The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently issued a report about our National environment. For the most part, the news is positive.

The United States has been evaluating environmental health risks for several decades. Until now, the news has generally been discouraging, showing that we have been, and are still, exposed to various harmful chemicals, everything from cadmium to pyrethroids.

The CDC has just completed a very large study evaluating the effects of environmental chemicals on humans. Its the third such study that they have performed and the results are encouraging, specifically in terms of tobacco smoke and lead.

We are making progress in our overall environmental living conditions. smoking exposure is coming down. Lead exposure is down, and so is mercury.

In the United States children are being exposed to far less cigarette smoke than in years past. Presumably, laws that require retailers to check the ages of persons who by cigarettes, and the anti-smoking campaigns have been working.

Added to these efforts are our legislative and cultural changes. In many places, smokers have been made to feel like second-class citizens and sometimes even criminals. While I'm not convinced that this rings right and, people are nevertheless able to smoke in less places. And overall this is reducing the amount of second hand smoke our youth take in on a daily basis.

There is also good news on the lead front. Young children are generally exposed to less lead now than before. This is evidenced by the reduction in percentage lead found in their bodies during studies.

Lead exposure can cause severe neurological problems in young children that can have lifelong effects. Prevalence of leadless gasoline and paints claim partial responsibility in reduced cases.

There have also been laws designed to abate residential lead problems all over the US. Several decades of implementing these laws appear to have yielded a beneficial result.

While these results give much reason for applaud, the report isn't all sweet.

With regard to pesticide exposures, studies indicate that many Americans are still exposed to a variety of pesticides. And the fact that we Americans love our green lawns means that pesticide exposure will likely continue until we figure out how to conquer this problem.

Of course, pesticides are not easy to eliminate. They are used in over abundance. When it rains they end up in our storm drains and from there migrate slowly, but surely, to our food supply and our drinking water supply. It will be very difficult to eliminate pesticide exposure in modern America.

Ultimately, safer better grade pesticides will have to be developed. In addition, stronger laws designed to require more efficient use of pesticides, and to eliminate run off containing pesticides will have to be developed and enforced.

Mercury exposure also continues to be a problem in America, with no real fixes in sight.

On the whole, the news from the CDC is welcomed news. While there is work to be done, and while many federal initiatives will have to be redirected, we can choose to see this report as proof that even small changes can have lasting effects.