Children's Environmental Health Protection Program

Children can sometimes be more at risk than adults from the harmful health effects of air pollution. Changes to state law (Senate Bill 25, Escutia 1999) established specific requirements to examine the impacts of air pollution on children's health. We are conducting special studies to determine whether the current network established to measure air pollution in California adequately reflects the levels of air pollutants that infants and children are breathing. Senate Bill 25 requires that we expand our existing monitoring program in six communities around the state and conduct special monitoring. Locations are selected where children are typically present, such as schools and daycare centers, and near sources of air pollution, including busy highways and industry. The six areas chosen exemplify the diversity of weather, geography, and air pollution sources present in California where emissions from diesel engines, automobiles, neighborhood sources, refineries and marine sources can affect air quality. Over time, we may monitor in additional areas.