South Dakota's role in the National Children's Study.

The NCS was authorized by Congress with the Children’s Health Act of 2000 and will examine the effects of the environment on the health and development of American children. This longitudinal study will include more than 100,000 children from a nationally representative sample who will be followed from before birth until age 21 (www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov). The term “environment” is broadly defined within the study to include a number of natural and man-made environmental issues. Environmental exposures to be considered include biological agents, chemical and social factors, physical surroundings, behavioral influences, genetics, cultural and family influences and geographic locations.