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Pollution and children's health
Philip J Landrigan1, Richard Fuller2, Samantha Fisher2
1Department of Biology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA.
The Science of the Total Environment
|October 8, 2018
Summary
Pollution caused nearly one million child deaths in 2016, primarily in low-income nations. Preventing pollution offers a critical, overlooked strategy to protect children
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Pollution, encompassing air, water, soil, and chemical contaminants, poses a significant threat to global child health.
- In 2016, pollution was linked to 940,000 deaths in children worldwide, with a disproportionate impact on those under five and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Pollution contributes to both infectious diseases (respiratory, gastrointestinal) and a rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in children, including low birth weight, asthma, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the substantial burden of pollution-related mortality and morbidity in children globally.
- To underscore the link between various forms of pollution and both infectious and non-communicable diseases in pediatric populations.
- To emphasize the critical, yet underutilized, potential of pollution prevention in safeguarding child health and preventing NCDs, particularly in LMICs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of global mortality and morbidity data attributed to pollution in children.
- Review of existing literature on the health impacts of air, water, soil, and chemical pollution on pediatric populations.
- Assessment of the role of pollution in the increasing prevalence of NCDs in children.
Main Results:
- Pollution was responsible for 940,000 child deaths in 2016, with two-thirds affecting children under five.
- The majority of pollution-related child deaths occurred in LMICs, primarily due to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases from polluted air and water.
- Pollution is associated with an increasing number of pediatric NCDs, such as low birth weight, asthma, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders, with the full impact of chemical pollution likely underestimated.
Conclusions:
- Pollution prevention represents a significant, largely untapped opportunity to enhance children's health and avert NCDs, especially in LMICs.
- Integrating pollution prevention strategies into NCD control programs is essential for comprehensive disease prevention in children.
- Further research is needed to fully characterize the impact of chemical pollution on pediatric health and expand the understanding of pollution-disease associations.