References American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Environmental Hazards (1989). "Radon Exposure: A Hazard to Children." Pediatrics: 83(5). Environmental and Occupational Health Information Program (1989) "Children's Art Supplies" Public Education and Risk Communication DivisionEOHSI, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey. Florini, KL, Krumbhaar, GD, Silbergeld, EK (1990) "Legacy of Lead: America's Continuing Epidemic of Childhood Lead Poisoning." Environmental Defense Fund, Washington, D.C. General Accounting Office (1982) Asbestos in Schools: A Dilemma U.S. (GAO/CED-82-114). Lioy, PJ. (1989). "Indoor Air Pollution" Environmental and Occupational Health Information Program Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey. Lipsett, MJ, and Jackson, R (1989). The Effects of Air Pollution on Children." California Pediatrician: Fall 1989. Natural Resources Defense Council (1989). Intolerable Risk: Pesticides in our Children's Food. New York. Needleman, HL, Gunnoe, C, Leviton A et al. "Deficits in Psychologic and Classroom Performance of Children with Elevated Dentine Lead Levels." New England Journal of Medicine:300(13). Russell, H.H., Jackson, RJ, Spath, DP and Book,SA (1987). Chemical Acknowledgements "What's Gotten Into Our Children" was written by Dana Hughes and is a report of Children Now prepared in conjunction with the organizers of Earth Day 1990. Many people provided invaluable advice, information and critical reviews of early drafts. In alphabetical order, these people include: Luke Cole, California Rural Legal Assistance; Susan Fergeson, California Birth Defects Monitoring Project; Dr. Richard Jackson, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Environmental Health; Dr. Jessica Tuchman Matthews, World Resources Institute; Lawrie Mott, National Resources Defense Council; Dr. Gilbert Omenn, University of Washington School of Public Health; Dr. James Fouts, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Dr. Ellen Silbergeld, Environmental Defense Fund; and Jim Weill, Children's Defense Fund. The views expressed in this report, as well as any errors, are those of the author. This report could not have been produced without the assistance and support of Foote, Cone & Belding of San Francisco, who provided invaluable guidance and creativity throughout the project. Children Now is grateful to the team of talented people at Foote, Cone & Belding who made this happen. Most Americans understand the need to protect and preserve the environment. We know that further pollution and destruction of the earth will deprive future generations of clean air, water and soil necessary for survival. Despite this knowledge, we don't always act to protect the environment because these problems, as serious as they are, often seem very far way. However, our actions also have important consequences today. They can affect the health and safety of our planet's most vulnerable residents: children. children and the environment: Why we should care Because of characteristics unique to children, they face special risks from environmental hazards. We are just beginning to understand about the number of environmental pollutants and chemicals that we once thought were harmless but actually can make children very sick. For example, asbestos was commonly used in construction because it protects against fire. We now know that certain kinds of asbestos can cause cancer when breathed. A number of other substances that were once believed to be safe, such as pesticides like Alar, and certain kinds of art supplies, are now known to be especially harmful to children. While all children are at risk, poor children face even greater threats from environmental hazards for a number of reasons. Because they are more likely to live in neighborhoods and attend schools where hazards are most common, poor children are more likely to be exposed. Poor families also lack the financial resources to remove hazards or to purchase "alternative" products, like organic fruits and vegetables, which are usually more expensive. When poor children are affected by environmental hazards, they are less likely to have the health insurance and access to health care for treatment. Poor children also face greater risk because their |