The Unique Vulnerabilities of Children to Environmental Hazards

English, Karin; Lau, Colleen L; Jagals, Paul

doi:10.1007/978-981-15-3797-4_6

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Whilst global under-five mortality rates have decreased by 59% since 1990 [ 10 ], morbidity related to early-life environmental exposures is increasing [ 11 ]. Direct and indirect effects of detrimental environmental exposures in childhood often persist through adulthood [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ], affecting people’s lifetime health and wellbeing and their ability to contribute economically to their community and society. The future economic potential of LDCs is thus directly linked to the health of their children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Systems Science to Understand and Manage Multiple Influences within Children’s Environmental Health in Least Developed Countries: A Causal Loop Diagram Approach

Brereton

Jagals

2021

IJERPH

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Least developed countries (LDCs) are home to over a billion people throughout Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean. The people who live in LDCs represent just 13% of the global population but 40% of its growth rate. Characterised by low incomes and low education levels, high proportions of the population practising subsistence living, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of economic diversity and resilience, LDCs face serious health, environmental, social, and economic challenges. Many communities in LDCs have very limited access to adequate sanitation, safe water, and clean cooking fuel. LDCs are environmentally vulnerable; facing depletion of natural resources, the effects of unsustainable urbanization, and the impacts of climate change, leaving them unable to safeguard their children’s lifetime health and wellbeing. This paper reviews and describes the complexity of the causal relationships between children’s health and its environmental, social, and economic influences in LDCs using a causal loop diagram (CLD). The results identify some critical feedbacks between poverty, family size, population growth, children’s and adults’ health, inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), air pollution, and education levels in LDCs and suggest leverage points for potential interventions. A CLD can also be a starting point for quantitative systems science approaches in the field, which can predict and compare the effects of interventions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of Systems Science to Understand and Manage Multiple Influences within Children’s Environmental Health in Least Developed Countries: A Causal Loop Diagram Approach

Brereton

Jagals

2021

IJERPH

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“…Nutrition during the first 1000 days from a woman’s pregnancy to the child’s second birthday is a critical stage in determining the child’s prospects of both growth and learning [ 1 ]. This period represents a stage of life with great potential for human development, but equally, of enormous vulnerability to the harm associated with factors such as a lack of essential elements (e.g., vitamins, minerals, fatty acids), infections caused by microorganisms (e.g., diarrhea, pneumonia), and exposure to toxic substances such as medicines (e.g., antibiotics) and environmental pollutants (e.g., pesticides, lead, mercury) [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. An understanding of the importance of this period drives government policy and intervention worldwide with the 1000 Day Initiative outlining how poor nutrition during this period can keep families and communities trapped in poverty [ 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of Health Outcomes and Methylmercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Women of Childbearing Age and Their Children under 2 Years Old

Kempton

Périssé

Hofer

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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In line with the 1000-day initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 and 3, we present a cross-sectional analysis of maternal health, infant nutrition, and methylmercury exposure within hard-to-reach indigenous communities in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. We collected data from all women of childbearing age (i.e., 12–49) and their infants under two years old in three Munduruku communities (Sawré Muybu, Sawré Aboy, and Poxo Muybu) along the Tapajos River. We explored health outcomes through interviews, vaccine coverage and clinical assessment, and determined baseline hair methylmercury (H-Hg) levels. Hemoglobin, infant growth (Anthropometric Z scores) and neurodevelopment tests results were collected. We found that 62% of women of childbearing age exceeded the reference limit of 6.0 μg/g H-Hg (median = 7.115, IQR = 4.678), with the worst affected community (Sawré Aboy) registering an average H-Hg concentration of 12.67 μg/g. Half of infants aged under 24 months presented with anemia. Three of 16 (18.8%) infants presented H-Hg levels above 6.0 µg/g (median: 3.88; IQR = 3.05). Four of the 16 infants were found to be stunted and 38% of women overweight, evidencing possible nutritional transition. No infant presented with appropriate vaccination coverage for their age. These communities presented with an estimated Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 86.7/1000 live births. The highest H-Hg level (19.6 µg/g) was recorded in an 11-month-old girl who was found to have gross motor delay and anemia. This already vulnerable indigenous Munduruku community presents with undernutrition and a high prevalence of chronic methylmercury exposure in women of childbearing age. This dual public health crisis in the context of wider health inequalities has the potential to compromise the development, health and survival of the developing fetus and infant in the first two critical years of life. We encourage culturally sensitive intervention and further research to focus efforts.

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The Unique Vulnerabilities of Children to Environmental Hazards

Cited by 2 publications

References 35 publications

Applications of Systems Science to Understand and Manage Multiple Influences within Children’s Environmental Health in Least Developed Countries: A Causal Loop Diagram Approach

Applications of Systems Science to Understand and Manage Multiple Influences within Children’s Environmental Health in Least Developed Countries: A Causal Loop Diagram Approach

An Assessment of Health Outcomes and Methylmercury Exposure in Munduruku Indigenous Women of Childbearing Age and Their Children under 2 Years Old

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