A growing body of evidence, including rising developmental disability and asthma rates, indicates that children are more sensitive than adults to environmental contaminants. Children breathe more air, drink more fluids, and eat more food in proportion to their body weight than adults. Environmental exposures that would not harm an adult can cause permanent damage to the developing body of a child. States may be required to update environmental standards to comply with retooled federal regulations. Currently, most state and federal regulations are based on adults, only within the last few years has state legislation been passed to take children's special vulnerabilities into account.
NCSL Publications
Children's Health and Environment Fact Sheets
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Air Quality
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Developmental Disabilities
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Legislative Summary 2004 |
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Mercury
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