Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research.

In 1998, recognizing that exposure to hazardous environmental conditions can be particularly detrimental to the health of children, the NIEHS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiated the Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research program. This highly successful program promotes the translation of basic research findings into applied intervention and prevention methods. In the past five years, researchers have discovered that

* blood and urine specimens from pregnant women show measurable levels of pesticides, which means that the fetus is exposed to these chemicals during early development;

* children in urban and rural environments are exposed to a complex mix of agricultural and household pesticides, environmental tobacco smoke, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that, in combination with social factors, can impact their early growth;

* exposures to lead in the urban environment can have life-long effects such as behavioral problems and criminal behavior in adulthood;

* exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls can affect cochlear function, which may cause hearing loss in early life;

* air pollution can cause inflammation in the lung, and its effects can be seen in school-age children as exacerbation of asthma symptoms and more days absent from school; and

* asthma symptoms in children can be reduced by reducing allergens from dust mites and cockroaches in the home.

The NIEHS and the EPA announce the continuation of funding for six centers and the start of one new center. There are also four existing centers. The research at these centers includes toxicological, epidemiological, exposure assessment, genetics, and community-based participatory methods to address pressing questions related to children's susceptibility and exposure to harmful environmental agents and their health consequences. There are close ties with community organizations that assist in the dissemination of research findings to the community. The program also includes opportunities to develop new and creative strategies to inform health care practitioners, policy makers, and the public about environmental health concerns relevant to children.

A new scientific management team has been assembled at the NIEHS to oversee this program. The scientific program administrators for this effort include Kim Gray, PhD ([e-mail]); Cindy Lawler, PhD ([e-mail]); and Shobha Srinivasan, PhD ([e-mail]). The team leader is Gwen Collman, PhD ([e-mail]).

Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease
Prevention Research

Location                    Center Director

New

Harvard University          Howard Hu, MD, PhD

Renewed

University of California,   Brenda Eskenazi, PhD
Berkeley

University of Southern      Frank Gilliland, PhD
California

The Johns Hopkins           Peyton Eggleston, MD
University

Mount Sinai School of       Mary Wolff, PhD
Medicine

University of Washington    Elaine Faustman, PhD

Columbia University         Frederica Perera, PhD

Existing

Cincinnati Children's       Bruce Lanphear, MD,
Hospital                    MPH

University of Illinois      Susan Schantz, PhD
at Urbana-Champaign

University of               Isaac Pessah, PhD
California, Davis

University of Medicine      George Lambert, MD
and Dentistry of New
Jersey

Location                    Focus Area

New

Harvard University          Neurodevelopment and metals

Renewed

University of California,   Neurodevelopment, asthma,
Berkeley                    and pesticides

University of Southern      Asthma and air pollution
California

The Johns Hopkins           Asthma, genetics, allergens,
University                  and air pollution

Mount Sinai School of       Neurodevelopment, obesity,
Medicine                    and endocrine-disrupting
                            chemicals

University of Washington    Neurodevelopment and
                            pesticides

Columbia University         Neurodevelopment, asthma,
                            and the urban environment

Existing

Cincinnati Children's       Prevalent neurotoxicants
Hospital                    in the urban environment
                            and neurobehavioral
                            development

University of Illinois      Mercury, polychlorinated
at Urbana-Champaign         biphenyls, and neuro-
                            behavioral development

University of               Autism and the environment
California, Davis

University of Medicine      Autism and the environment
and Dentistry of New
Jersey

Location                    Population

New

Harvard University          Tar Creek, OK

Renewed

University of California,   Salinas Valley, CA
Berkeley

University of Southern      Los Angeles, CA
California

The Johns Hopkins           Baltimore, MD
University

Mount Sinai School of       East Harlem, NY
Medicine

University of Washington    Yakima Valley, WA

Columbia University         Northern Manhattan, NY

Existing

Cincinnati Children's       Cincinnati, OH
Hospital

University of Illinois      Appleton, WI
at Urbana-Champaign

University of               Central California and
California, Davis           Los Angeles, CA

University of Medicine      New Jersey
and Dentistry of New
Jersey