The environment and health for children and their mothers

More than three million children under five die each year from environment-related causes and conditions. This makes the environment one of the most critical contributors to the global toll of more than ten million child deaths annually -- as well as a very important factor in the health and well-being of their mothers.

Polluted indoor and outdoor air, contaminated water, lack of adequate sanitation, toxic hazards, disease vectors, ultraviolet radiation, and degraded ecosystems are all important environmental risk factors for children, and in most cases for their mothers as well. Particularly in developing countries, environmental hazards and pollution are a major contributor to childhood deaths, illnesses and disability from acute respiratory disease, diarrhoeal diseases, physical injuries, poisonings, insect-borne diseases and perinatal infections. Childhood death and illness from causes such as poverty and malnutrition are also associated with unsustainable patterns of development and degraded urban or rural environments.

Health-damaging exposure to environmental risks can begin before birth. Lead in air, mercury in food and other chemicals can result in long-term, often irreversible effects, such as infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects. Women's exposure to pesticides, solvents and persistent organic pollutants may potentially affect the health of the fetus. Additionally, while the overall benefits of breastfeeding are recognized, the health of the newborn may be affected by high levels of contaminants in breast milk. Small children, whose bodies are rapidly developing, are particularly susceptible - and in some instances the health impacts may only emerge later in life.

Furthermore, children as young as five years old sometimes work in hazardous settings. Pregnant women living and working in hazardous environments and poor mothers and their children are at a higher risk, as they are exposed to the most degraded environments, are often unaware of the health implications, and lack access to information on potential solutions.

I. More than three million children Ander die each year fron environment.

A. The environment one of the most critical contributors to the global toll.

1.- Ten million child deaths annually.

2.- Important factor in the health and well-being.

II. Important environment risk factor for children in developing contries.

A. Environment risk factor.

1.- Lack of adequate sanitation.

2.- Deagraded ecosystems.

B. Chilhood death

1.- Degraded urban or rural environment.

2.- Poverty and malnutrition.

III. Health-damaging exposure to environment risk.

A. Small children are particularly susceptible.

1.- Often irreversible effects.

2.- The healht of the newborn may be affected by high levels of contaminants in breats milk.

IV. People work in harzardous settings.

A. Living and working in hazardous environment.

1.- Often unaware of the health.

2.- Lack access to information on potential solutions.