National Association of County and City Health Officials
November 10, 2002

RESOLUTION ON CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

RESOLUTION 99-12 (revised)

Adopted on November 10, 2002

WHEREAS, children have a greater vulnerability to environmental threats than do adults because pound-for-pound they are exposed to more contaminants in the air, food, water and physical environment and they are more susceptible to environmental exposures because their physiological functions are relatively immature and their developing organs are more vulnerable to harm;[1] and

WHEREAS, approximately 16% of children (nearly 12 million children) in the United States are living in poverty,[2] including 30% of African-American children, 28% of Hispanic children[3] and 43% of Native American children;[4] and children in poverty often have inadequate housing and greater exposures to environmental toxins placing them at increased risk for ill health; and

WHEREAS, children have more future years of life than do adults and thus have more time to develop chronic diseases that may be triggered by early environmental exposures;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Association of County and City Health Officials supports and will advocate for national, state and local environmental health resources, policies, regulations, programs and research that will protect children's health, prevent harmful exposures to environmental toxicants, and reduce the number of children living in poverty.

Adopted by NACCHO Board of Directors November 7, 1999

Revised by NACCHO Board of Directors November 10, 2002

[1] Mott, L. Fore, D. Curtis, J. and Solomon G. (1997). Our Children at Risk: The 5 worst Environmental Threats to Their Health. New York, NY: Natural Resources Defense Council

[2] United States 2001 Census Data

[3] National Center for Children in Poverty, Columbia University, March 2002

[4] Food Research and Action Center, April 2001