We know that physical activity can trigger asthma attacks in some persons. Overweight and obesity has virtually reached epidemic proportions in this country, in both adults and children. We know there s a relationship between obesity in childhood and asthma. Tobacco use has major implications, which I don t even need to explore with this group, I m sure. Substance Abuse and Responsible Sexual Behavior.
Environmental quality includes physical and social environment.
The many States that still do not meet EPA standards for environmental quality in this country are of real concern to us. One of the major targets for Healthy People 2010 is to impact that figure. While African Americans and Hispanics constitute about 25 percent of the population, they make up almost half of the people who live close to hazardous waste sites. When communities come together and work with government to deal with hazardous waste sites, the people who are going to benefit the most are African-American and Hispanic children who tend to live and grow and develop near those waste sites. We are also looking at the impact of the environment on the health of children to better understand the relationship between environment and the health of children.