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EPA teams with Schools, Museums to Spread Children's Health Message

Release Date: 10/03/2006
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas - October 3, 2006) Reaching kids where they learn and have fun is the inspiration for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) latest children's health awareness campaign.

October is Children's Health Month, and EPA is raising awareness about children's environmental health issues throughout the month in workshops, schools, and children's museums.

"Healthy kids and a healthy environment go hand in hand. If children learn that now, taking care of their health and the environment will be priorities for them in the future," EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene said.

The Health Museum in Houston and the San Antonio Children's Museum are two of EPA's newest partners. During October, they will be spreading the message of "growing healthy children" by distributing packets of flower and vegetable seeds and providing EPA materials on children's health to visitors. EPA will also be presenting a children's health workshop for teachers at the Dallas Zoo on Oct. 14.

Protecting children's health from environmental risks is important because their bodily systems are still developing. They eat more, drink more, and breathe more in proportion to their body size. Children's behavior can also expose them more to chemicals and organisms.

In addition to partnering with museums and schools, EPA is planning a series of webcasts during October on topics related to healthy school environments. Information on the webcasts can be viewed at www.epa.gov or https://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/chm.htm.