Children’s Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors in their Everyday Environment: What Have We Learned About Health and Well-Being?
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Children are exposed to diverse chemical and non-chemical stressors found in their everyday community environment. These stressors, individually and in combination, are thought to contribute to their health and well-being during each developmental stage throughout their lifecourse. To understand chemical exposures, we collect and analyze multimedia samples for chemicals of interest. We also collect supporting information such as time activity data and household inventories. Over time, our research has evolved to consider a holistic approach to children’s environmental health. Using a systems approach, we collect and analyze data and information on exposures to both chemical and non-chemical stressors, recognizing that these interrelationships may impact the biological response to a chemical agent. Examples of non-chemical stressors include access to recreational amenities, food types, health care options, family dynamics and social support, educational attainment, and/or neighborhood characteristics. Our conceptual framework was designed to show how children’s health and well-being should consider exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors from the built, natural, and social environments, activities and behaviors, and inherent characteristics. Our research approach includes distinct research activities with an emphasis on how non-chemical stressor information may be used in combination with chemical exposure data. Our research has shown that both childhood obesity and general cognitive ability are influenced by a myriad of chemical and non-chemical stressors. This presentation will explore our research strategy, show how data and information can be considered within the conceptual framework, and highlight public health examples.