European Study Attributes One-Third of Total Burden of Childhood Disease to Environmental Factors

Abstract

Epidemiology| September 01 2004 European Study Attributes One-Third of Total Burden of Childhood Disease to Environmental Factors AAP Grand Rounds (2004) 12 (3): 31–32. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.12-3-31 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation European Study Attributes One-Third of Total Burden of Childhood Disease to Environmental Factors. AAP Grand Rounds September 2004; 12 (3): 31–32. https://doi.org/10.1542/gr.12-3-31 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All PublicationsAll JournalsAAP Grand RoundsPediatricsHospital PediatricsPediatrics In ReviewNeoReviewsAAP NewsAll AAP Sites Search Advanced Search Topics: environmental factors Source: Valent F, Little D, Bertollini R, et al. Burden of disease attributable to selected environmental factors and injury among children and adolescents in Europe. Lancet. 2004;363:2032–2039. The effects on child health of environmental hazards have been of increasing concern. European investigators from multiple institutions collaborated to conduct a meta-analysis of published reports from international agencies to estimate the burden of disease and child and adult mortality attributable to outdoor and indoor air pollution, inadequate water and sanitation, lead exposure, and injuries for children in 3 subregions of Europe. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and/or deaths attributable to each environmental factor were estimated by applying estimates of mortality and burden of disease from World Health Organization data. Among children 0–4 years, between 1.8% and 6.4% of deaths from all causes were attributable to outdoor air pollution. Acute lower respiratory tract infections attributable to indoor air pollution accounted for 4.6% of all deaths and 3.1% of DALYs. Mild mental retardation due to lead exposure accounted for 4.4% of DALYs. In 0 to 14-year-olds, diarrhea due to inadequate water and sanitation accounted for 5.3% of deaths and 3.5% of DALYs. For 0 to 19-year-olds, injuries were the cause of 22.6% of deaths and 19.0% of DALYs. There were substantial differences in burden of disease among European subregions, largely related to socioeconomic differences. The authors recommend targeted interventions aimed at reducing children’s exposure to environmental risk factors and injuries, and suggest that government policies are needed to effect most of these changes. Despite the limitations of this study, which are acknowledged by the authors, it points out the public health importance of environmental hazards to child health. In sum, about one-third of the total burden of disease in children and adolescents can be attributed to environmental risk factors. Children in lower socioeconomic groups are at particular risk. The authors suggest that there is an urgent need to intervene to reduce or eliminate these exposures. Most of their proposed interventions require government commitment to clean air and water, cleaner fuels, and safer housing and transportation. This study was conducted to provide information for the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, held in Budapest, Hungary, in June 2004. As a result, a Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe was issued, and regional priorities were published.1 Similar interventions are also of importance to United States children, particularly the reduction of indoor and outdoor air pollution, elimination of lead exposure, and injury prevention. The AAP has recently updated pediatric environmental health recommendations.2 Advocacy on the local, state, and federal level is needed to promote a safe environment for children. American pediatricians and policy makers should take notice. This study foreshadows the National Children’s Study in the US. The Children’s Health Act of 2000 authorized the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and a consortium of federal agencies to conduct the study, which will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of... You do not currently have access to this content.