EPA Awards $1.8M in Research Grants to the University of Oklahoma for Children’s Health

EPA Awards $1.8M in Research Grants to the University of Oklahoma for Children's Health

October 16, 2023

DALLAS, TEXAS (October 16th, 2023) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $1,898,738 in grant funding to the University of Oklahoma to establish research centers to address children's cumulative health impacts from agricultural and non-chemical exposures.

Children in underserved, rural agricultural communities face increased health risks due to the combination of agricultural pollutants in air, water, and soil, as well as non-chemical stressors such as poverty and limited access to services. There is an urgent need to investigate the cumulative health impacts of chemical and non-chemical exposures for children in these communities to help inform better health outcomes for them as they grow.

"Children are especially vulnerable to pollutants due to how fast they grow and how they play and interact with their environment," saidChris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development. "EPA is funding these research centers to identify effective, science-based options aimed at reducing early childhood health disparities in agricultural communities, and as part of our broader commitment to developing the science needed to protect children where they live and play."

"Protecting children's health is a critical aspect of EPA's mission and we could not fulfill this mission without the instrumental innovations of state universities," said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. "Research centers that prioritize children's health reduce illness, address disparities and provide data that improves regulation. I would like to thank the University of Oklahoma for using science-based solutions to improve children's health in our region."

The research centers will investigate the cumulative health impacts of early lifestage (prenatal and from childhood up to adolescence) exposures to pollutants and the added effect of non-chemical stressors among children in these communities across the United States. The research announced today is part of EPA's larger effort to advance children's environmental health and environmental justice by effectively reducing early childhood and lifetime health disparities in these communities.

This research center's main objective is mitigating the chemical and non-chemical stressors that affect school absenteeism caused by gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases. This objective will be met by identifying health impacts of infectious aerosol sampling data and health related social factors; exploring connections between environmental engineering hazard controls (i.e., air purifiers) and administrative environmental health interventions. Additionally, the center aims to establish a Stakeholder-Driven & Data-Driven Children's Health & Social Vulnerability Index (CHS) to better assess children's health disparities in rural school systems.

Learn more about the funded recipients.

Learn more about EPA research grants.

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