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We are a source of medical information and advice on the influence of environmental exposures on reproductive and children's health. Heading link

The Great Lakes Center for Reproductive and Children’s Environmental Health was established in 1999 in partnership with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry to promote and protect children's health through prevention, education, diagnosis and treatment of environmentally related diseases.

The Center is one of 10 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSUs) across the country dedicated to reproductive and children's environmental health issues.‌‌ Our primary area of focus is EPA Region 5, which includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Our PEHSU has experts in pediatrics, toxicology, occupational and environmental medicine, and reproductive health. We work with physicians, parents, schools, community groups, and public health agencies to address reproductive and children's environmental health issues.
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PFAS overview Heading link

A doctor's perspective on PFAS Heading link

Healty Eating Series: How to safely wash produce in the time of COVID Heading link

Healthy Eating Series: How to navigate the dirty dozen Heading link

Healthy Eating Series: How to prevent salmonella Heading link

Healthy Eating Series: Climate change and eating less meat Heading link

Healthy Eating Series: Have you thought about composting? Heading link

The Great Lakes Center for Children’s Environmental Health recognizes that African American communities have historically suffered from a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution. Combined with the adverse health effects caused by lack of access to medical care, fresh food, and community economic investment, the additional burden of living with poor air quality, contaminated drinking water and soil, and older housing stock is absolutely unacceptable and must be remedied. To that end, the national PEHSU network, with input from this Center, is currently undertaking a strategic planning process that increases our focus on ending environmental injustice. We look forward to increasing our efforts in this arena.

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Connect with our resources Heading link

Tools for healthcare providers to make informed decisions about the environmental health issues in their communities.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer Heading link

This website was supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and funded (in part) by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports the PEHSUs by providing partial funding to CDC/ATSDR through an Inter-Agency Agreement. The findings and conclusions presented have not been formally disseminated by CDC/ATSDR or EPA and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. Use of trade names that may be mentioned is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the CDC/ATSDR or EPA.

 Acknowledgement: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports the PEHSU by providing partial funding to ATSDR under Inter-Agency Agreement number DW-75-95877701. Neither EPA nor ATSDR endorse the purchase of any commercial products or services mentioned in PEHSU publications.