The Smog Blog: Ignoring the Experts on Children’s Health

An investigation by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) an arm of the Congress, as found that EPA has largely disregarded key recommendations from its Children’s Advisory Committee, particularly with respect to proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAAQS). 

Children are more sensitive than adults to environmental contaminants, in part because their body organs and systems, including the lungs, are immature.  They are exposed to higher concentrations of air pollutants because they spend more time outdoors engaged in vigorous activity, and breathe more air than adults relative to their body weight.  Air pollutants can contribute to serious breathing problems in young children because of their smaller airways. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established an expert committee -- the Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee -- to advise the EPA Administrator of the need to consider the disproportionate and unique hazards faced by infants and children in the setting of environmental regulations. 

The GAO analyzed EPA’s response the Children’s Health Committee’s specific recommendations related to three recently-considered EPA air quality standards-- for particulate matter, ozone, and lead.  The investigation found that EPA did not acknowledge, was noncommittal, rejected, or offered only to consider the Children’s Advisory Committee recommendations along with comments from the general public.

The September 16, 2008 GAO report entitled “EPA Efforts to Address Children’s Health Issues Need Greater Focus, Direction, and Top-level Commitment” is available online. 

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