Global Environmental Health Disparities Affecting Children

Dear Colleagues,

Children who are born and raised in challenging environmental conditions have a higher risk of exposure to accidental (household, neighborhood, and proximity to industries releasing toxins), intentional (terrorism, suicidal, and warfare-related conditions), and negligent scenarios (poverty, malnutrition, and lack of health care) leading to health disparities. Both chronic and acute exposures to toxic environmental conditions during prenatal, gestational, postnatal, early childhood, and adolescent stages may have drastic effects on various organ systems of these children, causing increased morbidity and mortality at various time points in their lives.

Children living in a socially and economically disadvantageous household/neighborhood have a greater risk for exposure to toxins like lead, asbestos, aluminum, and other chemicals, by virtue of their poor living conditions. Various factors include the following: a) aging houses with diminished quality in which they live, b) quality of education from the schools they attend, c) non-availability of basic infrastructures and amenities in the neighborhoods in which they live, d) prevalence of high-risk environments such as gang violence and other social issues such as drug addiction and alcoholism among the families in the neighborhood, and e) increased emotional stress due to all of the above-mentioned aspects. When these factors have a cumulative effect from prenatal to adolescent stages of growing children, health disparity emerges in any part of the world.

Children living in various populations around the world face environmental health disparities as a result of the factors listed above along with other compounding factors such as ethnicity (race); sex (male, female, and intersex); level of education (high school to advanced degrees); income (low, middle, and high); disability (congenital vs. acquired); geography (rural vs. urban); and cultural and religious practices.

Health disparities are inequitable by nature, with historical and continuing unequal and discriminatory practices of social, political, economic, and environmental resources distribution and utilization. Thus, the prevention, management, and treatment of children’s environmental health disparities would greatly reduce the overall burden of morbidity and mortality in affected populations around the globe.

Manuscripts of original research and timely reviews about concepts related to children’s health disparities at a global level are encouraged for submission. The following broader outlines may serve as guidelines for the identification of suitable categories for submission. Authors are encouraged to contact the Topic Editor for verifications and inclusions of relevant subject areas in this Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

1) Reproductive loss/dysfunction affecting the developing fetus, leading to high-risk pregnancy due to the following aspects: a) intrauterine-exposure-related damage (via parental exposures); b) premature birthing, congenital anomalies, or other abnormal morphometric features of newborn children; and c) poor maternal care or health of the pregnant mother, leading to suboptimal prenatal care.

2) Postnatal physical health affected by harmful environments, leading to: a) neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum, reproductive disorder spectrum, and other developmental disorders; b) chronic disorders such as asthma and allergies; and c) chronic complex disorders such as childhood obesity and hypertension.

3) Disorders of mental health caused by toxic environments, leading to: a) post-traumatic stress disorder and other related disorders; b) substance abuse in the household/environment; c) impact of constantly disturbing criminal and violent behavior in the household and/or environment.

4) Environmental pollution, leading to increased levels of toxicants in water, air, and materials used to make the infrastructure of households and neighborhoods (older houses, contaminated and poorly maintained houses and neighborhoods) leading to adverse environmental factors. Prevalence of harmful microbial colonization and contamination in polluted environments may lead to greater susceptibilities to illnesses.

5) Social and economic conditions in which children live, such as: a) limited choices for education, employment, and income; b) limited education; c) limited health care services; and d) limited social capital.

Dr. Tirupapuliyur Damodaran
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• Health disparity in children
• Accidental, negligent, intentional toxicant exposures
• Chronic and acute exposures at prenatal, gestational, postnatal, early childhood, and adolescent stages
• Health disparities in children due to race, gender, level of education, income, disability, rural vs. Urban, cultural and religious practices
• Reproductive loss/dysfunction affecting the developing fetus
• Postnatal physical health affected by harmful environments
• Disorders of mental health caused by toxic environments
• Environmental pollution leading to increased levels of toxicants in water, air and households
• Social and economic conditions in children’s household