While I was at the Child Environmental Health Congress, the need to create Environmental Pediatric Health Centres at the Latin American level, particularly in Chile where such centres have not been developed, was emphasized.

To put this initiative into effect, a provisional agenda was proposed in which:

1. 1. Optimal and optional elements for the creation of Environmental Pediatric Centres were defined.
2. It was proposed that working groups be created to maximize resources.
3. It was proposed that the various organizations that might be part of this Work Network be included.
4. It was proposed that bibliographical information be made available to staff and the community.

Finally, the minimum requirements for the establishment of Environmental Pediatric Centres in Latin American countries were discussed.

Chile, unlike other Latin American countries, has not established Environmental Pediatric units. Thus, it is very important to begin coordinated environmental and health work to develop such units. Children may be exposed to various environmental agents and are very vulnerable to them since they are at the stage of rapid biological growth and are developing their immune, neurological and endocrinological systems, among others. It is vital that interaction mechanisms between the environment and genetic, infectious and nutritional diseases, all of which are studied in Environmental Pediatric units which must be developed in Chile in the near future, be studied and understood.

Dr. Enrique Paris Mancilla
Director
Centro de Información Toxicológica y de Medicamentos
CITUC

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