Pediatric Environmental Health In Brazil and Latin America: An Appraisal and Future Perspectives

Authors sought to survey the research on pediatric environmental health in Brazil and Latin America, in recent years, as well as initiatives of WHO and PAHO, governments and scientific societies, to draw attention to the impact of environmental pollution and climate change over children’s health.

A robust volume of studies demonstrate that, from the Amazon basin to the southeast and south of our country, threats to the environment have been demonstrated, such as contamination of rivers by heavy metals and pesticides, which also compromise the soil and food, and directly the health of rural workers and their families. Furthermore, deforestation and climate change have contributed to the increase in vector borne infectious diseases, trough the benefit for the reproduction of mosquitoes and interaction with viruses they carry.

We emphasize the importance of these studies, both basic and epidemiological research, as well as clinical studies, so that we have an outlook of environmental health in pediatrics in Brazil. Also remember the environmental catastrophes that occurred in iron mining areas, such as Mariana and Brumadinho, and consequences for the population of the regions affected, and future generations. The work of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, in disseminating information to pediatricians and the population in the subject is highlighted. In near future, we seek to include environmental health in pediatrics medical residency programs in the country, and creation of specific units for the diagnosis and treatment of cases of children and adolescents, with suspected or confirmed exposure to chemical agents and environmental pollutants, in reference hospitals of the state capitals.