By Dr. Liji Thomas, MDMay 9 2023Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM A new paper published in the Global Pediatrics Journal explores the impact of climate change and environmental chemicals that disrupt endocrine function on children's health.
Both climate change and pollution harm children's health significantly. Over 300,000 children have died in natural and climate-related disasters. Children's health and environmental pollution Recent initiatives to promote children's health by preventing the consumption of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and other toxins present in food include the European Union -funded Safe Food For Infants project.
Unfortunately, people know little about these risks and are not on the alert to reduce such exposures. Currently, about 175 chemicals are known to migrate into food from FCMs, very few of which have been studied in depth. Neurotransmitter synthesis may also be affected, resulting in abnormal neurodevelopment. These chemicals are sometimes considered "endocrine and nerve disruptors" rather than just EDCs.
Sources of EDCs EDCs may be ingested through food via contamination, processing, adulteration, additives, and leaching from food packaging. Pesticides and cleaning chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants , are common environmental contaminants that can enter the food chain.