EPA, Texas Tech Host Children’s Health Symposium in El Paso

DALLAS - (Sept. 25, 2015) The E.P.A. (EPA) and the Texas Tech University Health Science Center hosted a symposium on children's environmental health, focusing on issues affecting communities near the U.S.-Mexico border. Healthcare professionals, public health professionals, and other participants attended sessions on a variety of environmental health issues-including lead poisoning, respiratory concerns and effects of climate change-over the two-day symposium, which wrapped up Friday.

"Protecting children and their health is one of the most important aspects of EPA's mission," said Regional Administrator Ron Curry. "Bringing together healthcare providers, community leaders, and other partners at this year's symposium will help us assure kids in border communities in both countries can be safe where they live and play."

"Nothing is more important to our future than the health of children. As healthcare providers, we owe it to children to assure a safe and healthy growing environment," said Dr. Stephen Borron, director of the Southwest Center for Pediatric Environmental Health. "Prevention of environmental illness through attention to emerging threats, such as climate change, makes sense from both social and economic perspectives. This symposium raised awareness among participants of the many environmental challenges to children in the border region. It should serve as a call to action to enhance their lives, and our own, through enhanced environmental health."

This year's symposium brought together healthcare providers, academics, community health workers, policy makers and community leaders to learn about how early-life exposures to harmful substances and environmental factors can affect children's health. Many communities along the U.S.-Mexico border experience health effects from a range of sources, such as mismanagement of pesticides, poor indoor and outdoor air quality, misuse of chemicals and other waste, poor water quality, and binational chemical emergencies. These issues can be especially harmful to children.

Each October, E.P.A. observes Children's Health Month. Children are often more vulnerable to pollutants than adults due to differences in behavior and biology, which can lead to greater exposure and susceptibility during development. E.P.A. remains committed to protecting children from environmental harms where they live, learn and play.

More on children's environmental health: http://www2.epa.gov/children

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On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6
Activities in E.P.A. Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.htm

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