Regulations, policies, and guidelines addressing environmental exposures in early learning environments: a review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pediatrics
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Infants and young children under five are uniquely susceptible to environmental contaminants.
• Early learning environments (ELEs), including child care centers, are significant exposure settings for young children.
• Children's specific physiology, exposures, and behaviors in child care settings increase their vulnerability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine environmental contaminants in early learning environments (ELEs).
• To review current environmental health licensing requirements for child care settings.
• To identify gaps in regulatory protection for children in child care.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 2008 Child Care Licensing Survey.
• Review of the First National Environmental Health Survey of Child Care Centers.
• Examination of data from the Children's Total Exposure to Persistent Pesticides and Other Persistent Organic Pollutants survey.

Main Results:

• Current state licensing programs provide only basic environmental health protections.
• There is a lack of standardized, mandatory federal regulations for child care environmental health.
• Existing regulations do not fully address the unique risks children face in ELEs.

Conclusions:

• Current environmental health protections in ELEs are insufficient.
• Enhanced federal and state regulations are needed to standardize and improve child care safety.
• Resources from federal agencies can guide the implementation of better environmental health measures in ELEs.