Role of health professionals in protecting children from environmental risks: a commentary

Health professionals are well positioned to protect children from environmental exposures to toxicants. Doing so may mean mobilizing for precautionary action well before conclusive evidence of adverse health impacts are documented in the community. This paper comments on the context within which health professionals work, and identifies strengths, barriers and guiding principles for action. Roles and strategies are identified for both medically and community-focussed health professionals. The prevention--treatment continuum (global action--policy and regulatory reform--local collective action--health protection--medical treatment) is explored. While health professionals traditionally deal with the treatment (downstream) end of the spectrum in addressing environmental health problems, there are ample opportunities for expanding this role to the prevention (upstream) end. Applicable strategies are organized into six major roles: surveillance, hazard assessment, research, education, public awareness, and advocacy. Advocacy is one of the most important roles since it involves upstream activities close to the source of the problem. While downstream endeavours have a legitimate place in the practice of health professionals, expanding this role to include upstream strategies, such as health promotion and advocacy, is essential if efforts to protect children's health are to succeed in the long term.