Children in minority neighborhoods in New York City are disproportionately exposed to environmental pollutants. Children living in disadvantaged communities of Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx have unusually high rates of asthma, low birthweight, and developmental disorders.
Cancer rates are also a growing concern nationwide.
The Center is dedicated to studying environmental threats to child health and is directed by Dr. Frederica P. Perera. The Center is conducting a large-scale research effort to identify the health effects of exposure to environmental hazards on children. Center researchers hope to continue following the children longer, possibly through age 5. More traditional research methods are also used including questionnaires, clinical evaluations, and quantitative measures of environmental hazards. The Center's research data are compiled into a sophisticated database managed by an expert team of statisticians.