Pediatric Environmental Health

Childhood is a time of rapid growth and development, accompanied by changes in organ system functioning, metabolic capabilities, physical size, and behavior that can dramatically modify potential illness caused by a toxicant. Pediatricians and other child health care providers need to develop the expertise necessary to take an environmental history, deliver anticipatory guidance, and conduct appropriate risk-based laboratory tests for environmental illnesses. Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units are available for consultation and referral. Pediatricians and other child heatlh care providers should be aware of this resource. This monograph is one in a series of self-instructional publications designed to increase the primary care provider's knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment and to aid in the evaluation of potentially exposed patients. This course is also available on the ATSDR Web site, www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HEC/CSEM/. See page 3 for more information about continuing medical education credits, continuing nursing education units, continuing education units, and continuing health education specialist credits.