Chemical regulation and kids: In search of a better fit.

Regulationx t is human nature to want to protect our children from harm. Toys, car seats, sports equipment-all are designed with a child's safety in mind. Those same children, however, have been often overlooked in two critical research areas: the effects of exposure to chemicals and guidelines for prescription medications. Environmental exposure standards have usually been set according to research on adults, and prescription medications are primarily designed for grown-ups as well. This has led to a shortage of concrete information on how children's developing bodies respond to potential hazards in their environment and to the; drugs they may take. "The single most important point I would liketo make is that children are not little adults," said E. RamonaTovt ddirector of