Based on the EPA's press release, the initiative aims to urgently investigate the health risks confronting children, which result from a mix of agricultural pollutants and other non-chemical factors like poverty and inadequate access to essential services.
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3,798,738 in grant funding to two institutions to establish research centers to address children’s cumulative health impacts from agricultural and non-chemical exposures. The grants have been awarded to Florida State University and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
On Oct. 16, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3,798,738 in grant funding to establish research centers focused on the cumulative health impacts on children in underserved, rural agricultural communities. The grants have been awarded to Florida State University and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
According to a fact sheet from the EPA, Florida State University has been awarded $1.9 million for a project titled "The Bioecological Center for Rural Children's Health (BeRCH)," led by Principal Investigator Gregg Stanwood. The project will evaluate chemical and psychosocial stressors and aims to develop a cumulative impact statement and new assessment tools.
The EPA fact sheet also clarifies that the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center will receive $1,898,738 for a project focused on mitigating chemical and non-chemical stressors that affect school absenteeism caused by gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. Led by Changjie Cai, the center aims to establish a Children's Health & Social Vulnerability Index (CHS) for rural school systems.
Chris Frey, the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development at the EPA, commented in the press release from the EPA, "Due to their rapid growth and the way they engage with their surroundings, children are particularly susceptible to pollutants. The goal of these research centers is to lessen health disparities among young children in rural agricultural areas." Frey further noted, "This initiative aligns with our broader commitment to advancing the scientific understanding necessary to safeguard children in their living and play environments."
The EPA fact sheet also states that both centers will employ multidisciplinary approaches and community engagement to achieve their research goals, which are part of EPA's broader effort to advance children's environmental health and environmental justice.
