The environment and children's health

El environment and children's health is a topic of study in current research.

More and more research groups are interested in demonstrating the association of the environment with the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus. Environmental pollutants are also related to children's health.

Dr. Gómez Roig leads a line of research in BCnatal, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu-Hospital Clínic, on the influence of the environment and the complications of pregnancy.

How does the environment influence the health of children?

The environment influences the health of children through environmental pollutants.

The Scientific advances related to industrial, technological and economic development have benefited the child population of Western countries.

Despite this, they have polluted the atmosphere, terrestrial life and the aquatic world.

The increased vulnerability and sensitivity of the pediatric era to environmental pollutants is reflected in more than 40% of diseases. In addition, these factors occur in children under 5 years of age.

The contaminants they include physical, chemical, biological and social factors.

pollutants like air pollution where we live has been associated with a higher prevalence of respiratory diseases such as asthma.

Children who go to schools with more pollution associated with street traffic have worse results in tests where learning skills are studied.

Is anything being done to prevent it?

Prevention includes recognition of the problem and investigation and dissemination of the results.

World Health Organization, The OMS, considers the environment and children's health as one of the main health challenges of the XNUMXst century.

That is why it stimulates strategies development that allow addressing, disseminating and solving pediatric environmental health problems in centers of excellence.

La European Union, in the Environment and Health strategy, points to childhood as a special focus of attention and establishes specific deadlines for the creation of groups of experts.

It is necessary to plan and deepen aspects of pediatric environmental health.

Likewise, in the Community Action Plan on Environment and Health, the European Council recognizes the need to create and implement Pediatric Environmental Health Clinical Units.

Raising awareness at the population level and at the political level is one of the first steps to start prevention strategies.

We hope this entry on the environment and children's health.