1 billion children worldwide or exposed to very high levels of air pollution.
The fetus, infant, and child are vulnerable to climate related environmental impacts and air pollution owing to their unique biologic and behavioral factors.
The developmental programming during these stages confer high susceptibility to disruption by toxic chemicals and other stresses.
Biologic defense mechanisms for detoxifying chemicals, repairing DNA damage, and providing immune protection are immature in in the infant and child increasing vulnerability to psychosocial stress and physical toxicants.
Supporting the rapid growth of infancy and childhood requires greater nutritional and fluid requirements than adults, and has a greater vulnerability to food and water supply disruptions.
Infants and children breathe more air relative to their bodyweight than adults, increasing their exposure to air pollutants, and their narrower airways are vulnerable to constriction by air pollution and allergens.
Infants and children are more vulnerable to heat than adults due to the compromised thermoregulatory functions at extreme temperatures.
Infants and children are dependent on their care by adults who may unaware of the risks of heat damage to children
Weather change disasters causing childhood displacement increases the risk to physical and psychological trauma.
Nearly all children around the world are at risk from at least one climate hazard.
Heat waves, defined as two or more days of unusually hot weather are increasing in frequency and intensity, and these changes will be extraordinarily unlikely to occur in the absence of climate change.
Heat wave exposure in utero is associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, hyperthermia and death among infants and heat stress, and kidney disease illnesses among children.
Heat associated with climate change is related to the increasing cause of death and illness among student athletes.
Heat associated with climate change has adverse effects in the mental health of children and adolescents, increased mental health related emergency department visits, and extreme heat effects children’s ability to learn.
Climate changes intensified major floods, hurricanes with drownings, physical injury and traumatic stress in children.
Climate related events have already contributed to more than 50 million children worldwide being forced to leave their homes.
Children in low and middle income countries and communities of color are disproportionately harmed by climate change events.
Search event effects include disruption of education, mental health problems, such as post traumatic stress disorder and depression.
With increased lung damaging wildfire smoke exposure there has been increased in utero exposures with decreased birthweights and preterm birth, along with increased asthma exacerbation in childhood with wheeze, pneumonia, and bronchitis.
There has been more allergy and asthma attacks from increased levels of airborne pollen due to higher temperatures, rising CO2 levels, which has resulted in longer growing seasons and increased pollen production.
Flooding leads to proliferation of mold in homes can trigger asthma attacks.
Droughts of lead to increased food insecurity, increase malnutrition and has caused stunting in children’s physical and mental development, with associated behavioral and cognitive problems.
Increased concentration of carbon dioxide has been linked to reduction in nutritional quality of major cereal crops.
Children am more acceptable to cholera and other infections associated with diarrhea owing to crop and water contamination from storms and floods.
Climate change is associated with increased risks of several with vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue, Zika, and Lyme disease due to changes in the duration of the transmission season and geographic spread of the disease vectors.
The geographic ranges of mosquitoes have expanded because of increase with temperatures, with the effect on health greatest among children in tropical regions.
Climate change considers factors such as extreme heat, air quality, changing seasons, flooding, and infectious diseases.
Potential health impacts of these hazards.
Respiratory Illnesses Heat Illnesses Water-Related Illnesses Insect- and Tick-Related Diseases Food System Impacts Mental Health Effects
About 5 million U.S. children have asthma—an average of one out of every 14 children under the age of 18.
Climate change has the potential to increase outdoor air pollutants, such as dust from droughts, wildfire smoke, and ground-level ozone.
Ground-level ozone and particulate matter are associated with increases in asthma and other respiratory conditions in children.
Climate change increases pollen counts and prolongs the allergy season.
Higher outdoor temperatures can lead to children spending more time indoors, where they can be exposed to indoor pollutants, such as tobacco smoke and mold.
Extreme heat events are expected to last longer and become more frequent and intense as the climate changes.
Heat illnesses occur when a person is exposed to high temperatures and their body cannot adequately cool down.
Increases in average and extreme temperatures are expected to lead to more heat illnesses and deaths among vulnerable groups, which include children.
Such heat levels can affect children who spend time outdoors playing and exercising.
Approximately 9,000 U.S. high school athletes are treated for heat illnesses each year, and young athletes are at particular risk of heat stroke and heat illnesses.
Children who live in homes without air conditioning are also at risk for heat related illnesses.
Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and death.
,Young children and infants bodies are less able to adapt to heat.
Water runoff from more frequent and intense rains, flooding, and coastal storms introduce pollutants and disease-carrying organisms into water bodies where children swim and play or that communities use as drinking water supplies.
Such runoff contaminants can impact drinking water supplies and recreational waters.
Untreated, contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illnesses .
Children have a higher risk of gastrointestinal illness if they come in contact with contaminated water than adults.
Heavy rainfall are linked to gastrointestinal illnesses in U.S. children.
Increasing water temperatures with climate change can encourage the growth of bacteria and harmful algae in coastal waters, leading to harmful algal blooms, which can make people sick if they swim or play near them,
Children are at greater risk for getting sick from water compared to adults.
Rising air and water temperatures will also extend the swimming season, increasing children’s risks of getting gastrointestinal and other water-related diseases, as well as eye and ear infections.
Children in low-income households and non-white children are more likely to be exposed to extreme heat and air pollution.
Climate change is expanding the habitat ranges and length of time when insects and ticks are common.
Climate change results in a northward expansion of where ticks may live; while other areas could also see ticks active for longer periods throughout the year.
Warmer temperatures associated with climate change can increase mosquito development and biting rates, while increased rainfall can create breeding sites for mosquitos.
As children spend a lot of time outdoors, they are vulnerable to insect and tick bites that can cause illnesses like West Nile virus and Lyme disease.
Children between the ages of 5 and 9 report a higher frequency of Lyme disease compared to most other age groups.
Children and adults were food insecure in 7.6 percent of U.S. households (2.9 million households) in 2020.
Proper nutrition is essential for children’s physical and mental growth.
Extreme events, such as wildfires, floods, heat waves, and droughts may disrupt food production and distribution, increase costs, and limit availability.
These impacts could make it harder for children to get healthy food.
Diseases, pests, and water shortages can also affect crop productivity and quality.
Climate change may affect certain disease-causing organisms in the food chain.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) could increase with a warmer and more humid climate, and combined with other social and economic factors, may increase children’s vulnerability to some food-related illnesses: children are more prone to severe illness or complications from E. coli infections.
Children who go through a natural disaster or extreme weather event may have anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, phobias, and post-traumatic stress.
Mental health impacts may last into adulthood, especially if left untreated.