Backgrounder on Children's Health and the Environment, February 2011

Background on Children's Health and the Environment, February 2011

The USCCB warns that children are uniquely vulnerable to environmental toxins, which can cause lifelong health and developmental harm. The Church and Catholic organizations are mobilizing research, policy advocacy, and parish-level action to protect children—especially those in poverty and communities of color—and to strengthen chemical safety laws and funding for the National Children’s Study.

Background

• Children’s physiology, behavior, and longer lifetime exposure make them more susceptible than adults to air pollutants and toxic chemicals, increasing risks of asthma, cancers, learning disabilities, and other developmental harms.
• Children in poverty and children of color face disproportionate exposure and worse outcomes, including higher rates of lead poisoning and asthma hospitalization.
• The Catholic Coalition for Children and a Safe Environment (CASE) brought Catholic institutions, public health experts, and government officials together to highlight prenatal and childhood exposures and policy responses.

Research and Policy Priorities

• The USCCB and CASE support continued funding for the National Children’s Study, a longitudinal study following 100,000 children from before birth to age 21 to assess environmental impacts on health and development.
• Legislative attention is focused on chemicals of concern (phthalates, BPA, endocrine disruptors) and on reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act to require testing and better oversight, including proposals like the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act.

Moral and pastoral framing

• Catholic teaching calls for stewardship of creation and preferential concern for the poor, who disproportionately bear environmental harms.
• The Church frames protection of children’s health as an extension of its longstanding defense of life and dignity and urges Catholics to renew commitment to safeguarding at-risk children.

Actions recommended

• Advocate to Congress for stronger protections against lead, mercury, and developmental toxins, and for TSCA reform.
• Support funding for the National Children’s Study and related research.
• Encourage local action by urging state and local authorities to fund healthier school environments and reduce campus exposures.

 

background-on-childrens-health-and-the-environment-2011-02.pdf