Background
Licensed child care centers and child care homes play a vital role in providing care to millions of young children throughout the U.S. One important element of this care is to protect children from indoor exposure to environmental contaminants.
Children are especially vulnerable to indoor air pollutants because their bodies are developing and because they breathe more air relative to their size than adults. These exposures can have both immediate and long-term effects on children’s health and learning.
Evidence-based facility maintenance and operations practices can help prevent and address indoor environmental problems in child care facilities, often at low or moderate cost. Some non-governmental organizations have incorporated such practices into voluntary environmental health standards and guidance for child care providers.
It is also important for indoor air quality requirements to be included in state laws and regulations, so that children in all state-licensed child care facilities are protected from potentially harmful exposures.
The ELI research reports listed here describe state policies addressing IAQ in child care and include policies in effect at the time of publication. Another resource, ELI’s Database of State IAQ Laws, is available in PDF format or through an online search tool and has been updated annually.
ELI Materials on IAQ in Child Care
Reducing Environmental Exposures in Child Care Facilities: A Review of State Policy (2015)
Drinking Water Quality in Child Care Facilities: A Review of State Policy (2015)
Addressing Environmental Site Hazards at Child Care Facilities: A Review of State Policy Strategies (2018)
Federal, State, and Local Policies Addressing Chemical Emissions from Dry Cleaners (2020)
Opportunities for Policy Action
Every state has legal authorities that can be used to reduce IAQ risks at child care facilities and help ensure a healthy environment in which young children can learn and grow.
All 50 states have child care licensing laws and regulations, and many states update their regulations with some frequency. Though licensing requirements vary from state to state, they typically address certain aspects of the indoor environment. States may have additional policies that address environmental health issues in the child care setting, such as child care health rules, building codes, and laws governing specific indoor exposures like secondhand smoke and pesticides.
In addition to state policies, federal regulations establish requirements that apply to providers who receive federal child care funds, and tribes and municipalities may have their own laws that apply to licensed child care facilities.
Policymakers can review their existing child care rules and other relevant policies to identify gaps and opportunities for addressing key IAQ issues in the child care setting. ELI materials support such efforts by providing an overview of existing state policies and highlighting considerations for future policy development.
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