Abstract
Increasing numbers of chemicals are on the market and present in consumer products. Emerging evidence on the relationship between environmental contributions and prevalent diseases suggests associations between early-life exposure to manufactured chemicals and a wide range of children’s health outcomes. Using current assessment methodologies, public health and chemical management decisionmakers face challenges in evaluating and anticipating the potential impacts of exposure to chemicals on children’s health in the broader context of their physical (built and natural) and social environments. Here, we consider a systems approach to address the complexity of children’s environmental health and the role of exposure to chemicals during early life, in the context of nonchemical stressors, on health outcomes. By advancing the tools for integrating this more complex information, the scope of considerations that support chemical management decisions can be extended to include holistic impacts on children’s health.
Highlights
The volume and total number of chemicals manufactured and used in consumer products has increased dramatically over the last 50 years [1,2]
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, in children under 5 years, 25% of all childhood illnesses throughout the world are due to modifiable environmental factors
Children’s environmental health can be assessed by comparing appropriately identified operational orienters to associated indicators or integrated indicators and evaluating the extent of operational orienters to associated indicators or integrated indicators and evaluating the extent of orienter satisfaction, with each orienter requiring a minimum level of satisfaction (Figure 2)
Summary
The volume and total number of chemicals manufactured and used in consumer products has increased dramatically over the last 50 years [1,2]. Community planning and development decisions are designed from the holistic perspective of both minimizing risks and providing an environment that supports and promotes healthy child development. To inform these decisions, information is required on the health impacts of multiple factors in the physical (built and natural) and social environments that contribute to children’s health, as well as the relative importance of each [15]. The goal was to extend the scope of considerations that support chemical management decisions to include holistic consideration of children’s health and advance the tools for integrating this more complex information
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
