Climate Change and Health of Children: Our Borrowed Future

Abstract

Children are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social factors. In addition, they are likely to bear the consequences of these impacts over their life course. This paper reviews the health impacts of climate change on children's health, highlights specific vulnerabilities and offers recommendations to pediatric health care professionals for mitigation, adaptation, policy, and personal interventions to address our changing climate. Health care professionals can help families in mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce their risk from climate change.

A Perspective on Pediatric Respiratory Outcomes During California Wildfires Due to Smoke and PM2.5 Exposure

“…As climate change continues to promote hotter and drier conditions in California, exacerbating California's already notorious wildfire seasons ( 37 ), more children are expected to be exposed to and disproportionately affected by wildfire smoke ( 38 ). Within this paper, our group provided a summary of the existing knowledge regarding both short- and long-term exposure to smoke-specific PM 2.5 and assessed the efficacy of air quality metrics during wildfire episodes.…”

Assessing hospitalists' opinions regarding the role of environmental health within the practice of hospital medicine

“…Environmental degradation combined with the adverse effects of climate change represent threats to human health, with a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. [1][2][3][4][5] The field of environmental health considers how the natural and built environment impacts human health. 6 Health impacts may be direct, for example it is well-established that air pollution plays a role in the exacerbation of respiratory diseases, and has been recently implicated as a cause of new-onset childhood asthma.…”

“…Environmental degradation combined with the adverse effects of climate change represent threats to human health, with a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations 1–5 . The field of environmental health considers how the natural and built environment impacts human health 6 .…”

Fine particulate matter exposure and pediatric mental health outcomes: An integrative review

“…Nurses working with pediatric patients need to be aware of the impacts that climate change and air pollution can impact all aspects of human health and well‐being (Leffers, 2021). Primary prevention efforts to prevent PM 2.5 exposure in children and adolescents could be a crucial factor in interrupting neurodegenerative processes that might lead to poor mental health outcomes (Vergunst & Berry, 2021).…”