image of toddler toys

Did you know early childhood exposures to chemicals can have lifelong effects?

Our research team is now recruiting child care centers and families
with 3- to 5-year-old children for a voluntary study.

Click "Connect with our Team" below if you are interested in
enrolling your child or your child care center.

Scroll down to learn more

About PEDS

We partner with you and your child's preschool to test for common contaminants in your child’s everyday environment and complete fun, game-like activities to learn about early childhood development.

Children are exposed to many common chemicals in their day-to-day life. The first few years of life is a stage with very fast growth and brain development. Toddlers’ growing brains are particularly sensitive to chemical exposures.

Our team is working to understand how children’s everyday surroundings might impact their early development so families, child care providers, and early educators can continue supporting healthy, thriving children.

This study is a partnership between RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, and NC Central University, a Historically Black College/University (HBCU). It is funded by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Center for Early Lifestage Vulnerabilities to Environmental Stressors grant.


Start the enrollment process now

More information for families

More information for child care centers

Why should families and child care centers participate?

Your participation will help provide information that parents, early educators, and policy makers can use to support children’s early development and healthy homes and schools for children!

☑️ Parents receive $150 for completing all study activities

☑️ Children receive small PRIZES

☑️ Child care centers receive $100

☑️ Parents and centers receive environmental sampling RESULTS with recommendations