United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

CHILDREN ’S E NVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:

A CALL F O R GLOBAL PROTECTION

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Office of Children’s 

Health Protection

EPA 100-F-02-006
Countries have succeeded in coming together to share ideas and resources, develop

international agreements and action agendas, and hold each other accountable for their

fulfillment. Over the past 10 years, world declarations on children’s rights and sustainable

development have succeeded in cultivating a global focus on children’s environmental

health. Among other successes, blood lead levels in children have dropped dramatically

wherever lead in gasoline has been eliminated. Multi-organizational efforts are underway

to find cost-effective alternatives to DDT that both control malarial vectors and minimize

exposure to dangerous chemicals. Most recently, the United Nations General Assembly

Special Session on Children promised, “We will give every assistance to protect children

and minimize the impact of natural disasters and environmental degradation on them.” 

“The future of our children lies in leadership and

the choices leaders make.” — Nelson Mandela & Graca Machel

Leaders in governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations,

private industry, and individuals can:

■ Resolve to gather information on children’s environmental health in 

their countries;

■ Commit to international children’s environmental health indicator 

development and use;

■ Support research on children’s environmental health issues;

■ Educate parents and caregivers on ways to protect their children from

environmental hazards;

■ Develop tools for health care providers to increase prevention and

ensure proper care of children with environmental-related illnesses;

■ Craft policies and programs at the national level; and 

■ Enhance international cooperation to prevent childhood exposure 

to environmental contaminants.

For more information, visit 

www.epa.gov/children

Children are 30% of the

world’s population, but 

100% of our future.

CHILDREN ’S E NVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:

A CALL FOR GLOBAL PROTECTION

Throughout the world, parents have the same 

basic goal for their children: to live happy, healthy,

and productive lives. 

Children are our future, numbering over 1.6 billion worldwide and representing boundless potential. Child survival hinges on the availability of basic needs to support

life: of these, a healthy environment is fundamental. But children everywhere are negatively affected by environmental conditions. While industrialized countries grapple with

asthma, developmental disorders, and childhood exposure to chemicals and toxic substances, developing countries face these problems plus the added burden of insufficient

access to safe drinking water, inadequate housing, poor sanitation management, and

unsafe food supplies. 

Many of the health problems that result from environmental factors can be prevented,

managed, and treated. This is why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

considers risks to children when setting standards. You can play a role, too. Learn about

children’s environmental health and take action to prevent children from exposure to risks.

Children’s Health Suffers Due to Environmental Factors

Acute Respiratory Infections account for 2 million deaths in the world’s 

children each year, and more than 64 million children become sick with acute respiratory

infections every year. Indoor particulate matter, largely the result of burning dirty fuel, 

and outdoor pollutants, such as ozone, greatly increase the incidence and severity of 

respiratory illness. 

Diarrhea kills two million children annually, and millions more endure the disease 

several times a year. Although medical treatment for diarrhea is saving many lives, the

underlying environmental conditions that foster diarrhea still remain, including lack of

clean water and sanitation facilities.

Malaria is responsible for the death of more than 1 million children per year, and is 

the second leading cause of death in children of ages 5 to 14. Uncontrolled vector 

populations, inadequate housing, and insufficient solid waste management contribute 

to malaria incidence.

World Leaders Improve Children’s Environmental Health

The world pays a heavy toll for children’s poor environmental health: sick days lost

from school, medical expenses and disability, productivity lost by parents missing work 

to care for their children, and the personal agony that childhood sickness and death cost

parents and families. Environmental-related illnesses and deaths can be prevented,

treated, and managed—and the knowledge exists to overcome them.