental release of more than 600

toxic chemicals commonly used by industry (www.epa.gov/tri). More than

31,000 industrial facilities across the country are required to provide EPA with

reports on the types and amounts of chemicals they release to the air, land, and

water. Hazardous emissions have been reduced by 61 percent since 1987. EPA

will use the TRI program to ensure that parents, teachers, and health care

providers are aware of potential sources of contamination that may affect children’s health.

Other regulatory requirements provide for the public’s right to know about toxic

substances to which people may be exposed. For example, the Safe Drinking

Water Act Amendments of 1996 contain extensive provisions for consumer

involvement. The provisions are founded on the principle that, before they turn

on their taps, consumers have a right to know what is in their drinking water

and where the water comes from. The Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)

includes special right-to-know provisions that provide more public information

about risks from pesticides on foods. Such information can be the means for

consumers to make more informed decisions.

On the eve of Earth Day 1998, Vice President Gore announced the Chemical

Right-to-Know Initiative (ChemRTK), calling on EPA and industry to address

immediately the massive gap in information on industrial chemicals. He also

committed EPA to “...review and report on what new testing may be needed to

assess the special impact industrial chemicals may have on children.” An EPA

study revealed that less than 7 percent of the 2,800 high-production-volume

(HPV) chemicals have a full set of baseline testing data publicly available, and

almost half of the HPV chemicals have no data publicly available. The

ChemRTK Initiative is being implemented by a combination of voluntary and

regulatory programs. A major component of the initiative, the HPV Challenge

Program, encourages industry to voluntarily sponsor chemicals to provide data.
Enhanced Community Right-to-Know Page 159

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

At the core of ChemRTK is a commitment to making data available to the

public in a form that is easy to access, use, and understand. More than 200

companies and 50 industry consortia have committed to sponsor more than

1,250 chemicals in the HPV Challenge Program.

EPA Community Right-to-know Activities

Title: Children’s Health Chemical Testing Program

Description: The Children’s Health Testing Program is a component of the

Chemical Right-to-Know (ChemRTK) Initiative. EPA has begun

a stakeholder dialogue to design and develop a voluntary

program to test commercial chemicals to which children have a

high likelihood of exposure.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Catherine

Roman, 202-260-8155

Title: Pre-Renovation Information Rule

Description: The Pre-Renovation Information Rule, published in June 1998,

requires renovators to provide a lead hazard information

pamphlet to owners and occupants of pre-1978 housing before

beginning work. In addition, the rule requires notification on the

nature of the renovation activities in certain circumstances

involving multi-family housing. This rule ensures that owners

and occupants of target housing are provided with information

about potential hazards of lead-based paint exposure before

certain renovations are begun. The rule went into effect on June

1, 1999.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Dayton

Eckerson, 202-260-1591
Title: Lower Threshold for Lead TRI Reporting

Description: In August 1999, EPA issued a proposed rule to lower the threshold for reporting of lead releases to TRI. Currently, facilities are

not required to report their lead and lead compound releases to

the air, water, and land unless they manufacture or process more

than 25,000 pounds annually or use more than 10,000 pounds

annually. These high thresholds severely limit the reporting of

lead and lead compounds. Under the proposed rule, the reporting

thresholds would be lowered to 10 pounds per facility per year

and would substantially increase the amount of information made

available to the public through TRI by about 13 percent, or

15,000 reports.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Dan

Bushman, 202-260-3882

Title: TRI Education Product

Description: EPA developed teaching materials for junior and senior high

school students on TRI through a grant with the National Science

Teachers Association. The materials, developed by science and

social studies teachers, introduce and encourage the use of large

databases as an educational tool in the classroom. EPA sponsored

this effort to provide a greater understanding of the usefulness of

TRI data and to help make environmental information in general

more relevant for educational purposes. The materials include a

TRI CD-ROM and user’s manual, The Toxics Release Inventory

Teachers Guide, Getting Started (a road map of ideas for how to

introduce environmental education in the classroom), and EPA’s

Guide to Environmental Database Basics.

Contact: Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances,

Georgianne McDonald, 202-260-4182

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Title: Drinking Water Quality Reports

Description: In 1999, for the first time, EPA required water suppliers to

provide annual drinking water quality reports to their customers.

Water systems were required to deliver the first annual reports by

October; starting in 2000, they will send them by July. Each

report provides consumers with the following essential information about their drinking water: the lake, river, aquifer, or other

source; the level (or range of levels) of the contaminants found in

local drinking water; EPA’s health-based standard for comparison; the likely source of contaminants found in the drinking

water supply; the potential health effects of any contaminant

found in violation of an EPA health standard; and phone numbers

to call for more information. Reports may be obtained by calling

the local water supplier. Many reports are available on the

Internet through EPA’s Local Drinking Water Information page at

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.html.

Contact: Office of Water, Rob Allison, 202-260-9836.

Title: The Children’s Healthline

Description: Created by the Region 3 Children’s Health Program, this electronic newsletter attempts to educate the public on various

environmental health issues. Insight from EPA experts and

medical practitioners is often included in the newsletters. The

dangers of UV exposure from the sun, lead from renovation

activities, and asthma from indoor air triggers were featured in

the most recent editions. A new Region 3 Children’s Health

website was created to make the Healthlines available to a larger

audience; it can be found at www.epa.gov/reg03esd1/childhealth/index.htm

Contact: Region 3, Gail Tindal, 215-814-2069 or Dan Welker, 215-814-

2744

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The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement
This chapter contains sources of additional information, lists of EPA publications

related to children’s health topics, and references for hotlines and Internet resources.

Most of the resources listed below focus specifically on children or issues of

primary importance during the developmental years. Others address EPA efforts to

protect the environment where children live, learn, and play. The listing is not

intended to be exhaustive, but to allow readers to better understand how to protect

children’s health.

Contacting EPA

For additional information on the EPA children’s environmental health projects

inventoried in this document, you may call the individuals listed as contacts for

each project. For additional children’s environmental health information at EPA,

address all correspondence using the following addresses and telephone numbers:

EPA Headquarters

Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Children’s Health Protection

Ariel Rios Building, MC 1107

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20460-0001

Phone: 202-260-7778

Toll Free Number: 877-590-KIDS

Internet: http://www.epa.gov

Children’s Health home page: http://www.epa.gov/children

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Children’s Health

Resources
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The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

EPA Regions and Regional Children’s Environmental Health

Coordinators 

Region 1

(Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

One Congress Street, Suite 1100

John F. Kennedy Building

Boston, MA 02114-2023

Phone: 617-918-1111

Toll-free (within Region 1): 888-372-7341

Fax: 617-918-1029

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region1

Coordinator: Alice Kaufman

Mail Code: (RAA)

Phone: 617-918-1064

Fax: 617-918-1029

Email: kaufman.alice@epa.gov

Region 2

(New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

290 Broadway

New York, NY 10007-1866

Communications Division: 212-637-3660

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region2

Coordinator: Maureen O’Neill

Mail Code: Office of the Regional Administrator

Phone: 212-637-5025

Fax: 212-637-4943

Email: oneill.maureen@epa.gov

Children’s Health Resources
Region 3

(Pennsylvania, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West

Virginia)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1650 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029

Phone: 215-814-5000

Fax: 215-814-5103

Customer Service Center: 800-438-2474

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region3

E-mail: r3public@epa.gov

Coordinator: Gail Tindal

Mail Code: (3WC00)

Phone: 215-814-2069

Fax: 215-814-2782

Email: tindal.gail@epa.gov

Alternate Coordinator: Dan Welker

Mail Code: (3ES10)

Phone: 215-814-2744

Fax: 215-814-1782

Email: welker.dan@epa.gov

Region 4

(Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama,

Georgia, Florida)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

61 Forsyth Street, S.W.

Atlanta, GA 30303-3104

Phone: 404-562-9900

Toll-free: 800-241-1754

Fax: 404-562-8174

Public Affairs and Information: 404-562-8327

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region4

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Coordinator: Wayne Garfinkel

Mail Code: (4AT-TS)

Phone: 404-562-8982

Fax: 404-562-8972

Email: garfinkel.wayne@epa.gov

Region 5

(Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL 60604-3507

Phone: 312-353-2000

Fax: 312-353-4135

Toll Free Number: 800-621-8431

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region5

Coordinator: Maryann E. Suero

Regional Team Manager

Mail Code: (T-13J)

Phone: 312-886-9077

Fax: 312-886-9697

Email: suero.maryann@epa.gov

Alternate Coordinator: Colleen Olsberg

Mail Code: (DRP-8J)

Phone: 312-353-4686

Fax: 312-353-4788

Email: olsberg.colleen@epa.gov

Region 6

(New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Fountain Place 12th Floor, Suite 1200

1445 Ross Avenue

Dallas, TX 75202-2733

Phone: 214-665-2200

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Children’s Health Resources
Toll-free (within Region 6): 800-887-6063

Fax: 214-665-7113

General Information: 214-665-2200

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region 6

Coordinator: Evelyn G. Daniels

Mail Code: (6PD-T)

Phone: 214-665-7543

Fax: 214-665-6762

Email: daniels.evelyn@epa.gov

Region 7

(Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

901 North 5th Street

Kansas City, KS 66101-2798

Phone: 913-551-7003

Fax: 913-551-7467

Toll Free Number: 800-223-0425

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region7

Coordinator: Lori Walker

Mail Code: (POISPLMG)

Phone: 913-551-7926

Fax: 913-551-9926

Email: walker.lori@epa.gov

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Region 8

(Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

999 18th Street, Suite 500

Denver, CO 80202-2466

Phone: 303-312-6312

Fax: 303-312-6339

Environmental Information Service Center: 800-227-8917

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region8

E-mail: r8eisc@epa.gov

Coordinator: Alicia Aalto

Mail Code: (8P-AR)

Phone: 303-312-6967

Fax: 303-312-6064

Email: aalto.alicia@epa.gov

Region 9

(California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

75 Hawthorne Street

San Francisco, CA 94105-3901

Phone: 415-744-1305

Fax: 415-744-2499

General Public Inquiries: 415-744-1500

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region9

E-mail: r9.info@epa.gov

Coordinator: Jean Circiello

Mail Code: (SPE-1)

Phone: 415-744-1631

Fax: 415-744-2360

Email: circiello.jean@epa.gov

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Children’s Health Resources
Region 10

(Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Sixth Avenue

Seattle, WA 98101-3188

Phone: 206-553-1200

Fax: 206-553-0149

Toll Free Number: 800-424-4372

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/region10

Coordinator: Pam Emerson

Mail Code: EXA-142

Phone: 206-553-1287

Fax: 206-553-1049

Email: emerson.pamela@epa.gov

EPA also operates a number of hotlines and clearinghouses. Those that offer publications and information relevant to topics covered in this report are listed in the

appropriate sections below. For information on other EPA offices, locations, public

information centers, hotlines, and clearinghouses, check the EPA home page or call

the regional office nearest you.

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The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement
Obtaining EPA Publications 

EPA is making important progress to provide the public with information to protect

children’s health. The following tables list Web addresses for obtaining EPA information and direct links to other resources available on the Internet. It is also

possible to call or write EPA to request copies of documents. General sources of

EPA documents include:

• The National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) is a

central repository for EPA documents, with over 5,500 titles in paper and electronic format available for distribution (at no cost to the public). Individuals can

browse and search EPA’s National Publications Catalog, and order EPA

Publications online or by telephone at 800-490-9198. The EPA publication

number (e.g., EPA 999-F-99-999) is used to identify the resource being

requested.

NSCEP

National Service Center for Environmental Publications

P.O. Box 42419

Cincinnati, OH 45242-2419

Phone: 800-490-9198

Local and Government Employees: 513-489-8190

Fax: 513-489-8695

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom

E-mail: ncepimal@one.net

Some documents not available free of charge through NSCEP can be obtained for a

charge through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) or the

Government Printing Office (GPO).

• NTIS is a central resource for government-sponsored U.S. and international

scientific, technical, engineering, and business-related information. As a selfsupporting agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, NTIS covers its

business and operating expenses with the sale of its products and services. For

EPA publications, NTIS indexes publications by their EPA publication number,

complete title, and by an NTIS product number. NTIS accepts VISA,

MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

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Children’s Health Resources
NTIS

National Technical Information Center

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161-0002

Phone to Order: 800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000

Fax: 703-605-6900

E-Mail Online Ordering: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov

Internet: http://www.ntis.gov

• Documents available from the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) can be

obtained for a fee by calling or writing to the address below. GPO also accepts

VISA and MasterCard. Place orders by title or appropriate order number.

U.S. Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents

PO Box 371954

Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954

Phone: 202-512-1800

Fax: 202-512-2250

Internet: https://orders.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/sale/prf/prf.html

Additional publications and interlibrary loans of EPA documents are available

through the EPA library system. The EPA Headquarters Information Resources

Center provides access to EPA information for U.S. and international requests, and

has a range of information services consisting of environmental and related

subjects, including online searching of commercial databases. The focus of the EPA

collection is on environmental regulations, policy, planning, and administration. The

library also maintains a large collection of EPA documents on microfiche and in

hard copy. Libraries also are located in EPA regional offices and laboratories across

the country. For information contact:

Headquarters Information Resources Center

Environmental Protection Agency

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Mail Code 3404

Washington, DC 20460-0001

Phone: 202-260-5922

Fax: 202-260-5153

E-mail: library-hq@epa.gov

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/natlibra

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EPA Materials, Tools, and Internet Resources Related to

Children’s Health 

This section contains information resources specific to the health effects and environmental contaminants addressed in the Children’s Environmental Health

Yearbook Supplement. Under each topic, general resources—such as hotlines and

clearinghouses—are listed first, followed by an alphabetical listing of relevant EPA

publications. For each document, one or more sources for obtaining the information

is indicated in the right-hand column. Sources may be one of the major document

distribution centers or EPA offices listed above, an Internet site address, or one of

the topic-specific clearinghouses or hotlines. A specific individual contact and telephone number are provided where needed.

Inventory of Children’s Health Research Projects

The Children’s Environmental Health and Safety Inventory of Research

(CHEHSIR) is an Internet-accessible database of federally funded or sponsored

research on environmental health risk and/or safety risks that may uniquely or

disproportionately affect children.

http://www.epa.gov/chehsir

Asthma and Other Respiratory Effects

Information Resources for Indoor Air Quality 

Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQINFO)

P.O. Box 37133

Washington, DC 20013-7133

Phone: 800-438-4318; local 703-356-4020

Fax: 703-356-5386

E-mail: iaqinfo@aol.com

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs

Children's Health Resources Page 171

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Page 172 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Indoor Air Quality Publications and Sources

Publication Source

A is for Asthma (video) Region 5, Suzanne Saric,

312-353-3209

Asthma and the Environment: A Strategy to NSCEP

Protect Children http://www.epa.gov/children

Carpet and Indoor Air Quality Fact Sheet IAQINFO

(EPA 402-F-94-011 October 1992, IAQ-0040)

Children and Secondhand Smoke NSCEP

(EPA 402-F-99-003)

Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures http://www.nap.edu/books/

0309064961/html

Clear Your Home of Asthma Triggers: Your NSCEP

Children Will Breathe Easier (EPA 402-F-99-005)

Creating Indoor Air Quality Programs in Region 10, Brooke Madrone,

Low-Income Communities and Communities of 206-553-2589

People of Color: An Organizer’s Handbook

Flood Cleanup: Avoiding Indoor Air Quality IAQINFO

Problems Fact Sheet (EPA 402-F-93-005,

August 1993, IAQ-0061)

How Healthy Is the Air in Your Home? IAQINFO

A Room-by-Room Checklist for Your Home’s

Indoor Air Quality (EPA 402-F-97-001)

IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit EPA All except the problem

(402-K-95-008) solving wheel and video

available at:

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools

GPO sells the complete kit

and extra wheels.

(GPO# 055-000-00563-0)
Page 173

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Children’s Health Resources

Indoor Air Quality Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

IAQ Tools for Schools Taking Action and IAQINFO

Ventilation Basics (video) EPA 402-V-98-001

Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for IAQINFO

Health Professionals (EPA 402-R-94-007;

GPO 1994-523-217/81322)

Indoor Air Quality Basics for Schools Fact Sheet IAQINFO

(EPA 402-F-96-004, October 1996, IAQ-0095)

The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality IAQINFO

(EPA 402-K-93-007, April 1995, IAQ-0009)

Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon IAQINFO

Monoxide Poisoning (EPA 402-F-96-005, This fact sheet also is

October 1996) in Spanish (EPA 402-F-97-004, available in Vietnamese

July 1997) (EPA 402-F-96-005C),

Chinese (402-F-96-005A),

and Korean (402-F-96-005B)

Residential Air Cleaners Fact Sheet IAQINFO

(EPA 20A-4001, February 1990, IAQ-0007)

Sick Building Syndrome Fact Sheet IAQINFO

(EPA 402-F-94-004, April 1991, IAQ-0004)

A Special Alert for People with Asthma in the Region 5, Indoor Air

Northeast Ohio Area (EPA 905-K-001, May 1997) Coordinator, 312-353-2205
Page 174

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Indoor Air Quality Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

A Special Alert for People with Asthma in the Region 5, Indoor Air

Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky Coordinator, 312-353-2205

Metropolitan Area (EPA 905-K-002, May 1997)

A Special Alert for People with Asthma in the Region 5, Indoor Air

Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area Coordinator, 312-353-2205

(EPA 905-K-003, May 1997)

A Special Alert for People with Asthma in the Region 5, Indoor Air

Chicago Metropolitan Area and Northwest Indiana Coordinator, 312-353-2205

(EPA 905-K-004, May 1997)

A Special Alert for People with Asthma in Region 5, Indoor Air

Southeast Wisconsin (EPA 905-K-005, May 1997) Coordinator, 312-353-2205

Use and Care of Home Humidifiers Fact Sheet IAQINFO

(EPA 402-F-91-101, February 1991, IAQ-0008)

Ventilation and Air Quality in Offices Fact Sheet IAQINFO

(EPA 402-F-94-003, July 1990, IAQ-0003)

What You Should Know about Combustion IAQINFO

Appliances and Indoor Air Pollution

(EPA 400-F-91-100)
Page 175

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Children’s Health Resources

Outdoor Air Quality Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Air Toxics from Motor NVFEL or

Vehicles (EPA 400-F-92-004, http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Fact Sheet OMS-2,

August 1994)

Automobile Emissions: An NVFEL or

Overview (EPA 400-F-92-007, http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Fact Sheet OMS-5,

August 1994)

Automobiles and Carbon NVFEL or

Monoxide (EPA 400-F-92-005, http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Fact Sheet OMS-3,

January 1993)

Information Resources for Outdoor Air Pollution 

Office of Air and Radiation

Office of Mobile Sources

2565 Plymouth Road

Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2498

Phone: 734-214-4207

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL)

2000 Traverwood Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2195

Phone: 734-214-4200

Fax: 734-214-4525

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/01-nvfel.htm
Page 176 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Outdoor Air Quality Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Be a Grower Not a Mower Fact NVFEL or

Sheet (EPA 420-F-96-018) http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Boating Pollution Prevention NVFEL or

Tips Fact Sheet http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

(EPA 420-F-96-003)

Car Owners: Protect the NVFEL or

Environment and Your Health http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Don’t Tamper With Emissions NVFEL or

Controls! (EPA 420-F-93-004) http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Commute Alternative Brochure NVFEL or

(EPA 420-F-95-011) http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Commute Alternative Poster NVFEL or

(EPA 420-H-95-002) http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Control of Emissions from NVFEL or

Nonroad Engines Fact Sheet http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

(EPA 420-F-96-009)

Health and Environmental http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/naaqsfin/pmhealth.htm

Effects of Particulate Matter,

July 1997

Nonroad Engines and Air NVFEL or

Pollution: An Overview http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

(EPA 420-F-94-003)
Children's Health Resources Page 177

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Outdoor Air Quality Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Tips For Reducing Fuel NVFEL or

Spillage Fact Sheet http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

(EPA 420-F-96-002)

Tips to Save Gas and Improve NVFEL or

Mileage (EPA 420-F-94-004) http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

What You Can Do to Reduce NSCEP: http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom

Air Pollution: A Citizens Guide

to What Individuals and

Communities Can Do to Help

Meet the Goals of the Clean

Air Act Amendments of 1990

(EPA 450-K-92-002)

Your Car or Truck and the NSCEP: http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom

Environment: An

Environmental Guide for

Owners and Drivers of Cars,

Trucks, and Other Motor

Vehicles (EPA 420-K-93-001)

Your Car and Clean Air: What NVFEL or

YOU Can Do to Reduce http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

Pollution (EPA 400-F-93-002,

Fact Sheet OMS-18,

August 1994)

Your Yard and Clean Air NVFEL or

(EPA 420-F-94-002, http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

September 1996)
Page 178 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Information Resources for Ground-Level Ozone

Office of Air and Radiation

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Mail Code MD-10

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

Phone: 919-541-5616

Ground Level Ozone home page: http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/gooduphigh/

AIRLinks: http://www.epa.gov/airlinks

Region 1 

New England’s Air Quality Hotline: 800-821-1237

Anne Arnold, Air Quality Planning Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection,

617-918-1047

Ground Level Ozone Information Web Page:

http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/ozone/

Ground Level Ozone Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Automobiles and Ozone http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/consumer.htm

(EPA 400-F-92-006,

Fact Sheet OMS-4,

January 1993)

Ground-Level Ozone Air Region 1, Anne Arnold, Air Quality Planning

Quality Guide Unit, Office of Ecosystem Protection,

617-918-1047

Health and Environmental http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/naaqsfin/o3health.htm

Effects of Ground-Level

Ozone Fact Sheet, July 1997
Children's Health Resources Page 179

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Childhood Cancer 

Information Resources for Radon 

Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQ Information)

Radon Information Clearinghouse

Phone: 800-SOS-RADON

IAQ Radon Publications Web Site: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/index.html

Ground Level Ozone Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Ozone Action Day Region 5,

Information http://www.epa.gov/region5/air/naaqs/o3info.htm

Ozone Action Days: A Region 5,

Special Alert for People http://www.epa.gov/ARD-R5/naaqs/o3asthma.htm

with Asthma and Other

Respiratory Problems

(EPA 905-F-95-001,

May 1995)

Radon Publications and Sources

Publication Source

A Radon Guide for Tenants IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site Radon

Information Clearinghouse

All About Radon (coloring book; Region 7,

English and Spanish) http://www.epa.gov/region7/kids/aar.htm
Page 180 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Radon Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Baby Radon Public Service IAQINFO

Announcement, 1995

Basic Information on Radon Resistant http://www.epa.gov/iaq/construc.html

New Construction (pamphlet)

Citizen’s Guide to Radon: The Guide IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site

to Protecting Yourself and Your Radon Clearinghouse Information

Family from Radon, Second Edition NSCEP

(EPA 402-K-92-001, September 1994)

(in Spanish: EPA 402-K-93-005,

September 1993)

Consumer Federation of America IAQINFO

Radon Public Service

Announcement (video)

Consumer’s Guide to Radon IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site

Reduction: How to Reduce Radon Radon Information Clearinghouse

Levels in Your Home GPO

(EPA 402-K92-003, August 1992,

GPO Order Number

ISBN: 0-16-036255-5)

Dust Particles-Radon Public IAQINFO

Service Announcement, 1996

(in English and Spanish)

Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site

Radon (EPA 402-R-93-003, Radon Information Clearinghouse

March 1993) GPO

Lung Radon Poster IAQINFO
Children's Health Resources Page 181

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Radon Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

My Radon Coloring Book Region 7

http://www.epa.gov/region7/kids/mrcb1.htm

Radon Measurement In Schools: IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site

Revised Edition Booklet Radon Information Clearinghouse

(EPA 402-R-92-014, July 1993)

Radon Measurement in Schools, NSCEP

Self-Paced Training Workbook

(EPA 402-B-94-001)

Radon in Schools Brochure, IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site

Second Edition Radon Information Clearinghouse

(EPA 402-F-94-009, October 1994)

Radon Resistant New Construction IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site

in Homes (brochure) Radon Information Clearinghouse

Radon: Risks and Realities IAQINFO

(August 13, 1996)

Radon Video IAQINFO

(also available in Spanish)

Reducing Radon Risks IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site

(EPA 520-1-89-027, September 1992) Radon Information Clearinghouse

Reducing Radon in Schools: IAQ Radon Pubs Web Site

A Team Approach Radon Information Clearinghouse

(EPA 402-R-94-008, April 1994)

The Radon Student Activity Book IAQINFO
Page 182 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Asbestos Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response ActQ&A TSCA Hotline

(EPA 745-K-93-023)

Asbestos in the Home: A Homeowner’s Guide TSCA Hotline

(EPA 910-K-92-001, August 1992)

Asbestos in Your Home (brochure, EPA 745-F-93-006) TSCA Hotline

Asbestos Fact Book (EPA 745-K-93-016) TSCA Hotline

Asbestos in Schools: Evaluation of Asbestos Hazard TSCA Hotline

Emergency Response Act (fact sheet, EPA 745-F-91-100)

Asbestos in Schools: Evaluation of Asbestos TSCA Hotline

Hazard Emergency Response Act

(summary report, EPA 745-K-91-101)

Advisory to the Public on Asbestos in TSCA Hotline

Buildings (EPA 745-K-93-014)

The ABCs of Asbestos in School TSCA Hotline

(information packet, EPA 745-K-93-017)

Proposed Rule on Friable Asbestos Containing Materials TSCA Hotline

in School Buildings: Health Effects and Magnitude of

Exposure (support document, EPA 560-12-80-003)

Information Resources for Asbestos 

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Hotline

Phone: 202-554-1404

Fax: 202-554-5603

E-mail: tsca-hotline@epa.gov
Children's Health Resources Page 183

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Information Resources for Ultraviolet Light (Sun Protection) 

Stratospheric Ozone Hotline: 800-296-1996

Ozone Depletion Resource Center

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/docs/ozone/resource/public.html

Ultraviolet Light (Sun Protection) Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Sun Safety for Kids: The SunWise Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

School Program (brochure, http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

EPA 430-F-00-003)

SunWise School Program Guide Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

(booklet, EPA 430-K-99-036) http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

The Sun, UV, and You: A Guide to Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

SunWise Behavior http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

(booklet, EPA 430-K-99-035)

SunWise Monitor Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

(newsletter, EPA 430-F-99-033 http://www.epa.gov/sunshine

and EPA 430-F-00-008)

Action Steps for Sun Protection Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

(fact sheet, EPA 430-F-99-026) http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

Health Effects of Overexposure to the Sun Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

(fact sheet, EPA 430-F-99-025) http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

Ozone Depletion Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

(fact sheet, EPA 430-F-99-023) http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

UV Radiation Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

(fact sheet, EPA 430-F-99-024) http://www.epa.gov/sunshine
Page 184 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Ultraviolet Light (Sun Protection) Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

What is the Ultraviolet (UV) Index Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

(fact sheet, EPA 430-H-99-001) http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

The Ultraviolet Index: What You Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

Need to Know

(pamphlet, EPA 430-F-94-016)

Stratospheric Update Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

(newsletter, EPA 430-F-99-009)

Moving Out of CFCs, Benefits of the Stratospheric Ozone Hotline

CFC Phaseout

(fact sheet, EPA 430-F-96-020)

SunWise School Program Office of Air and Radiation

Maura Cantor, 202-564-9096

http://www.epa.gov/sunwise

Ozone Depletion Art Project Office of Air and Radiation

Christine Dibble, 202-564-9147

http://www/epa.gov/ozone/art

Protecting the Ozone Layer: Safe Disposal NSCEP

of Home Appliances Containing Ozone

Depleting Substances

(EPA 430-K-93-001)

Protection of the Ozone Layer NSCEP

(EPA 230-N-95-002)

Ozone Layer Educator’s Guide NSCEP

(guidance packet, EPA 430-E-95-003)
Children's Health Resources Page 185

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Developmental and Neurological Toxicity 

Information Resources for Lead 

National Lead Information Center Hotline and Clearinghouse

Phone: 800-LEADFYI (hotline)

Phone: 800-424-LEAD (clearinghouse)

Fax: 202-659-1192

E-mail: ehc@cais.com

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/lead/nlicdocs.htm

The Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in English and Spanish.

The Hotline distributes a basic information packet on lead that includes the EPA

brochure “Lead Poisoning and Your Children,” three fact sheets, and a list of state

and local contacts for additional information. Callers who have more specific

questions are referred to the clearinghouse (800-424-LEAD) and can speak directly

with an information specialist. Information specialists provide on-phone technical

assistance.

Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Mail Code 7407

Washington, DC 20460-0001

Phone: 202-260-2902

Lead Programs home page: http://www.epa.gov/lead
Page 186 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Lead Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Be Safe With Lead-Man (poster) Region 4, Lead Coordinator,

Rose Anne Rudd, 404-562-8998

Children and Lead: What You Can Region 3, 215-814-5000

Do? A Guide for Parents and Day

Day Care Providers From Physicians for Social Responsibility

Controlling Lead In Soils Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523

Packet (1995)

Eliminating Childhood Lead NSCEP

Poisoning: A Federal Strategy http://www.epa.gov/children

Targeting Lead Paint Hazards

EMPACT Lead Safe Yard Project http://www.epa.gov/region01/leadsafe

Fact Sheet: Disclosure of Lead- National Lead Information Center

Based Paint Hazards in Housing http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/leadbase.htm

(EPA 747-F-96-002, March 1996)

Finding a Qualified Lead National Lead Information Center

Professional for Your Home http://www.epa.gov/lead/nlicdocs.htm

(EPA 747-F-96-006)

First Steps: Childcare Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524;

Provider/Parent Lead Awareness Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians,

Manuals Phillip Quint, 800-545-8524 or 207-532-4273

Healthy Beginnings: Lead Safe Region 1, Katie Mazer, 617-918-1523,

Families, an English-as-a- http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/lead/

Second-Language Curriculum

on Lead Poisoning Prevention

(EPA 208-B-93-001, 1996)
Children's Health Resources Page 187

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Lead Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Home Repairs and Innovations: Region 7, 800-223-0425

What You Should Know

About Lead-Based Paints

Identifying Lead Hazards in NSCEP

Your Home

(fact sheet, EPA 747-F-96-007)

IMPACT Lead Safe Renovator Region 1, James M. Bryson, 617-918-1524

Training Manual (also available

on interactive CD-ROM)

Lead in American Schools: Region 3, 215-814-5000

What School Districts

Should & Should Not Do

Lead in Your Drinking Water NSCEP Water Resource Center

(EPA 810-F-93-001)

Lead in Your Home: A Parent’s National Lead Information Center,

Reference Guide http://www.epa.gov/lead/nlicdocs.htm,

Megan Carroll, 202-260-7269

Lead Prevention Videos: Lead National Lead Information Center

Poisoning—A Parent’s Guide to

Prevention, Sesame Street Lead

Away!, and Living With Lead

Lead Poisoning and Your Region 4, Lead Coordinator,

Children Rose Anne Rudd, 404-562-8998

(pamphlet, EPA 800-B-92-002);

El Envenenamiento por el Plomo

y Sus Niños (EPA 747-K-95-001)
Page 188 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Lead Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Lead Poisoning Prevention Region 7, 800-223-0425

Wheel

Lead in Drinking Water Coolers NSCEP, Water Resource Center

(fact sheet EPA 810-F-90-021)

Lead-Free Kids, Lead-Free Region 3, 215-814-5000

Homes (pamphlet)

Lead—Is Your Child At Risk? Region 3, 215-814-5000

(pamphlet)

Let’s Get the Lead Out 1997 Region 3, 215-814-5000

Teaching Materials

Making Your Kids & Your Region 5, 800-621-8431

Home Safe from Lead

Poisoning (pamphlet)

Our Mid-Atlantic Environment— Region 3, 215-814-5000

25 Years of Progress

(EPA 903-R-017,

December 1995)

Protect Your Family from Lead Region 3, 215-814-5000

in Your Home

(pamphlet, EPA 747-DK-94-00,

May 1 1995); Poteja a Su

Familia del Plomo en Su Casa

(EPA 747-K-94-001S)
Children's Health Resources Page 189

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Lead Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Protecting Your Family from National Lead Information Center,

Lead Poisoning: Como Proteger http://www.epa.gov/lead/nlicdocs.htm

a Sus Hijos y Su Hogar contra

el Envenenamiento por Plomo

(pamphlet)

Questions & Answers on the Region 3, 215-814-5000

EPA/HUD Disclosure Rule

(EPA 747-F-96-00l,

March 1996)

Questions Parents Ask About National Lead Information Center,

Lead Poisoning http://www.epa.gov/lead/nlicdocs.htm

Reducing Lead Hazards When Region 7, 800-223-0425

Remodeling Your Home

(EPA 747-R-94-002, April 1994);

Como Reducir Los Peligros del

Plomo al Remodelar Su Casa

(EPA 747-R-94-002S)

Testing Your Home for Lead National Lead Information Center,

http://www.epa.gov/lead/nlicdocs.htm

The Trouble with Lead (Video) Region 7, 800-223-0425
Page 190 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Information Resources for Endocrine Disruptors and Other

Neurotoxics 

Office of Research and Development

National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mail Code MD-51

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

Phone: 919-541-2281

Fax: 919-541-4324

Endocrine Disruptors Research Initiative home page: http://www.epa.gov/endocrine

Endocrine Disruptors and Other Neurotoxics Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Endocrine Disruptor Research http://www.epa.gov/endocrine/pubs.html

Initiative:Relevant Research

Publications

Public Health Implications of Region 5

PCB Exposures (ATSDR/EPA Report,

December 1996)

Special Report on Environmental http://www.epa.gov/endocrine/pubs.html

Endocrine Disruption: An Effects

Assessment and Analysis

(EPA 630-R-96-012)

Workshop Report on Developmental http://www.epa.gov/endocrine/pubs.html

Neurotoxic Effects Associated with

Exposure to PCB’s

(EPA 630-R-92-004)

Report to Congress on Mercury http://www.epa.gov/oar/mercury.html

(Office of Air and Radiation,

December 1997)

Safe and Correct Handling of PCBs Is Region 10

Your Responsibility (EPA 910-F-99-009)
Health Effects of Pesticides 

Information Resources for Pesticides 

Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP)

Field and External Affairs Division

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Mail Code: 7506C

Washington, DC 20460-0001

Phone: 703-305-7012

Fax: 703-305-6244

National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN) Hotline

Toll Free Number: 800-858-7378

Internet: http://ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/

E-Mail: nptn@ace.orst.edu

A national toll-free telephone information service that provides callers (parents,

consumers, medical community, and federal, state and local governments) with

poisoning prevention and technical information on more than 600 pesticide active

ingredients and approximately 25,000 product registrations in the United States.

Children's Health Resources Page 191

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement
Page 192 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Pesticides Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Child-Resistant Packages for Pesticides Region 4, 404-562-9900

Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and NSCEP

Pesticide Safety

(EPA 730-K-95-001, September 1995)

Diagnostico y Tratamiento de Los NSCEP

Envenenamientos por Plaguicidas,

Cuarta Edicion

(Spanish, EPA 540-R-95-024)

Do You Really Need a Pesticide? Region 10, 800-424-4372

(EPA 910-F-94-004)

Emergency Action Guide for Pesticide Region 5, Pesticides Program Section,

Incidents (1992) 312-886-6003

For Your Information: Protecting the NSCEP

Public from Pesticide Residues in Food

(fact sheet, EPA 735-F-96-001)

Growing Food Crops on City Lots Region 5, Pesticides Program Section,

(fact sheet, June 1994) 312-886-6003

Integrated Pest Management NSCEP

(poster, EPA 735-H-92-001)

Methyl Parathion in the Chicago Region 5, Pesticides Program Section,

Area (1997) 312-886-6003

Office of Pesticide Programs Annual NSCEP

Report for 1996 (EPA 735-R-96-001)
Children's Health Resources Page 193

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Pesticides Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Pest Control in the School NSCEP

Environment: Adopting Integrated

Pest Management

(brochure, EPA 735-F-93-012)

Pesticide Poisoning Action Guide Region 5, Pesticides

for Agricultural Pesticides in the Program Section,

Midwest: Resource Directory for 312-886-6003

Medical Personnel

(EPA 905-B-94-001, May 1994)

Pesticides and Child Safety NSCEP

(EPA 735-F-93-050R)

Protect Yourself from Pesticides: NSCEP

A Guide for Pesticide Handlers

(EPA 735-B-93-003)

Protect Yourself from Pesticides: NSCEP

A Guide for Agricultural Workers/

Protejase de Los Pesticidas: Guia para

Los Trabajadores Agricolas

(EPA 735-B-93-002)

Protect Yourself from Pesticides NSCEP

(poster, EPA 735-H-93-001)

Protejase de Los Pesticidas: Guia NSCEP

Para Los Que Manejan Pesticidas

(EPA 735-B-94-001)
Page 194 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Pesticides Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Recognition and Management of Pesticide NSCEP

Poisonings (Fourth Edition, EPA 540-R-98-001,

Fifth Edition, EPA 735-R-98-003. In Spanish,

EPA 735-R-98-004)

Status of Pesticides in Re-Registration NSCEP

and Special Review

(Rainbow Report, EPA 738-R-94-008)

Steps to Protect Yourself from NSCEP

Pesticides

(English/Laotian: EPA 735-F-95-006)

(English/Cambodian: EPA 735-F-95-005)

(English/Vietnamese: EPA 735-F-95-004)

(English/Haitian Creole: EPA 735-F-95-003)

(English/Spanish: EPA 735-F-95-002)

10 Tips to Protect Children from NSCEP

Pesticide and Lead Poisonings around

the Home

(English/Spanish, EPA 735-F-97-001)

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, NSCEP

and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic

Act ( FFDCA) as amended by the

Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)

of August 3, 1996 (EPA 730-L-97-001)

To Spray or Not To Spray (pamphlet, Region 5, Pesticides

EPA 905-F-95-003) Program Section,

312-886-6003
Children's Health Resources Page 195

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Pesticides Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

What You Need to Know About Region 5, Pesticides

Methyl Parathion and Your Health Program Section,

(fact sheet, 1997) 312-886-6003

Wood Preservatives for Applicators Region 5, Pesticides

(booklet, 1987) Program Section,

312-886-6003

Potential Risks from Contaminated Water 

Information Resources for Contaminants in Drinking Water, 

Surface Water, and Fish

Safe Drinking Water Hotline

Phone: 800-426-4791

E-Mail: hotline-sdwa@epa.gov

The Safe Drinking Water Hotline is available to help the public, drinking water

stakeholders, and state and local officials understand the regulations and programs

developed in response to the Safe Drinking Water Act (as amended in 1986 and

1996). This includes information about drinking water regulations and publications,

source water protection programs, and public education materials. The Hotline can

be reached Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) from 9 a.m. to 5:30

p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).
Page 196 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

EPA’s Office of Water Resource Center

Water Resource Center (RC-4100)

Ariel Rios Building

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20460-0001

Phone: 202-260-7786

Fax: 202-260-0386

E-mail: center.water-resource@epa.gov

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/rescnter.html

EPA’s Office of Water Resource Center is a one-stop location for information and

materials produced by the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, the Office

of Science and Technology, and the Office of Wastewater Management, within

EPA’s Office of Water. Materials available include: fact sheets, guidance manuals,

technical reports, models, educational kits, training materials, brochures, videotapes,

and posters. The Office of Water Resource Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30

p.m. EST.

Office of Water Web Site

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/ow

EPA’s Office of Water Web site contains current information about a variety of

responsibilities throughout the office. The Office of Ground Water and Drinking

Water site contains information about the public water system program and standard

setting for contaminants. The Office of Science and Technology site contains information about beaches and fish, as well as contaminant health advisories. The

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds site includes information about watershed protection. The Office of Wastewater Management site includes materials on

control and prevention of water pollution from industrial discharge and sludge.

Drinking Water Information in Spanish

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/agua.html

This Web site provides basic information about drinking water and some key drinking water materials in Spanish.
Children's Health Resources Page 197

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Local Drinking Water Information

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo.htm

For information about drinking water in your state, click on a state within a U.S.

map and you will go to a page which lists major links for that state, including local

water systems and their water quality reports, data on whether local water systems

have met national drinking water standards, watershed maps, state programs listing

how the state intends to prioritize drinking water funding, state programs for drinking water source assessment and protection.

Great Lakes National Program Office

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Region 5

77 West Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL 60604-3507

Phone: 312-886-4046

Fax: 312-353-2018

Contaminated Drinking Water, Surface Water, and Fish

Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Before You Go to the Beach Water Resource Center

(EPA 820-K-97-001, September 1997)

Children and Drinking Water Safe Drinking Water

Standards (EPA 815-K-99-001) Hotline or Water Resource Center

www.epa.gov/safewater/dwhealth.html
Page 198 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Contaminated Drinking Water, Surface Water, and Fish

Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Drinking Water and Health Water Resource Center

(EPA 811-F-95-002-C, October 1995)

Drinking Water and Health: Safe Drinking Water

What You Need to Know Hotline or Water Resource Center

(EPA 816-K-99-001) www.epa.gov/safewater/dwhealth.html

Drinking Water Counts on You:. NSCEP

Blue Thumb Kit (EPA 810-B-97-001)

Drinking Water Health Fact Sheet Water Resource Center

on Atrazine

Drinking Water Health Advisories Water Resource Center

(fact sheet listing)

Drinking Water Public Service Safe Water Hotline or

Announcements: “Now it Comes With Water Resource Center

a List of Ingredients”; Drinking Water: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/psa.html

Pour Over the Facts” (Posters, line

screens, and CDs for radio spots, all in

English and Spanish)

Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative Great Lakes National Program Office,

Case Studies Show Benefits Outweigh Region 5, 312-886-4046

Costs (fact sheet, EPA 820-F-95-002)

Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative: Great Lakes National Program Office,

A Summary Region 5, 312-886-4046

(fact sheet, EPA 820-S-95-001)
Children's Health Resources Page 199

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Contaminated Drinking Water, Surface Water, and Fish

Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Indicator I: Population Served by Water Resource Center

Community Drinking Water Systems

Violating Health-Based Requirements

(Safe Drinking Water Information

System)

Kids Can Help Save Our Streams! NSCEP

(EPA 840-F-96-900)

Lead in Drinking Water: An Water Resource Center

Annotated List of Publications

(EPA 812-K-93-001, October 1993)

Lead in Your Drinking Water: Safe Drinking Water Hotline or

Actions You Can Take to Reduce Water Resource Center

Lead in Your Drinking Water www.epa.gov/OGWDW/pubs/lead1.html

(EPA 810-F-93-001)

National Listing of Fish Water Resource Center

Consumption Advisories

(fact sheet, EPA 823-F-96-006)

National Listing of Fish NSCEP

Consumption Advisories Software

(7 disk set, EPA 823-C-96-011)

National Study of Chemical NSCEP

Residues in Fish

(fact sheet, EPA 823-F-92-001, 1992)
Page 200 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Contaminated Drinking Water, Surface Water, and Fish

Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

National Primary Drinking Water NSCEP

Standards (EPA 810-F-94-001A,

February 1994)

National Listing of Fish Consumption NSCEP

Advisories, Update Fact Sheet

(EPA 823-F-95-004)

Preamble to National Primary Federal Register, Volume 56,

Drinking Water Regulations for Page 26460

Lead and Copper

Protecting the Great Lakes: The Great Lakes National Program Office,

Cost and Benefits of Reducing Toxic Region 5, 312-886-4046

Pollution in Three Communities

Office (EPA 820-F-95-004)

Public Drinking Water Safe Drinking Water

Information (brochure, Hotline or Water

EPA 816-F-99-010) Resource Center

Public Water Systems Inventory and NSCEP

Compliance Statistics, FY 1991-1995

(EPA 816-R-97-006)

Safe Drinking Water Act NSCEP

Amendments of 1996: General Guide

to Provisions (EPA 810-S-96-001)

Safe Drinking Water is in Safe Drinking Water Hotline

Our Hands (Poster, or Water Resource Center

EPA 815-F-99-003;

Booklet, EPA 815-F-99-004)
Children's Health Resources Page 201

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Contaminated Drinking Water, Surface Water, and Fish

Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Should I Eat the Fish I Catch? Water Resource Center

(EPA 823-B-97-009, September 1997)

Student Activity Sheets For Water Resource Center

Drinking Water Projects

(EPA 810-F-92-003)

Summary of U.S. Great Lakes NTIS

Beach Closings, 1981-1994

(EPA 905-R-97-003)

The Great Lakes: An Environmental Region 5,

Atlas and Resource Book http://www.epa.gov/region5/fish

(EPA 905-B-95-001)

The Effects of Great Lakes Great Lakes National Program Office,

Contaminants on Human Health: Region 5, 312-886-4046

Report to Congress

(EPA 905-R-95-017, September 1995)

U.S. EPA 1997 Supplementary Region 5,

Fish Consumption Advisory for http://www.epa.gov/region5/fish

Michigan’s Great Lakes Waters

Fact Sheet

Water on Tap: A Consumer’s Guide Water Resource Center

to the Nation’s Drinking Water

(EPA 810-K-97-002, July 1997)

Watersheds: Where We Live (poster) NSCEP

We All Live Downstream (booklet) Region 3, 215-814-5000
Page 202 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

International Activities

Reducing Health Risks Worldwide: EPA’s International Lead Risk Reduction

Program. EPA 160-K-98-001. Available from NSCEP.

http://www.epa.gov/oia/itc/htm

Environmental Education

Information Resources for Environmental Education

Office of Environmental Education

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Ariel Rios Building, MC-1701

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20460-0001

Phone: 202-260-4865

Fax: 202-260-4095

Internet: http://www.epa.gov/enviroed

EPA’s Office of Environmental Education mission is to advance and support national education efforts to develop an environmentally conscious and responsible

public, and to inspire a sense of personal responsibility for the care of the environment in all individuals. For more information regarding Environmental Education

Grants, please call 202-260-8619 or fax 202-260-4095.

National Education Association

Health Information Network (NEA, HIN)

1201 16th Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20036-3290

Phone: 202-822-7570

Fax: 202-822-7775

Internet: http://www.neahin.org/

E-mail: neahin@aol.com
Children's Health Resources Page 203

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Environmental Education Publications and Sources

Publication Source

1997 PTA Green Almanac OAR-Sponsored National PTA Resources

A Guide to Environmental Region 1, Kristen Conroy, 617-918-1069

Education Resources

(January 1996)

The ABC’s of NSCEP

Environmental Education

(EPA 905-K-94-001)

Acid Rain: A Student’s http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/student/student2.html,

First Source Book Acid Rain Hotline, 202-564-9620

(children’s workbook,

EPA 600-990-027A)

Breakfast With UEI: Film Region 1, Kristy Rea, 617-918-1595

Descriptions and Ordering

Information

(a list of educational videos)

Children’s Environmental NSCEP

Health Yearbook OCHP, 202-260-7778

(EPA 100-R-98-100)

National Parent Teacher’s Association

National PTA Headquarters

330 N. Wabash Avenue, Suite 2100

Chicago, IL 60611-3673

Phone: 800-307-4782

Fax: 312-670-6783

Internet: http://www.pta.org/programs/envlibr.htm

E-mail: info@pta.org
Page 204 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Environmental Education Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Environmental Hazards in Region 3, 215-814-5000

Your School: A Resource

Handbook

Children’s Health Booklet Region 6, Paula Flores-Gregg, 214-665-8123,

and Video: “E-Hazards”— or Laura Talbot, 214-665-6678

They’re Out There...

Drinking Water Activities Safe Drinking Water Hotline,

for Students, Teachers, and 800-426-4791, or Water Resource Center,

Parents (EPA 810-B-99-002) 202-260-7786

Environmental Justice OAR-Sponsored NEA, Health Information

Grants Bulletin Network Resources

Environmental Justice and OAR-Sponsored NEA, Health Information

the Indoor Environment Network Resources

(November 1997)

Guidelines for Prevention, Region 2, Environmental Education,

Recognition, and Resolution 212-637-3674

of EnvironmentallyRelated Illness in Schools

HAZ-ED: Classroom http://www.epa.gov/superfund/students/

Activities for Understanding clas_act/haz-ed/hazindex.htm

Hazardous Waste

(EPA 540-K-95-005,

April 1996)

The Importance of Parent OAR-Sponsored National PTA Resources

Involvement in Addressing

Children’s Environmental

Health Issues
Children's Health Resources Page 205

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Environmental Education Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

Internet Teacher’s Lounge http://www.epa.gov/region07/kids/teachres.htm

Kids Page Region 7

http://www.epa.gov/region07/kids/welcome.htm

Leader’s Guide to OAR-Sponsored National PTA Resources

Environmental Issues,

February 1997

Meeting New York State’s Region 2, Environmental Education,

Crisis in School Facilities 212-637-3674

Today

NEA Health Information OAR-Sponsored NEA Health Information

Network: IAQ in Schools Network Resources

New England Area Region 1

Environmental Education http://www.epa.gov/region/ra/ed/grant98.html

Grants Program, Federal

Fiscal Year 1998

Report to the New York State Region 2,

Board of Regents on the Environmental Education, 212-637-3674

Environmental Quality

of Schools

School Recycling Programs: Region 3, 215-814-5000

A Handbook for Educators

(booklet)

Student Activity Sheet: NSCEP

Tracking Pollution, a

Hazardous Whodunnit

(EPA 810-F-93-003)
Page 206 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Environmental Education Publications and Sources (continued)

Publication Source

The Source: Indoor Air, Water OAR-Sponsored NEA Health Information

and Your Schools Network Resources

(Volumes 1-4, June 1997)

Tips to Protect Children from NSCEP

Environmental Health Threats OCHP, 202-260-7778

(EPA 100-F-00-008)

Tips to Protect Children from OCHP-sponsored NSC-EHC

Environmental Threats-NSC 202-293-2270

Video “My Kids”

Workshop Presentation Kit (for OAR-Sponsored National PTA Resources

use by PTA leaders to conduct

environmental workshops at

state PTA conventions)
Children's Health Resources Page 207

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Enhanced Community Right-to-Know

Information Resources for Community Right-to-Know

Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Ariel Rios Building, MC-7404

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20460-0001

Phone: 202-260-1531

Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) home page: http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri

Defines TRI and provides information on accessing and using TRI data; program

development; national and international programs; stakeholder dialogue; contacts;

latest public data release report; training for newly added industries; guidance documents for newly added industries; and public meetings.

Community Right-to-Know Publications and Sources

Publication Source

1997 Toxics Release http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri

Inventory Public Data

Release, April, 1999

1997 Toxics Release NSCEP

Inventory State Fact Sheets

(EPA 745-F-99-001,

April 1999)

Chemicals in Our http://www.epa.gov/opptintr

Community
Page 208 Chapter 11

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Community Right-to-Know Publications and Sources

Publication Source

Chemical Right to Know NSCEP

Fact Sheet Series

(EPA 745-F-98-002)

Children’s Health Testing http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemrtk/childhlt.htm

Program

Children’s Healthline http://www.epa.gov/reg03esd1/childhealth/index.htm

Consumer Labeling http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/labeling/index.html

Initiative (CLI)

EPA’s Guide to OPPTS, Georgianne McDonald, 202-260-4182

Environmental Database

Basics

Guidance for Chemical http://www.epa.gov/reg3artd/tchem/chemind.htm

Indexing Abstract (for a complete copy, contact Debra L. Forman at

215-566-2073)

The Right to Know Network http://www.rtk.net

TRI Information Kit http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri/whatis.htm

(EPA 749-K-98-001) or NSCEP

The TRI Teachers Guide, OPPTS, Georgianne McDonald, 202-260-4182

Getting Started (CD-ROM)
Children's Health Resources Page 209

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Other Federal Agencies with Programs Related to

Children’s Environmental Health 

Nearly all federal agencies are pursuing children’s environmental health. The Task

Force to Reduce Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children (established by President Clinton’s Executive Order on Protection of Children from

Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks) involves EPA and the following:

• Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Science and Technology

Council (NSTC) Old Executive Office Building, 17th Street and Pennsylvania

Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20502, 202-456-7116. Internet:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OSTP/NSTC/html/NSTC_Home.html

• Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) Old Executive Office Building, 17th

Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20502, 202-395-5042.

Internet: http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/CEA/html/

• Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Old Executive Office Building,

17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20502, 202-465-

6224. Internet: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CEQ

• Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Old Executive Office Building,

17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20502, 202-395-

5042. Internet: http://www.whitehouse.gov/OMB

• Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of

Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Building 101, Headquarters, P.O.

Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-541-3345. Internet:

http://www.niehs.nih.gov

• Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances

and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Building 16, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30333, 888-42-ATSDR.

Internet: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/child

• Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC) Building 16, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30333, 404-639-3534.

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov; and Mail Stop F-29, 4770 Buford Highway, N.E.,

Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, 888-232-6789. Internet:

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/info/programs.html
• Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention

and Health Promotion (ODPHP) Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202, 202-205-8611. Internet:

http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov

• Department of Education (DoED) 400 Maryland Ave, S.W., Washington, DC

20202, 800-USA-LEARN. Internet: http://www.ed.gov

• Department of Labor (DOL) Francis Perkins Building, 200 Constitution

Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210, 202-693-4650. Internet:

http://www.dol.gov

• Department of Justice (DOJ) Main Justice Building, 950 Pennsylvania

Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20530-0001, 202-514-2001. Internet:

http://www.usdoj.gov

• Department of Energy (DOE) Forrestall Building, 1000 Independence

Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20585, 202-586-6210. Internet:

http://www.doe.gov

• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HUD Building, 451

Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20410, 202-708-0417. Internet:

http://www.hud.gov

• Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC

20590, 202-366-1111. Internet: http://www.dot.gov

• Department of Agriculture (USDA) Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 1400

Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250, 202-720-3631. Internet:

http://www.usda.gov

• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) East West Towers, 4330 East

West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-504-0213. Internet:

http://www.cpsc.gov

Page 210 Chapter 11

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Children's Health Resources Page 211

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

EPA Program Offices

Office of Air and Radiation

IAQ Tools for Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Working with Partners to Improve Indoor Air

Quality in Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

National Education Association . . . . . . . .23

American Association of School

Administrators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

National Parent-Teacher Association . . . . .24

Urban Schools IAQ Project . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Training School Nurses on IAQ Tools

for Schools and Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . .25

School Intervention Study . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

American Lung Association Open

Airways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Media

Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Reducing Exposure to ETS through Child Care

Outreach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Community-Based Pediatrician Outreach . . . . . .30

Hispanic Health Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Asthma Media Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Asthma Case Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Increasing Indoor Air Action in American Asian

and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities . . .33

Asthma and Allergy Essentials for Childcare

Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Asthma Collaborative Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Early Intervention and Treatment of Asthma . . . .35

Clearing The Air: Asthma and Indoor Air

Exposures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Let Kids Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

SunWise School Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Ozone Depletion Art Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

U.S.-Canada Air Quality Agreement ........ .138

Office of Children’s Health Protection

Centers of Excellence in Children’s Environmental

Health Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

University of Southern California,

Department of Preventive Medicine,

Los Angeles, California . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

University of Iowa, College of Medicine,

Iowa City, Iowa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

University of Michigan, School of Public

Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan . . . . . . . .8

Johns Hopkins University, School of

Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland . . . . . . .8

University of California at Berkeley,

School of Public Health, Berkeley,

California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

University of Washington, Department of

Environmental Health, Seattle,

Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Mount Sinai School of Medicine,

New York, New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Columbia University, School of Public

Health, New York, New York . . . . . . . .9

Children’s Environmental Health and Safety

Inventory of Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Institutionalizing Children’s Health Protection

in EPA’s Rule Making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Federal Advisory Committee on Protection of

Children’s Environmental Health . . . . . . . . . .10

Reviewing Existing Regulations and

Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Workshop on Valuing Children’s Health

Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Child Health Champion Campaign . . . . . . . . . . .11

Incorporating Children’s Environmental Health

into Youth-Based Organizations . . . . . . . . . . .14

Targeting Criminal Violations that Threaten the

Health and Safety of Children . . . . . . . . . . . .15

State Profiles - Children’s Environmental

Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Promoting Children’s Environmental Health

With Pediatric Chief Residents . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Action to Eliminate Major Uses of the Pesticide

Dursban to Protect Children and Public

Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Tips to Protect Children from Environmental

Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning: A

Federal Strategy Targeting Lead Paint

Hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Office of International Activities

Children’s Lung Function Study in China .... .138

Alaska Native Cord Blood Monitoring

Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139

Index
Page 212

The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

National Strategy for Lead Risk Reduction in

Russia ............................ .139

Children’s Blood Lead Level Screening in

Russia ............................ .140

Mobile Source Training/Lead Phase-Out

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140

Pesticides Management Project in

Central America ..................... .141

Microbiologically Safe Drinking Water

Laboratory Capacity in Latin America .... .142

Municipal Water Management in Latin

America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143

The Central American Small Community

Wastewater Treatment Project .......... .143

Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation

Direct and Indirect Costs of Asthma and the

Potential Benefit of Education and

Intervention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic

Substances

Public Education and Outreach Grants . . . . . . . .66

The National Cinema Outreach Pilot Project . . . .67

Proposed Labeling Restriction for Insect

Repellents used on Infants and Children . . . . .95

Cockroaches, Kids and Asthma Video . . . . . . . . .96

IPM in School Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98

IPM in Schools Training/Workshops . . . . . . . . . .99

Children’s Health Chemical Testing Program . .159

Pre-Renovation Information Rule .......... .159

Lower Threshold for Lead TRI Reporting .... .160

TRI Education Product .................. .160

Office of Research and Development

Increased Vulnerability of Neonates to

Naphthalene and Its Derivatives . . . . . . . . . .46

Childhood Susceptibility to Air Pollutants . . . . . .52

Oro-Nasal Ventilation Pattern in Children and

Associated Fine Particulate Matter

Deposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Exacerbation of Asthma among Inner

City Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Acute Respiratory Health and Ambient Air

Quality in the Paso del Norte Airshed . . . . . .53

Mechanisms of Age-Dependent Ozone-Induced

Airway Dysfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Deposition of Air Pollutants in the Developing

Human Lung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Assessment of Genetic Alterations in

Newborns and Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Fetal Metabolism of Aflatoxin B1 and

Susceptibility to Childhood Cancer . . . . . . . .61

Identification of Lead Exposure and Risk

Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Environmental Lead Risks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Theme . . . . . . .86

Receptor and Signal Transduction Pathways in

Developmental Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology

(DART) Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Heat Shock Model (Mechanisms) for

Developmental Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Biologically Based Dose-Response Modeling

of Developmental Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Texas Neural Tube Defect Project . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Cellular and Molecular Markers of

Developmental Neurotoxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Environmental Exposures and Human

Neurological Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

Role of Apoptosis in Developmental Toxicity . . .90

Improved Evaluation of Gamete Function . . . . . .90

Molecular Characterization of a Biological

Threshold in Developmental Toxicity . . . . . . .91

Using Biomarkers of Exposure and

Neurobehavioral Test Batteries to Assess

Children’s Neurological Vulnerability to

Residential Exposure to

Tetrachloroethene (Perc) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

Study of Exposure and Body Burden of

Children of Different Ages to Pesticides in

the Environment ..................... .102

Ingestion of Pesticides by Children in an

Agricultural Community on the U.S.-Mexico

Border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Exposure of Children to Persistent Organic

Pollutants and Pesticides .............. .103

NAFTA Border Project: Pesticides and Kids . . .103

Microenvironmental Methods for Residential

Exposure to Pesticides ................ .103

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Exposure of Children to Pesticides and

Toxics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104

Exposure of Children to Pesticides in Yuma

County, Arizona ..................... .104

Vulnerability of Young Children to

Organophosphate Pesticides and Selected

Metals Through Intermittent Exposures in

Yuma County, Arizona ................ .105

Exposure of Children to Pesticide Residues . . . .105

Interactions and Mechanisms of Pesticide

Mixtures—Children’s Risk ............. .105

Pesticide Interactions Affecting Fate and

Transport and Children’s Risk .......... .106

Long-Term Potentiation as a Model System for

Cognitive Function ................... .106

Pilot Study of Symptomatic Young Children for

Pesticide Exposure ................... .106

Pilot Study of Immunologic Effects of Pesticide

Exposure in Infants .................. .107

Biochemical Effects of Pesticides on the Central

Nervous System ..................... .107

Cognitive Effects of Pesticide Exposure During

Development ....................... .107

Identifying the Mode and Mechanism of

Action of Atrazine on Endocrine Function

in the Female Rat .................... .108

The Effects of Pesticides on the Immune System

and Allergic Response ................ .108

Perinatal Exposure of Rats to Toxic Chemicals

and Pesticides and the Effects on Immune

Function Development ................ .108

A Study of Childhood Pesticide Poisoning in

the Lower Rio Grande Valley ........... .109

Non-Occupational Pesticide Illness

Surveillance ........................ .109

Pesticide Exposure and Health Effects in

Young Children along the U.S.-Mexico

Border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109

Neurobehavioral Characterization of Susceptible

Populations and Pesticide Neurotoxicity . . . .110

Metabolic Basis for Age-Dependent Effects of

Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

Chronic Arsenic Exposure and Reproductive

Effects from Drinking Water . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Evaluation of Arsenic Metabolic Profiles in

Adults and Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Disinfectant Byproducts and Birth Defects . . . .114

Community Intervention Studies for Drinking

Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Exposure of Children and Susceptible

Populations to Chemicals in Drinking

Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115

Genetic Damage Associated with DBPs ..... .121

Rapid Scientific Methods for Measuring the

Quality of Bathing Beach Waters ....... .121

Bathing Beaches Monitoring Protocols and

Communicating Swimming Activity Risk

to the Public ........................ .122

Human Exposure-to-Dose Models: Models and

Modeling Methods for Assessing Human

Exposure and Dose to Toxic Chemicals and

Pollutants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126

Dietary Exposure of Children ............. .126

Developing Risk Assessment and Risk

Management Models for Exposure of

Children to Toxic Mold, Using Stachybotrys

chartarum as the Model Mold .......... .127

Multipathway Exposure Modeling of Children

and Adults to Pesticides and Toxics ...... .127

Workshop to Identify Critical Windows of

Exposure for Children’s Health ......... .128

Childhood Exposure Factors Handbook ...... .128

IEUBK Model Expansion ................ .128

EPA’s Contribution to Children’s Assessment

in NHANES IV ..................... .129

Children’s Risk: Summary Statistics of Selected

Data Elements of NHANES III ......... .130

Evaluation of Methods to Scale Pharmacokinetic

Parameters between Adults and Children . . .130

Ethnic and Minority Highly Exposed Children’s

Populations ........................ .130

Children’s Environmental Health and Safety

Inventory of Research ................ .130

Protective Mechanisms Theme ............ .131

North Carolina Birth Cohort Study ......... .131

A Survey of Health and Environmental

Conditions along the Texas-Mexico

Border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132

Assessment of Chemical Mixtures .......... .134

Children’s Health Resources
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Particulate Matter Epidemiology in Children . . .137

China Urban Respiratory Health Study ...... .137

The Effects of Lead in Children and Adolescent

Development ....................... .139

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

Development of Guidance on the Use of

Probabilistic Analysis in Risk Assessment

at Superfund Sites ................... .122

Community Involvement in Superfund Risk

Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123

Superfund Basic Research Program ......... .123

Office of Solid Waste Risk Assessments ..... .124

Office of Water

Children and Drinking Water Standards

Brochure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Microbial Disinfectants and Disinfection

Byproducts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115

Non-Commercial Fish Consumption Kit for

Health Care Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

Drinking Water Quality Reports ........... .161

EPA Regions

Region 1

Child Health Champion Program, Manchester,

New Hampshire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

EPA Regional School-Based Programs to

Improve Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

National Civil League Coalition Building

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

ZAP Asthma Community Conference . . . . . . . . .36

Urban Asthma Community Conference and

Coalitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Asbestos-in-Schools Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Environmental Justice Grant: Lead Action

Collaborative, Boston, Massachusetts . . . . . .67

Consortium of North East States and Tribes

(CONEST) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

New England Lead Coordinating Committee

(NELCC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Tribal Based Environmental Protection (TBEP)

Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and

Community Tracking (EMPACT) Lead Safe

Yard Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

EPA National Lead Poisoning Prevention and

Lead Hazard Awareness Public Education and

Outreach Program: Crittenton Hastings House,

Boston, Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

EPA Supplemental Environmental Projects

(SEP), Providence, Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . .70

Keep It Clean Campaign, Video, Posters,

Billboards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor’s Safe

Housing Lead Task Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

IMPACT CD-ROM Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Lead Safe Renovation Training - Interactive

CD-ROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

First Steps: Childcare Provider/Parent Lead

Awareness Manuals, Video, and CD-ROM . . .72

Urban Environmental Initiative (UEI)

Cooperative Agreement: Urban Revival, Inc.,

Prevent Lead Poisoning Project . . . . . . . . . . .72

Time Related Environmental Numeric Health

Data System (TRENHDS) CD-ROM . . . . . . .73

UEI Cooperative Agreement: Lead Poisoning

Prevention Awareness Program for Childcare

Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

UEI Cooperative Agreement: Codman Square

Lead Poisoning Prevention Initiative . . . . . . .73

UEI Cooperative Agreement: ReVision House,

Roxbury, Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Healthy Beginnings: Lead Safe Families . . . . . . .74

Lead Suite CD-ROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

One Way to Increase the Commitment:

Conference on the Food Quality Protection

Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

Environmental Justice in the “Hood” 1999 . . . .146

An Afternoon with UEI: Community

Gardens/Urban Agriculture ............ .147

Healthy Schools: Designing, Renovating, and

Maintaining Our School Buildings ....... .147

Urban and Environmental Initiative ......... .148

Region 2

Child Health Champion Program, Ironbound

Section, Newark, New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Index
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The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

Puerto Rico Department of Health—Asthma

Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Integrated Pest Management in Urban LowIncome Housing Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Educational Photoliterature as a Means to Reduce

Cockroach and Rodent Infestations Without

Pesticides in a Low-Income Setting . . . . . . . .37

Asthma Education in East Harlem . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Fighting Asthma in HUD Housing . . . . . . . . . . .38

Clinical Directors Network Asthma Intervention

Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Camden-Rutgers University Asthma

Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39, 75

English/Spanish Video on Reducing Indoor

Asthma Triggers in Inner City Dwellings . . .40

Meeting of Hispanic Biomedical Association . . .46

Asthma Intervention Study in Hunts Point . . . . .47

Montefiore Medical Center Asthma Intervention

Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Allergen Levels in Homes of Native

Americans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Indoor Allergens Study in Puerto Rico . . . . . . . .48

Educational Photoliterature on Pesticide

Misuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Non-PRASA (Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer

Authority) Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116

Fish Advisories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118

Determining Potential Exposure of Children

near Superfund Sites ................. .124

Vega Baja Solid Waste Disposal ........... .125

Education about Asthma, Environmental

Tobacco Smoke, and Lead ............. .148

Asthma and Lead Abatement Training and

Education (ALATE), Camden, New Jersey,

and Northern Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . . .148

Environmental Education Grants ........... .149

Environmental Justice Grants ............. .149

Getting a Head Start on Environmental

Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150

Newark Asthma and Lead Poisoning Education

and Risk Reduction Project ............ .150

Region 3

Child Health Champion Program, Anacostia

Section, Washington, DC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

SunWise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Environmental Education Project . . . . . . . . . . . .75

Lead-Safe Babies Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Reducing Exposure to Lead in Drinking Water

in Philadelphia’s School District . . . . . . . . . .77

Childhood Risk Assessment at Superfund

Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

The Children’s Healthline ................ .161

Region 4

Child Health Champion Program, Prichard,

Alabama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

EPA Regional School-Based Programs to

Improve Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Outreach Campaign on Secondhand Smoke

and Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Indoor Asthma and Allergen Control . . . . . . . . . .40

Radon Mitigation for School Maintenance

Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Lead Umbrella Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

The National Urban and Residential Pesticide

Control and Enforcement Program (Urban

Initiative) .......................... .100

Preparing Maps of Region 4 Depicting

Environmental, Health, and Demographic

Characteristics ...................... .132

Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty

Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145

Children’s Pesticides, Asbestos, and Lead

(PAL) Initiative ..................... .151

Region 5

Child Health Champion Program, Near

South/North Side Sections, Milwaukee,

Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

EPA Regional School-Based Programs to

Improve Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Grant to Cuyahoga County Board of Health,

Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Seminar Series on Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Community Partnership to Improve the Lives

of Asthmatic Children in Chicago . . . . . . . . .41

Managing Asthma in the Childcare Setting . . . . .41

Children’s Health Resources
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School Intervention Project—Headquarters/

Springfield School Indoor Air Risk Factors

Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Asthma Risk Factor Study of Chicago Public

School, Before and After Implementation of

an Integrated Pest Management Program . . . .49

Elevated Blood Lead Levels - Regions 5

States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Outreach to Migrant Farm Worker Health

Promoters on Reducing Lead Exposure

Risks to Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Environmental WATCH Small Grants (Lead) . . .78

Environmental WATCH Small Grants

(Mercury) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Elemental Mercury Exposures in Children: A

Workshop to Examine the Scope of the

Problem and Opportunities for Prevention . . .87

Pesticide Regulatory Education Program . . . . . . .99

Environmental WATCH Small Grants

(Pesticides) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99

Safe Drinking Water Branch Compliance

Workshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116

Reduction/Elimination of Persistent Toxic

Substance in Great Lakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Children’s Exposure Priorities at/near

Superfund Sites ..................... .125

Environmental Pollutant Exposures in Children

(EPEC) Project ..................... .133

Update on Chicago Cumulative Risk Initiative

(CCRI) Project ...................... .135

U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality

Agreement (GLWQA) ................ .142

Center for Children’s Environmental Health at

Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois . . .146

Second Annual Region 5 Children’s

Environmental Health Conference ....... .152

Pollution Prevention Educational

Demonstrations ..................... .152

Environmental WATCH Small Grants: Operation

Clean Sweep ....................... .153

Region 6

Child Health Champion Program, Cherokee

Nation, Talequah, Oklahoma . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Childhood Asthma and Allergies

Conference ...................... .41, 154

Environmental House Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Indoor Biological Risk Factors for Asthma in

School Age Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control

Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

TSCA Section 406(b) Pre-Renovation

Notification Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Bilingual (English/Spanish) Pesticide Safety

Bingo Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Water Awareness Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117

Environmental Health Workshops .......... .144

Community-Based Training for Lay Health

Promoters (Promotores) and Primary Care

Clinicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145

Children’s Video: “E-Hazards”—They’re Out

There . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153

Children’s Health Booklet: “E-Hazards”—

They’re Out There ... ................ .153

Educating Parents about Environmental

Dangers to Children .................. .154

Healthy Environments and Living Places

(HELP) for Kids .................... .154

Region 7

Child Health Champion Program, New Madrid

County, Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

EPA Regional School-Based Programs to

Improve Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Indoor Air Environment Program for

Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Radon Outreach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Asbestos Outreach and Technical Assistance . . . .59

Region 7 Lead-Based Paint Activities . . . . . . . . .80

Local Lead Awareness Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . .81

Environmental Education in the Paris School

District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155

Region 8

Child Health Champion Program, Chippewa

Cree Tribe, Rocky Boy’s Reservation,

Montana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

EPA Regional School-Based Programs to

Improve Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Index
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The EPA Children’s Environmental Health Yearbook Supplement

ETS Outreach Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Colorado Asthma Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Girl Scouts Asthma Awareness Badge . . . . . . . . .43

Indoor Environmental Intervention Study in

Grade Schools and Childcare Centers to Reduce

Childhood Asthma Symptoms . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Radon Outreach/Community Projects . . . . . . . . .58

Environmental Justice and Children’s Health

Data: Investigating Potential Relationships

with Spatial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Determining the Effectiveness of a Pesticide Risk

Reduction Program for Migrant Farm Workers

in Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97

Assessment of Urban Residential Exposure

to 2,4-D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Children’s Health Forum ................. .156

Children’s Health Display ................ .156

Region 9

Child Health Champion Program, Nogales,

Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Child Health Champion Program, East Side/Pico

Section, Los Angeles, California . . . . . . . . . .14

EPA Regional School-Based Programs to

Improve Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Asbestos-in-Schools Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Region 9 Lead Poisoning Prevention . . . . . . . . .81

Farm Worker Safety in San Luis Obispo,

California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98

Reducing Use of Pesticides in Schools ...... .100

Reducing Pesticide Misuse ............... .101

Pesticides at the Border . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Site Assessment in Response to Cancer in

Children: McFarland, California ......... .133

West Oakland Urban Pilot Project .......... .134

Defensible Space Project ................. .134

Epidemiologic Survey of Lead Exposure of

Children in Tijuana, Mexico ............ .141

Hazardous Materials Awareness and

Preparedness Training ................ .156

Region 10

Child Health Champion Program, Toppenish,

Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

EPA Regional School-Based Programs to

Improve Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Environmental Tobacco Smoke Outreach . . . . . .32

Neighbor to Neighbor Indoor Air Quality:

Environmental Justice Education Program . . .43

Master Home Environmentalist Program . . . . . . .43

Community Outreach on Indoor Air and

Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Seattle Healthy Homes Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Community-Based Environmental Monitoring

with the Toppenish School District and the

Yakama Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Community-Based Lead Projects in Oregon . . . .82

Urban League Lead Outreach Program . . . . . . . .82

Lead Hazard Reduction Act Compliance,

Oregon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

“Runs Better Unleaded” Bus Campaign . . . . . . .83

Tri-Regional Lead Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Advance Notice of Funds Available for

Lead Grant Program for Indian Tribes . . . . . .84

Focused Outreach to Realtors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Preventing Lead Exposure in Northern Idaho . . .85

Yakima County, Childhood Lead Poisoning

Reduction Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

PCBs in Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe Reproductive

Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

IPM in Schools ........................ .100

Protecting Drinking Water Supplies . . . . . . . . . .117

Environmental Health Resources for

Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157

Children’s Health Resources