EPA report covers children's enviro-health

WASHINGTON, March 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says its 10-year research effort has led to greater understanding of children's environmental health.

"Understanding potential environmental health risks to children is important to EPA," George Gray, assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Research and Development, said in a news release. "This research will help us assess and address environmental factors that may affect some of the most vulnerable members of our society."

The report, released Tuesday, provided insight on how to assess children's exposures, what biological markers say about exposures or effects of exposures and what steps must be taken to prevent harmful exposures.

Among the research's key findings:

-- People metabolize pesticides differently based on their genotype. The EPA said many babies do not develop the ability to metabolize some pesticides during the first two years of life, putting them at greater risk.

-- Children living close to major roadways in Southern California have a higher risk of asthma.

-- EPA's ban on two household pesticides -- diazinon and chlorpyrifos -- has led to a rapid decrease in exposure in New York. Also, children born after the ban were healthier.