Since the beginning of the school year, the controversy generated by the operation of the classrooms to reduce the contagion of covid-19 has not stopped growing. Added to this is the controversy generated by the park closures and open spaces from the application of new restrictions.
All of them have the children in their sights and we are still not clear about what would be the correct measure to find the balance. However, before the coronavirus put the whole world in check, the University of Oviedo, through the INMA Asturias Cohort, was already studying the effects of environmental exposure on children’s health.
In other words, there was already a debate in which it was necessary to assess whether the little ones should spend more time in open spaces or, on the contrary, in closed places.
As this study has revealed, existing risks in the environment have an impact on the health and development of children. Early exposures can influence your health into adulthood by disrupting fetal programming and early growth. But where are these risks greatest?
The ten chemicals of public health concern include, but are not limited to, persistent organic compounds (POPs), metals, and pesticides, insecticides, or pesticides that can cause acute or chronic toxic effects, and that pose specific risks in childhood.
These compounds, of anthropogenic origin, tend to concentrate from the aqueous medium towards the organism. They are subsequently magnified through food chains.
Chemicals with toxic effects
In the first place, POPs were used intensively in agriculture and industry during the second half of the 20th century. Its effect on humans can alter the hormonal balance, causing adverse effects on the health of people, animals or their descendants.
For their part, heavy metals represent a threat to human health because they are not biodegradable. They can be deposited in body tissues or organs to cause damage after initial exposure.
In the study at the University of Oviedo, the sources of POPs and metals have also been analyzed and they have been associated with certain components of the diet. Among them, the consumption of processed sweets (sweets), the existence of carpets or plastic rugs, the use of aggressive cleaners in the home, insecticides or air fresheners, the absence of natural ventilation or traffic contamination.
All of them were significantly associated with higher concentrations of Cobalt (Co) or Lead Sulfite (PBDs). Therefore, if adequate periodic forced natural ventilation is not carried out in closed spaces, environmental pollutants from the interior accumulate.
Toxic effects that take their toll
The aforementioned study by the INMA Asturias Cohort, from the Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the University of Oviedo, has carried out since 2004 the follow-up of 494 mothers and their babies up to 14 years of age. They all live in an industrialized area with a strong potential for environmental exposure.
Specifically, it has been found that, at 4 years of age, there is already a high prevalence of heavy metals in urine in children. In addition, it has been observed that exposure to mixtures of metals containing cobalt, zinc or lead can influence the growth and development of children.
This could affect body mass index or abdominal circumference and physical height, [dependiendo de los niveles de exposición medidos en sangre].
Children’s environmental exposure is the greatest challenge we face in this century. This happens because it is ubiquitous, highly prevalent and has very negative consequences for the health of future generations if we do not act in time. Therefore, walking outdoors will be the healthiest choice, as long as we do it in places far from industrial areas.
Iron and vitamin D deficiency
Children with iron deficiency (iron deficiency anemia) have also been found to have significantly higher concentrations of Co than those who do not have this type of anemia.
On the other hand, in the analyzes it has also been seen that, at 4 years of age, children have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the blood, which causes a great problem in the immune system. The reason could be the lack of walks or games outdoors, as well as a diet deficient in vitamins.
At the same time, children who are overweight or obese at this age have higher lipid risk profiles, which can have consequences of early cardiovascular disease.
For this reason, it is highly recommended that children walk outdoors as much as possible and that there be forced ventilation in homes. This could have great advantages for the little ones, since they would avoid the environmental pollution of closed spaces associated with the ubiquity of exposure.
In addition, it would favor the uptake of vitamin D and reduce obesity. These virtues would be given as long as it is a question of spaces away from functioning industries and emitters of particulate matter (PMs).
Placental transmission
Finally, according to the results of the INMA Asturias Cohort, the concentration of POPs that children present during the first years of life depends to a great extent on the concentration in the mother and on placental transmission during prenatal exposure. Also, it would have a negative effect of increased transmission insufficient weight gain during the gestation period.
Specifically, it has been found that between 65 and 93% of the concentration of POPs that children have at 4 years of age depend on the that the mother had During pregnancy.
Accordingly, if we included the routine measurement of POPs in the pregnancy monitoring program, prevention health education could be carried out in women with high concentrations of pollutants in their body. This would have a high impact on the future health of children.
However, here are some recommendations for daily life that would be very beneficial in the development of our children:
- Fresh foods should be chosen over processed products that have long ingredient lists on the label (the longer the list, the more likely the product contains POPs).
- Buy fruits and vegetables produced without pesticides, as well as certified organic, ecological or proximity products.
- Eliminate the use of plastic, especially when heating or storing food. Instead, use glass or aluminum containers for food and drink, especially in children and especially in infants.
- Remove or minimize the presence of plastic rugs in the home.
- Avoid aggressive cleaning products with a long list of chemical components.
- Walking or playing outdoors, whenever possible in garden areas of the park or mountain. However, avoid walking in industrialized areas or with companies that emit pollutants or particulate matter.
- Make recommendations for a varied diet rich in vitamin D, especially during winter.
Adonina Tardón, Professor and Director of the Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Oviedo University
This article was originally published on The Conversation. read the original.
–
–
