STEPS FORWARD REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Children and all humans are under the influence of multiple environmental stressors. However, they are not little adults, their organs and metabolism are under delicate formation and their capacity to face pollutant stress is different than those in adults. Exposure to deleterious compounds already starts in the preconceptional and fetal stage. In the first years of life, children are affected by exposure to toxic chemical products present in air, water, soil, domestic dust, toys, clothes, furniture and diet. The nature of pollution is changing. More so, in rapidly developing countries. Urbanization, climate change, increasing motor vehicle use and the widespread use of toxic chemicals, pesticides encompass direct environmental stresses. In addition, ambient and indoor biomass air pollution and soil pollution, either in cities, mining activities or polluting industries, are increasing sharply the exposure for the most vulnerable.