A developmental approach to pediatric environmental health.
Children cannot be considered "little adults" in the field of environmental medicine. There are differences in exposures, pathways of absorption, tissue distribution, ability to biotransform or eliminate chemicals from the body, and responses to chemical and radiation. The differences vary with the developmental stages of the child. Children all respond differently to environmental toxicants. Knowledge, although rapidly increasing, is still incomplete regarding the impact of the environment on children. As health care providers, prevention is an ally but must be approached differently at each stage of a child's life.
Gitterman
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Departments of Pediatrics and Public Health, George Washington University Schools of Medicine and Public Health and Health Services, General and Community Pediatrics, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. bgitterm@cnmc.org
Bearer
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D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004782:Environmental Health; D019550:Environmental Medicine; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy
D015386:Hazardous Substances