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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
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Current knowledge of environmental exposure in children during the sensitive developmental periods

Norma Helena Perlroth1, Christina Wyss Castelo Branco2

  • 1Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem e Biociências, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Departamento de Medicina Geral/Pediatria, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Jornal De Pediatria
|November 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children

Area of Science:

  • Environmental health
  • Pediatric toxicology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • Children possess unique physiological and behavioral traits, increasing their vulnerability to environmental risks.
  • Exposure to environmental contaminants during sensitive developmental periods poses significant health threats.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the scientific evidence on the risks and effects of environmental contaminant exposure in children.
  • To understand the impact of early-life exposure on long-term health outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Bireme database.
  • Keywords included "children's health," "environmental exposure," "health vulnerability," "toxicity pathways," and "developmental disabilities."
  • Searches were performed across LILACS, MEDLINE, and SciELO systems.

Main Results:

  • Environmental exposures can lead to congenital malformations, diarrhea, asthma, cancer, and endocrine/neurological disorders in children.
  • These health issues can have lasting negative impacts extending into adulthood.
  • Toxicokinetic processes in developing systems and organs are crucial in mediating these effects.

Conclusions:

  • There is a significant knowledge gap regarding children's susceptibility to many environmental contaminants.
  • Further research and improved surveillance of environmental risks are essential for child health.
  • Developing targeted prevention policies is a public health priority.
Abstract

Keywords:
Children's healthDeficiências do desenvolvimentoDevelopmental disabilityEnvironmental exposureExposição ambientalPathways of toxicity penetrationSaúde infantilVias de penetração da toxicidadeVulnerabilidadeVulnerability

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