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ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN TO RECEIVE AWARD FOR EPA’S COMMITMENT TO ASTHMA PREVENTION

Release Date: 05/09/2002
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Environmental News

The Children’s Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory (AIR) Foundation today honored EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman with its Gift of Breath Award for raising awareness of the environment as a possible first line of defense against asthma, an illness which affects 15 million Americans, one third of whom are children under the age of 18. Asthma is the leading chronic illness in children and the cause of 10 million missed school days each year.

The Children’s AIR Foundation presented the annual award during its World Asthma Day event in New York City. The foundation is headquartered at the Children’s Air Center at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Center which provides diagnostic and treatment services and performs research and training for residents and interns.

“I am honored to receive the Gift of Breath Award in recognition of EPA’s commitment to asthma prevention and the importance of the environment as the first line of defense against this disease that affects so many children,” said Whitman. “EPA is a committed partner in the battle against asthma. Because we believe one asthma attack is too many, EPA is working to reduce asthma triggers in both indoor and outdoor air.”

“The Children’s Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Center and its partners are models for all of us, and your work will undoubtedly help countless families here in New York as we fight this disease together,” Whitman continued. “Working together, I am confident that we can leave our children and grandchildren a cleaner and healthier place to grow up.”

During her remarks, Whitman also highlighted the President’s Clear Skies initiative which will, over the next decade, through mandatory emissions reductions, remove a total of 35 million more tons of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury from the air than will be eliminated under the current Clean Air Act. “Clear Skies will save tens of thousands of children from asthma, prevent thousands of premature deaths from respiratory illnesses caused by these pollutants, as well as restore miles of clear, open vistas at national parks and other scenic places around America,” Whitman said.

Whitman also pointed to new diesel fuel requirements and tough new standards for diesel engines which are expected to reduce the harmful pollutants from diesel engines by more than 90 percent over today’s engines.

Several EPA programs are directed at benefitting school children and educating parents. The Agency’s “Tools for Schools” program helps schools, including nearly 1200 in New York City, to improve air quality in the school buildings. The Childhood Asthma Goldfish Campaign aims to educate parents about the ways they can help prevent their children’s asthma attacks. EPA also sponsors an initiative to protect millions of children from the risks of secondhand smoke in their homes. Further information on the programs is available at: www.epa.gov/children

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