Why is EPA focusing effort on older Americans?
The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment. Protecting the health of older persons is a priority for the following reasons: The U.S. is undergoing a demographic transformation. By 2030, the number of older persons aged 65 and older is expected to double to 70 million, one out of every five Americans. As we age, our bodies may become more susceptible to environmental hazards because of the diminished capacity of various organ systems that occur in the natural aging process. For example, our bodies are less able to detoxify and eliminate toxins. In addition, as we age, we are exposed to a lifetime of environmental contaminants capable of persisting and accumulating in our bodies.
