How the environment impacts the health of Americans has long been a heated topic of discussion, and an expert on the subject says the federal government isn’t doing enough research on pollution or taking enough action to prevent children from being exposed to it. Lawrence Schell is the director of the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities. He recently lectured at Indiana State University about how pollution impacts the growth and brain development of children. He says scientists continue to find connections between toxins in the environment and adverse health impacts, but not enough is being done about it. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 in 4 deaths of children under 5 years of age are attributable to unhealthy environments, including indoor and outdoor air pollution, second-hand smoke, unsafe water, lack of sanitation and inadequate hygiene.