News Releases from Region 01

Free EPA Resources Available to Promote Healthy Communities and Healthy Children

BOSTON - EPA is committed to protecting the environment and public health by providing our children and our communities with cleaner water, cleaner air and an improved quality of life. October is Children's Health Month, which is a perfect time for EPA to reinforce our commitment to promoting strong and healthy communities.

In his Presidential Proclamation for Child Health Day, 2016, President Obama said, "Securing a bright future for America's daughters and sons requires us to continue expanding access to quality health care and working to foster cleaner, safer, and more supportive environments. By taking unprecedented action to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, we are striving to reduce the harmful effects that climate change can have on our children, including the potential for higher incidence of asthma attacks, and other health problems exacerbated by dirty air."

"Ensuring that children are not exposed to toxins and pollution or other environmental threats in their homes, schools, and communities is central to our work," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "Protecting the health of our children is one of our highest priorities, and we never forget that protecting our environment is critical to protecting our children's health."

EPA's mission is to preserve the environment for generations to come and to protect public health in the places where people live, work, learn and play. EPA is taking steps to ensure that an awareness of children's unique susceptibility will guide every action the agency takes to protect public health and our environment. Children are often among the most vulnerable to environmental health risks. Children face significant, long-term, and unique threats from environmental toxins. EPA is committed to a comprehensive approach to providing children with stronger health protection against those threats. By protecting children, EPA protects all Americans.

More information on how EPA protects the health of children and all Americans:

• EPA's children's environmental health work (www.epa.gov/children)

• What you can do to protect children from environmental risks (www.epa.gov/children/what-you-can-do-protect-children-environmental-risks)

Free online resources:

• EPA's Student Curriculum:  Recipes for Healthy Kids and a Healthy Environment is a nine-lesson program designed to encourage kids (ages 9-13) to actively explore the environments in which they live and play. Each 45-minute lesson empowers kids to improve the environment for their community and to reduce their environmental risks. The curriculum is ideal for after-school programs and clubs. (www.epa.gov/children/student-curriculum)

• EPA also offers more than two dozen free Children's Health Publications that can be downloaded for general information and to promote awareness of children’s health issues. (www.epa.gov/children/childrens-health-publications)