Current progress and research needs to protect children’s environmental health
Background: The fetus and child are uniquely susceptible to environmental insults due to normal biological and behavioral factors. Therefore, considering early life stages in environmental health research is critical for subsequent risk assessment and regulatory decision making at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).
Objectives: To better understand the recent progress and needs in children’s environmental health research, US EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection sponsored a workshop of experts, hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). In response, US EPA hosted an internal Summit with children’s health experts to address key topics identified at the workshop. This commentary highlights key research needs identified by the NASEM, and a summary of the US EPA Summit discussions, which could serve as a foundation for future research priorities.
Discussion: Both opportunities and challenges remain in children’s environmental health research. Additional epidemiological studies are critically needed, especially those that include racially and socioeconomically diverse cohorts, and/or begin to address the totality of exposures across the life span (e.g., the exposome). Additionally, in vivo toxicology studies are needed to support epidemiologic associations and to monetize health benefits for rulemaking, while in vitro assays could assist in hazard identification. In total, cooperation between federal, academic, and clinical partners is necessary to protect future generations.