Patterns of disease among Canadian children are changing. Chronic diseases and other debilitating or limiting conditions are on the rise among children. Several of these diseases/conditions are suspected or known to be associated with environmental exposures. A number of factors work in concert to influence healthy child development. The physical environment, both built and natural, plays an important role and is a determinant that can be changed to promote and protect child health. This session will examine the risks to diseases and conditions that are/suspected of being linked to environmental exposures and the unique vulnerabilities of children to these risks throughout the various life stages.

In the fall of 2006, the Canadian Child Care Federation conducted a national survey on children's environmental health. Informed by results from this survey, this workshop will present "childproofing tips" to reduce the risks to preconception, prenatal and child health in child care settings. Children spend a great deal of time in early learning and child care settings at a period in their lives when they are particularly vulnerable to environmental influences. Practitioners can directly impact the environmental exposures of the children in their care. They are also in a position of trust with parents and can act as effective messengers about children's environmental health.

An important field of toxicology that examines the impacts of substances on endocrine function is contributing new knowledge to our understanding of how a child's health may be influenced from environmental exposures. For example, prenatal exposure to substances that modify normal thyroid hormone function may alter the development of learning and cognitive abilities and behaviour. Endocrine toxicants may also alter normal reproductive development and have been implicated in causing diabetes and obesity as well. This session will examine the contribution of environmental exposures in early life to a range of important disorders in children. It will discuss the need for preventative policies and practices in the home and in child-care settings as well as the benefits in terms of reduced health care and societal costs from prevention.

Here we are, surrounded by pests, and what are we going to do about them? Bugs in buildings and on our begonias, weeds in our lawns, mosquitoes as vectors of disease such as West Nile virus - modern chemistry seemingly has a solution to them all. Pesticides are the only chemicals deliberately spread in the environment specifically for their toxic effects, but they reach far beyond their targets. Types of pesticides and their effects, as well as alternative strategies for pest management will be reviewed. Please bring along your aspirations and experiences, to discuss efforts to achieve least-toxic pest control in buildings, ecological approaches to West Nile virus, and municipal bylaws restricting pesticides for landscaping.

Climate change is quickly emerging as the most serious environmental challenge of the century, while air pollution continues to be a major health concern. This workshop focuses on making linkages between the big picture science of climate change and air pollution, the human health effects on vulnerable populations, and what individuals can do to reduce emissions and adopt adaptive measures to reduce exposure to these atmospheric stressors. Emphasis will be on children's health, and what service providers can do in their home, in their commute, and in their place of work. Participants will break out into four different groups to identify real and meaningful actions they can adopt in each of the three areas noted above, in addition to what they can do in their job as promoters of health.

In 2005, the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health & Environment (CPCHE) launched the awareness campaign "Playing it Safe: Childproofing for Environmental Health". This campaign extends the concept of childproofing for safety to taking action to protect children from being exposed to harmful pollutants. This session will discuss the CPCHE "Environmental Childproofing Top Ten List" - strategies to reduce or prevent exposures. Childproofing tips and suggestions will be provided as they relate to preventing and minimizing exposures during specific life stages (before conception, during pregnancy) and during specific activities (cleaning, feeding, playing and renovating/decorating). The focus of the session will be on childproofing methods.

Learn about the unique risks and vulnerabilities of children and their exposures to chemicals in everyday activities and new research on health impacts of exposure to chemicals in products in our homes and workplaces. You'll also learn about safer alternatives you can use in your daily life to reduce environmental risks to children, and ways to influence manufacturers, etc.

An important field of toxicology that examines the impacts of substances on endocrine function is contributing new knowledge to our understanding of how a child's health may be influenced from environmental exposures. For example, prenatal exposure to substances that modify normal thyroid hormone function may alter the development of learning and cognitive abilities and behaviour. Endocrine toxicants may also alter normal reproductive development and have been implicated in causing diabetes and obesity as well. This session will examine the contribution of environmental exposures in early life to a range of important disorders in children. It will discuss the need for preventative policies and practices in the home and in child-care settings as well as the benefits in terms of reduced health care and societal costs from prevention.

Here we are, surrounded by pests, and what are we going to do about them? Bugs in buildings and on our begonias, weeds in our lawns, mosquitoes as vectors of disease such as West Nile virus - modern chemistry seemingly has a solution to them all. Pesticides are the only chemicals deliberately spread in the environment specifically for their toxic effects, but they reach far beyond their targets. Types of pesticides and their effects, as well as alternative strategies for pest management will be reviewed. Please bring along your aspirations and experiences, to discuss efforts to achieve least-toxic pest control in buildings, ecological approaches to West Nile virus, and municipal bylaws restricting pesticides for landscaping.

Children are exposed to chemicals from many sources every day. Policy change can occur at many levels: in child care, school, and workplace settings, and at the municipal, provincial or federal level. Information will be presented on children's health risks of chemical exposure from their environment and how to implement setting-specific policies. The session will present examples of existing health-protective policies and will also include discussion of the need for provincial and federal policies to protect children's health.

Where do we go from here? A panel discussion, led by three panelists, will integrate many of the topics covered throughout the day and provide some guidelines about approaches to best practices and policies in public health, early learning and child care, and advocacy sectors. Workshop leaders will be invited to participate in the panel discussion. Questions from conference delegates will be welcome.