Lehigh University researchers are examining how childhood exposure to environmental toxicants and social stressors impact long-term health risks.

Children’s exposure to environmental toxins during their early years can have lasting impacts on their health throughout their lives. A groundbreaking research initiative is now underway to better understand these effects, with Lehigh University playing a key role in this important investigation.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded funding to Hyunok Choi, associate professor in Lehigh University’s College of Health’s Department of Community and Population Health, to participate in a nationwide research collaboration examining how environmental factors affect children’s health and development. She is also joined by researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania.

Understanding environmental impacts on child development

The Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) study brings together researchers from across the United States to investigate how various environmental exposures impact children’s health. These exposures include toxicants found in:

• Air pollution
• Food sources
• Drinking water
• Consumer products like skin lotions

The study also examines how social stressors combine with these environmental factors to influence disease risk. This comprehensive research aims to provide scientific evidence supporting the reduction and elimination of harmful toxicants to better protect children’s health.

Lehigh’s role in advancing research excellence

This research grant adds to Lehigh University’s distinguished research profile. The university has achieved R1 status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, marking it as a top-tier research institution. Lehigh stands as the only university in the Lehigh Valley with this prestigious designation and is one of just seven institutions in Pennsylvania to achieve this classification.

For more information about the research team and Professor Choi’s work, visit Lehigh’s website.

This article may have been created with the assistance of AI.