Abstract
Background:The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 25% of global morbidity and one-third of childhood morbidity may be attributable to environment. Low and high-income countries displayed different environmental risks. Mexico demonstrates the necessity for creating a national environmental health program. In southeastern Mexico, Tixméhuac, is a Mayan community with a high marginalization degree and social backwardness. The main childhood morbidities are acute and chronic diseases.Objective:The aim of the study was to recognize environmental risks for children’s health in Tixméhauc, Yucatan State.Methods:A total of one hundred children under five years old participated. To identify the environmental risks at home, items from the Green Sheet Guidance (WHO), Salamanca General Survey and Environmental Clinical History were used. To know the prevalence of respiratory diseases and asthma, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) survey was used. Potentially hazardous sites were identified partially using the Methodology for Identification and Evaluation of Health Hazards in Contaminated Sites from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).Findings:The low stature of, malnutrition, presence of wheezing and asthma symptoms in children were higher than expected. The suspected cases of parasitosis and vector-borne disease occurred in 50% of the children. Indoor air quality perception was associated with respiratory pathology history; housing quality was related to suspected cases of vector-borne diseases; drinking water quality was linked to suspected cases of parasitosis. Risk areas in the community include agricultural activity, which has led to deposits of empty containers of agrochemicals and electronic waste among solid waste dump.Conclusion:This study presents observed environmental risks to children in a low development country and in developing countries. The community has a low perception of the environmental risk. The need for public health programs reducing risks to children’s environmental health is imperative.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that approximately 23% of global deaths are attributable to modifiable or preventable environmental factors; in children under the age of 5, this percentage reaches up to 38% [1]
A family history of respiratory pathology was identified in 25% of the children, while 16% had a clinical history: asthma was the most frequent (11%)
The main health problems observed in Tixméhuac children were suspicious cases of vector-borne diseases and parasitic diseases, which appeared in almost half of the population, followed by a clinical history of respiratory pathology
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that approximately 23% of global deaths are attributable to modifiable or preventable environmental factors; in children under the age of 5, this percentage reaches up to 38% [1]. Landrigan et al [4] analyzed the patterns of environmental exposure and disease among low-income countries (LICs), middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs) They observed that air and water pollution have carried the main environmental risks for diseases in LICs and MICs. In the upper middle income countries and HICs, where the problems of water pollution were controlled, the environmental risk factors of concern to children’s health were air quality and exposure to toxic chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals and built environments. Conclusion: This study presents observed environmental risks to children in a low development country and in developing countries. The need for public health programs reducing risks to children’s environmental health is imperative
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