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Children's Health Protection

Protecting Children Worldwide


  Cover image of G8 brochure entitled Children's Environmental Health: A Call for Global Protection



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International Childhood Cancer Cohort Consortium (I4C)

Around the world, several large infant/child prospective studies have been launched to examine environmental and biological determinants of common diseases. The International Childhood Cancer Cohort Consortium (I4C) was established as a global alliance of longitudinal studies of children to enable investigations of the role of various environmental exposures in the etiology of childhood cancer. Because of its longitudinal design and large sample size, it will be easier to see associations considered statistically meaningful. Initially, this effort may provide valuable insights about he causes of childhood leukemia, and later may be helpful for studying other types of cancer as well as other rare childhood diseases. Two workshops have been held in September 2005 and August 2007.

In 2007, "Cohort Profile: The International Childhood Cancer Cohort Consortium (I4C) exit epa" was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. The article discusses the formation of the I4C, its purpose, what it covers, its sample size, and major areas of research. Learn more about I4C by visiting the National Children's Study Web site exit epa.

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Global Children's Environmental Health Indicators

EPA launched a UN partnership to develop indicators for children's environmental health at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in August of 2002. Current partners include the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), Physicians for Social Responsibility, International Society of Doctors for the Environment, International Network of Children's Health and Environment, as well as the countries of South Africa, Italy, Canada, and Mexico. WHO is leading the effort and provides lots of information on their Children's Environmental Health Indicators website Exit Disclaimer, which presents information on children's health indicators with links to: the concept of children's health indicators; details on the global initiative on children's health indicators; priorities; regional pilots; and other resources and contact information.

Cover image of report entitled Children's Health and the Environment in Europe: A Baseline Assessment

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World Health Organization

After the G8 Declaration, the World Health Organization established a Task Force for the Protection of Children's Environmental Health. The Task Force organized a very successful conference in Bangkok, Thailand on the environmental health of children in South East Asia exit epa in March of 2002 and is actively involved in a host of programs and projects to protect children.

In 2003, WHO announced the Healthy Environments for Children Alliance and designated Healthy Environments for Children as the theme for World Health Day (April 7, 2003) exit epa. Visit the WHO Children's Environmental Health Web site exit epa.

Posters and Maps Adapted from Inheriting the World: The Atlas of Children's Health and the Environment exit epa

Posters may be used for any non-commercial purpose provided that due credit is given to WHO, but they may not be used, directly or indirectly, in part or in whole or in any shape and form whatsoever, in connection with the promotion of any specific company or product. Maps constitute the main maps from the atlas and do not include text or additional graphics. The relatively small jpg files are suitable for use in PowerPoint presentations or Word files.

10 Facts on Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments

Environmental hazards are responsible for about a quarter of the total burden of disease worldwide, and nearly 35 percent in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. As many as 13 million deaths can be prevented every year by making our environments healthier.

This fact file highlights the impact of environmental factors on public health. Some of the images used in this fact file are winning entries from the 2007 WHO ICF photo and video contest focusing on the theme "health and environment". Read the 10 Facts on Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments exit epa.

Children’s Health and the Environment: A Global Perspective, Edited by J. Pronczuk-Garbina, MD, World Health Organization

This ground-breaking manual incorporates both developing and industrialized country outlooks to give a comprehensive international account of how environmental quality can influence the health and development of children from conception through adolescence. Geared specifically for public health specialists, the health care provider and decision maker and to all those who have a stake in minimizing adverse environmental impacts on children's health and development, the resource manual provides background information on an array of illnesses caused, triggered or exacerbated by environmental hazards. The manual illustrates how children are uniquely and particularly vulnerable to environmental threats. It outlines exposure routes, signs and symptoms, basic treatments and prevention, as well as providing ample resources for consultation. Furthermore, it presents interesting case studies, referenced throughout the book, to give concrete and tangible examples of environmental illnesses, with a particular focus on children in developing countries. For a copy, email Martha Berger (berger.martha@epa.gov) or visit: http://www.who .int/ceh/publications/handbook/en/print.html exit epa.

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International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) Environmental Health Criteria 237: Principles for Evaluating Health Risks in Children Associated with Exposures to Chemicals

This report contains the collective views of an international group of experts and is published under the joint sponsorship of the UN Environment Programme, the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization and produced within the framework of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals. Available online at: http://whql ibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/924157237X_eng.pdf (PDF) (351 pp, 3.2MB).

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G8 Environment Ministers

Soon after the creation of the Office of Children's Health Protection, it became obvious that the issues we confront in the United States are relevant for children the world over, and that we should take action to increase protections beyond our borders.

One event in particular triggered a growing international response to children's environmental health issues - the Group of Eight Environment Ministers annual meeting in Miami. The 1997 Declaration of the Environmental Leaders of the Eight on Children's Environmental Health gives worldwide attention to environmental hazards that threaten children and highlights the need for international cooperation to improve protection of children. The leaders of G7 countries and Russia unanimously adopted the Declaration at the Miami summit in 1997. On April 22-24, 2009, Siracusa, Italy hosted the G8 Environment Ministers' Meeting exit epa. Countering climate change, preservation of biodiversity, and children's environmental health were on the agenda. Read the text of a keynote speech on children's environmental health delivered by Lisa P. Jackson, EPA Administrator, at the meeting.

In 2002, Canada published a five year review of progress since the G8 Declaration (PDF) (67 pp, 1MB).

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