On November 20, nations around the world will be celebrating Universal children’s Day. This day is celebrated in remembrance of the adoption of the most widely ratified international human rights treaty- the Convention on the Rights of the child. The convention sets out a number of children’s rights and this celebration promotes the need to continuously build up a living-friendly environment for ALL children. Article 24 of the convention highlight that parties to the convention must recognize the rights of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.

Further, parties should pursue efforts to combat disease and malnutrition while taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution.
There are numerous health effects in children which have been linked to the quality of the environment, including respiratory illnesses, cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, obesity and adverse birth outcomes. Poor planning, pollution from human activities, often disrupts many systems within the environment resulting in a loss of water and air quality, loss of green spaces, obstruction of natural processes, and depletion of resources necessary for health and sustainability.

Unfortunately, children subsequently share a large portion of the burden of environmental degradation. Here are some WHO facts on Children’s environmental Health:
Asthma prevalence is rising rapidly in children.
-most common chronic non-communicable disease among children and occurs in all countries especially low- and lower-middle income countries where triggers are common and asthma medication is scarce.
More than 50% of the 1 million annual child deaths from acute respiratory infections are attributable to indoor air pollution.

Indoor air pollution often is caused by the burning of solid fuel to cook. Acute respiratory infections – in particular pneumonia – are the leading killer of young children. Second-hand tobacco smoke is another major risk factor. Children in developing countries are especially at risk due to poor housing conditions.
Environmental factors are responsible for 88% of the 1.5 million annual child deaths year due to diarrhea.
Diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death among children under 5 years old (760 000 annually). A large majority of these deaths are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. Treating and safely storing drinking water can prevent diarrhoeal disease.

In some developing regions of the world, more than 33% of all children are exposed to high levels of lead which can result in neurological disorders.
Lead poisoning can alter children’s brain development, increase the risk of learning problems, and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Childhood lead exposure is estimated to contribute to about 600 000 new cases of developmental disabilities, annually.
Acute poisoning from pesticides can be life-threatening to children
Unsafe use, storage and disposal of pesticides are the main causes of acute poisoning. Chronic pesticide exposure is linked to neurological, developmental, and reproductive problem in children. Sources of exposure include gardens, homes, schools, agricultural drift, and contaminated food and drinking water.

Mercury is toxic to the nervous system particularly during early development
Exposure to mercury, even in small amounts, may cause serious health problems. The fetus, newborns and children are especially susceptible to mercury exposure because of the sensitivity of their developing nervous systems. Large predatory, non-fatty fish (such as shark) can have high levels of mercury. Mercury in the environment is mainly caused by human activity, e.g. mining.

Hundreds of thousands of children under the age of 15 unintentionally ingest poisonous substances.
Poisoning most commonly involves fuel, pesticides, medicines, and toxic household products. Storing these items away from children’s sight and reach, and using child-resistant packaging can save children’s lives.
Environmental factors play a role in childhood cancers.
While much about the origin of childhood cancers remains unknown, environmental agents such as radiation, tobacco and second-hand smoke, aflatoxins, ultraviolet light, and some pesticides play a role. Cancers attributed to environmental factors result in 1.3 million deaths each year.

Climate change increases the risk of disease especially for children in developing countries
The burden of disease of climate change is disproportionately borne by children in developing countries. Not only are children the most vulnerable to the immediate effects, they will also face long term health consequences. Children face risks of injuries and death from floods and extreme temperatures, asthma and respiratory diseases that increase in frequency with air pollution, and diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, and malnutrition related to climate change.
Now with these facts in mind, contemplate on your actions with regard to the environment. Have you been a good environmental steward? Remember, every child has a right to good health including a healthy environment.

Share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com

http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/children_environmental_health/facts/en/index9.html