What is INCHES?

INCHES is a global network of people and organizations interested in promoting the protection of children from environmental and safety hazards. INCHES represents many interests and will speak from the experience and expertise of members of the network, of science and of the best practices in policies and programmes. Promoting children's health requires protecting them from harmful environmental exposures. These exposures include: harmful physical, chemical and biological microorganisms and pollutants in water, air, soil and food.

INCHES will disseminate information and initiate research on the relationship between environmental factors and child health. Solid facts and good examples will be made easily available on the Internet as the network develops. Parents, researchers and scientists, children's organizations, children themselves are all potential partners with a stake in INCHES. Children are more susceptible to environmental hazards than previously thought. Children are in a dynamic state of growth, as many vital systems such as the nervous, immune, and respiratory systems are not fully developed at birth. Because children are still developing, exposure to environmental hazards may result in disruption of their normal development and may cause damage.

Take a look at the next pages, and please send any news items, comments, suggestions or criticism to: pvdhazel(at)inter.nl.net.