About Environmental Dangers Affecting the Health Of Children

Introduction

Children's environmental health studies tell us that children's metabolism and their organ systems are not fully mature and can be very sensitive to environmental hazards. The exposure to such hazards will cause partial damage to their developing immune and respiratory systems. As children's metabolic process is different from adults, they are more prone to absorb toxic material easier than adults through their skin and their respiratory systems. Children become more vulnerable to adverse health effects.

Many children's environmental health experts have warned repeatedly that children are not protected sufficiently by tolerance levels in the world that have been set by the modern adult society to toxins in the air, water, food and building material.

History

If you study the history of humanity and children's environmental health, the environment has always been a powerful force. People have had to adapt their behavior to climatic changes and forces beyond their control. In the pursuit of modernism and comfort, people have used science as a stepping stone to improve their lives through convenience. But, since the past five decades, the release of unnatural substances like toxins into the environment has gone up drastically. These toxins are proving to be dangerous, particularly to our children.

Artifcial chemical compounds and pesticides are some of the primary dangers to the children's environmental health. Several negative health effects in children have been linked to lead poisoning. Children get exposed to lead through paint in old buildings or through the soil around those buildings. As children try and put their hands frequently in their mouth without being aware of what they are doing, they can be affected by lead poisoning through dirt, paint chips, window sills and even toys. Asthma and other respiratory diseases among children are co-related with air pollution. Dust, smoke and pet excreta can be dangerous for allergies and asthmatic attacks.

 

Features

To improve children's environmental health, we have to improve their environment first. How will you protect children from environmental risks? These are some of the measures you can adopt in preserving children's environmental health:
• Keep pesticides and other toxic chemicals out of the reach of children.
• Store food in closed containers and refrigerate it properly.
• Wash fruits and vegetables under running water and rinse them well before cooking and eating.
• Do not allow children to play in fields and gardens where pesticides may have been sprayed.
• Do not smoke cigarettes around the children.
• Be wary of motor vehicle idling at home in the garage or in the school compounds.
• When possible, limit their outdoor activity on ozone alert days when air pollution could be very harmful to them.

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