The Pediatrician's Role in Protecting Children from Environmental Hazards

Leonardo Trasande; Christopher D Kassotis

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2022.09.003

The Pediatrician's Role in Protecting Children from Environmental Hazards

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2023 Feb;70(1):137-150. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2022.09.003.

Authors

Leonardo Trasande¹, Christopher D Kassotis²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Environmental Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Environmental Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; NYU Wagner School of Public Service, New York, NY, USA; NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: leonardo.trasande@nyulangone.org.
² Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.

Abstract

Children suffer disproportionately from disease and disability due to environmental hazards, for reasons rooted in their biology. The contribution is substantial and increasingly recognized, particularly due to ever-increasing awareness of endocrine disruption. Regulatory actions can be traced directly to reductions in toxic exposures, with tangible benefits to society. Deep flaws remain in the policy framework in industrialized countries, failing to offer sufficient protection, but are even more limited in industrializing nations where the majority of chemical production and use will occur by 2030. Evidence-based steps for reducing chemical exposures associated with adverse health outcomes exist and should be incorporated into anticipatory guidance.

Keywords: Bisphenols; Endocrine disruption; Flame retardants; Lead; Pesticides; Phthalates.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Child
Developed Countries
Humans
Pediatricians*

Grants and funding

P2C ES033423/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States