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EPA Highlights Children’s Health

Release Date: 10/18/2006
Contact Information: Michael Frankel, 215-814-2665

PHILADELPHIA - - During October, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes Children’s Health Month as a way to raise awareness of how the environment can affect children’s health. Pound for pound children breath more air, drink more water and consume more food than adults. As such, children are at greater risk. There are many things that you can do to protect children at home and at school. Here are some suggestions:

• Protect children from lead-based paint hazards by cleaning floors, window sills, and other surfaces where kids play at least once a week using a cloth, warm water and detergent. Wash children’s hands, pacifiers, bottles and toys often, especially before meals, bed or nap time.
• Reduce asthma triggers by removing dust mold, pet dander, and secondhand smoke from your home.

• Don’t smoke or allow others to smoke in your home or car.

• Limit outdoor activity on Ozone Alert days, as ground level ozone can produce nausea, coughing, congestion and aggravate asthma and bronchitis.

• Have your home tested for radon, an odorless, colorless gas that can lead to lung cancer.

• Keep anti-freeze and household cleaners out of the reach of children.
• Don’t let cars, motorcycles and lawnmowers idle. Idling engines contribute needless pollution.

• Encourage your school to join EPA’s Clean Bus USA program to reduce exposure to harmful diesel emissions.
• Install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in your home.
• Prevent mold by promptly fixing plumbing and other water problems.

For more information on Clean School Bus USA go to: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/antiidling.htm.

For more information on lead based paint hazards go to: www.epa.gov/lead.

For more information on asthma go to: https://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma/index.html.



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