Attachments
Highlights
Children today face a new set of challenges that were unimaginable just a generation ago. Across the world, climate change and environmental degradation are threatening child survival, health and well-being. Given children’s unique metabolism, physiology and developmental needs, no group is more vulnerable to environmental harm. Exposure can impact children early and have a lifelong effect.
This brief examines the growing body of research on the unique vulnerabilities of children: in utero and at birth, during infancy and childhood and throughout adolescence. Its purpose is to enable evidence-based advocacy and action on children’s environmental health.
It is comprised of three sections:
- Pregnant women and the developing fetuses’ unique vulnerabilities to environmental hazards
- Children’s unique vulnerabilities to environmental hazards
- Adolescents’ unique vulnerabilities to environmental hazards
Each section is divided into three parts (a) key messages, (b) examples of environmental hazards affecting children, and (c) a technical summary based on a review of the scientific literature.