By: Lauren Zajac, MD, MPH, FAAP & Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, FAAP
If you worry about the weed killer used on local sports fields or the "forever chemicals" in your child's food or drink, you're definitely not alone. Parents face a growing number of concerns that stem from environmental pollution and what it might do to their kids' health, now and in the future.
AAP policy explained
In a new
policy statement and technical report, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers insights on pollution and child health—globally and in the United States. Here's what to know about potential toxins in the air children breath, the soil where their foods grow, the water they drink and more. Also learn about steps that can help protect them from environmental hazards.
Environmental hazards: a global problem families can't ignore
Pollution causes an estimated 9 million deaths worldwide each year, which includes children and adults. In fact, it claims 3 times more lives than
AIDS,
malaria and
tuberculosis all together.
How does pollution affect children?
Millions of kids exposed to dangerous
manufactured chemicals and other
pollutants do survive, but their health may never be the same. And while pollution-related health risks are much higher for kids in low- and middle-income countries, children in the U.S. are not exempt.
Toxic substances in air, water, soil and inside spaces can harm a child's growing brain. This can lead to serious learning struggles, fewer years of school completed, difficulty thinking and solving problems and lower IQ scores.
Pollution can also raise risks for physical problems such as birth defects. Cancers can develop as toxins damage growing cells and body systems. Environmental contaminants may also trigger higher rates of
asthma, nervous system disorders,
diabetes,
obesity and reproductive problems.
These risks may seem overwhelming. But experience shows that curbing pollution improves health and saves lives:
7 environmental health strides we've already made in the United States
The
Clean Air Act has driven down harmful emissions by 77% since 1970, greatly reducing our kids' risks for lung and brain damage (and many other health problems).
Banning the use of specific
pesticides known as organophosphates in U.S. homes led to fewer infants with low birth weight and smaller head size. In 2023, the EPA banned these chemicals from use in growing food – a move that will reduce risks even more.
Removing
lead from gasoline reduced blood levels of lead in U.S. children by 95%, helping boost intelligence scores by an average of 5 points nationwide.
Banning the production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has reduced PCB levels in children's blood, with fewer kids facing PCB-caused struggles with brain function.
Steps to remove
arsenic from drinking water supplies has reduced the number of kids facing skin, liver, bladder and kidney cancer.
Childhood asthma affects fewer city-dwelling kids as
urban air pollution has declined.
Broader awareness of what
secondhand smoke does to kids' health has driven state regulations to keep public spaces (including schools) smoke-free – and motivated millions of adults to quit.
Next steps to protect our kids
Steps like these have saved tens of thousands of lives already, but we're not finished yet. Here are some of the serious concerns that health experts, lawmakers and parents will need to tackle together in the years ahead.
- Toxins in our
drinking water. Though water safety has
improved in recent decades, headlines about lead in the water supplies of Flint, Michigan remind us there is more work to do. Removing
lead pipes from public water systems is just one issue, since toxins from agriculture, lawn care and the disposal of drugs can pollute groundwater supplies too.
- Smoke from
wildfires. As our climate gets hotter and drier, fire risks will remain high, exposing hundreds of thousands—possibly millions—of children to fine
particulate matter that can harm their lungs. Another source of particulate matter pollution: soil tainted with fertilizer and pesticide residue that the wind carries into our homes and towns, which can cause asthma in kids (or make it worse).
- Forever chemicals. Scientists know these chemicals as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or
PFAS. Found in food packaging, nonstick cookware, clothing and other products, these toxins have made their way into water, soil and indoor spaces around the world. Studies link these chemicals with
high cholesterol,
low birth weight, changes in thyroid and liver function, threats to the immune system and cancers of the kidney and testicles.
- Pesticides. These include all chemicals aimed at controlling bugs, weeds and other living threats to food crops, home gardens and public green spaces. Use of
glyphosate in products such Roundup has increased 10-fold in recent decades. This may elevate risks for Hodgkins' lymphoma and other forms of cancer. Supplies of glyphosphate-containing products and other garden chemicals stored at home also can pose a poisoning risk to children.
Creating a cleaner environment: we're all in this together
If you're feeling a little helpless right now, keep in mind that
the health risks created by humans can be solved by humans. There are ways to protect our air, water, land, buildings and infrastructure from toxins that threaten our children (and future generations too).
Groundbreaking legislation like the Clean Air Act and the ban on PCBs seemed impossible before a powerful team of health experts, lawmakers and citizens pushed for it. As a parent, there are many things you can do to support change. Some examples:
- Vote your values. Find out where candidates stand on legislation to control hazardous
chemicals in the air, water and soil. Hold local officials accountable for water quality, wildfire prevention and use of pesticides in public spaces such as parks and sports fields.
- Talk with other parents. Conversation circles—whether formal or informal—can help spread awareness of these issues while helping you explore small, everyday steps that can make a difference.
- Support
environmental justice. This cause focuses on kids who face higher health risks because they live near pollution sources such as coal-fired power plants or water supplies with elevated levels of arsenic or lead. Often, these are kids whose families can't afford to move to cleaner, healthier cities or towns. It will take consistent effort to ensure that all children benefit from pollution control measures, here in the U.S. and around the world.
Daily actions that can benefit your family's health
While we work for better laws and regulations, here are some practical steps that can protect you and your kids from environmental health risks.
- Drink and cook with filtered water.
Home water filtration systems—from refrigerator-sized pitchers to under-sink systems—can help protect your family from sources of pollution. If your family buys disposable bottles of purified water to reduce exposure to contaminants, consider home delivery of jugs to to cut down on pollution from plastic bottles.
- Look for PFAS warnings on cookware, clothing and other household goods. Avoid all products made with these forever chemicals.
- Choose organic weed and bug control products when possible. Keep any lawn, garden and household chemicals away from kids to prevent poisoning. Better yet: learn
about integrated pest management, a safer strategy that can reduce the need for synthetic pesticides.
- When you can, opt for more organically raised foods. This is one practical way to reduce the
pesticide residues found on conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Since dairy animals eat crops raised with pesticides, organic meat and dairy are a good idea, too.
- Ask your pediatrician for more tips. Your child's doctor knows how worrisome these health threats can be for parents. They're here to help you put risks in perspective and make positive choices for your whole family.
More information
About Dr. Zajac
 Lauren Zajac, MD, MPH, FAAP, an executive committee member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Environmental Health and Climate Change, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health and the Department of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Zajac serves as a pediatrician at the Region 2 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, serving New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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About Dr. Landigran
 Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc, FAAP, directs the Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good at Boston College. He directed a major study of pesticides and children's health at the National Academy of Sciences and is a past Chair of the AAP Committee on Environmental Health (now COEHCC). |