Children's environmental health: an under-recognised area in paediatric health care
2009
Children's Environmental Health: An Under-Recognised Area in Paediatric Health Care
Commentary
Author Information
Author(s): Tania G Gavidia, Jenny Pronczuk de Garbino, Peter D Sly
Primary Institution: WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Children's Environmental Health, Curtin University of Technology
Conclusion
Children's environmental health is significantly impacted by their exposure to environmental toxicants, which remains under-recognised in paediatric health care.
Supporting Evidence
- Children under 5 years of age suffer disproportionately from environmental hazards, with 36% of the overall disease burden attributable to modifiable environmental causes.
- More than three million children under five die each year from environment-related causes and conditions.
- Preventing negative environmental exposures could save more than four million lives a year in children alone, mostly in developing countries.
Takeaway
Kids are more affected by pollution than adults because their bodies are still growing, and we need to pay more attention to how the environment affects their health.
Limitations
The commentary highlights the lack of recognition and training among health care providers regarding children's environmental health.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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