The Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (the Center) strives to create a world in which every child has a hea ... lthy start. Grounding our work in extensive research and close partnerships with community organizations, we are ambassadors of preventive measures to protect children from environmental threats. History The Center was founded in 1998 when an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Columbia University, led by Dr. Frederica Perera, was awarded the distinct status of becoming one of eight “Centers for Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention” by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Research: The Center conducts community-based research in the United States and overseas to study the health effects of prenatal and early postnatal exposures to common urban pollutants. Environmental exposures we study include: * Lead, mercury, mold, pest allergens, and secondhand smoke * Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates * Pesticides * Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) * Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a byproduct of the combustion of fossil fuel and other organic material Community Partners: A key component of our community outreach and research translation has been attributed to maintaining a highly successful partnership with our lead community partner, We Act for Environmental Justice (WE ACT). WE ACT strives to facilitate community participation through the creation of fair environmental health policies and practices, with a particular focus on Northern Manhattan. Furthermore, the Center facilitates the activities of the Community Advisory and Stakeholder Board (CASB). The CASB identifies the best methods to deliver key environmental health messages to the community, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals. read more