Leveraging Pediatric Healthcare Settings to Screen for Environmental Health Risks

This review aims to highlight key opportunities to implement available screening tools to identify environmental health risk factors across various pediatric care settings.

Climate change is known to affect pediatric health outcomes. As its consequences become more evident, it is imperative to consider the environment as a social determinant of health. Common pediatric illnesses are exacerbated by climate change, such as asthma, respiratory infections, and cardiovascular disease. This review also reveals inequity in environmental health exposures in historically marginalized populations.

It is the responsibility of pediatricians to leverage their clinical expertise, patient interactions, local partnerships, and legislative action to mitigate the effects of climate change on children. Fortunately, several screening tools are readily applicable in both ambulatory and inpatient settings. Further, it is essential to consider how marginalized populations are more susceptible to the impacts of climate change.