Children - The unwitting target of environmental injustices

This article discusses the context and patterns of environmental contamination in the US and the disproportionate impact on health among poor and minority communities. The history of environmental contamination in the US creates the context for Environmental justice, a concept that denotes the application of fair strategies and processes in the resolution of inequality related to environmental contamination. Federal environmental justice legislation defines legal rights of families and communities in decision making regarding prevention and remediation of actual or potential threats to environmental health. The advocacy role of health care professionals in identifying potential environmental justice issues and in community empowerment is discussed.