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Guiding
Principles for Children and Environmental Health
All children are affected by exposures to
environmental hazards. It is our responsibility as a society to enable
all children to grow up in a safe and healthful environment.
Because all children are growing and developing, they are uniquely
vulnerable to health effects caused by exposure to environmental
hazards. The multitude of hazards facing children should be addressed in
unison and placed within the context of a child's life.
A child's physical environment is not separate from social and cultural
issues. Solutions to environmental problems should be viewed within that
context.
Many children live in communities that are disproportionately
impacted by environmental exposures. Improving the health and
environment of these children should be a major priority.
Healthy children grow into healthy adults. The health of our
children is one of the most important investments that we can make and
should be among our top priorities.
Many environmental hazards and pollution know no boundaries. The
health of children worldwide is intrinsically linked to the health of
our environment. International collaboration, whenever possible, should
be sought and encouraged.
Solutions to complex environmental health problems require the efforts
of affected communities and many disciplines including science, nursing,
medicine, public health, economics, planning, law, and policy. Creative
solutions should be reached through inter-disciplinary problem solving
and coalition building. |
