Child Health and the Environment

This is the first textbook to focus on environmental threats to child health. It will interest professionals and graduate students in public health pediatrics environmental health epidemiology and toxicology. The first three chapters provide overviews of key children''s environmental health issues as well as the role of environmental epidemiology and risk assessment in child health protection. Overarching themes are the susceptibility of the rapidly developing fetus and infant to environmental toxicants the importance of modifying factors(e.g. poverty genetic traits nutrition) the role of health outcome and exposure monitoring uncertainties surrounding environmental exposure limits and the importance of timely intervention. Later chapters address the health effects of metals PCBs dioxins pesticides hormonally active agents radiation indoor and outdoor air pollution and water contaminants. In analyzing potential environmental hazards the author addresses both biologic and epidemiologic evidence including the likelihood of causal relationships. Among the health outcomes he discusses are developmental reproductive and neurobehavioral effects respiratory disease cancer and waterborne infectious diseases. These discussions cover environmental exposure sources/indicators interventions and standards and conclude with a summary of calls for an improved science base to guide public health decisions and protect child health.