Displacement and Conflict Life Stage and Reproductive Health
Child Health in the Metacrisis
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WHAT IS PLANETARY HEALTH?
Life Stage and Reproductive Health
All ages and stages of life on Earth are affected by the environmental crisis.
Environmental degradation and climate-related disruptions pose significant health risks. Children, mothers, and elders are among the most vulnerable populations. During pregnancy, factors such as extreme heat, air pollution, and water scarcity increase the likelihood of adverse outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal complications. Research has linked high temperatures and exposure to air pollution to a greater risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
Children exposed to degraded environments face elevated risks of respiratory illnesses, malnutrition, and developmental delays due to poor air and water quality. The World Health Organization reports that environmental risks significantly contribute to childhood diseases, with air pollution leading to respiratory infections and inadequate water quality causing diarrheal diseases, both of which can impair development. Additionally, malnutrition, often resulting from environmental degradation, adversely affects lung development and function in children, increasing susceptibility to respiratory conditions.
Older adults are particularly vulnerable during environmental crises, as extreme weather events and resource shortages often exacerbate chronic health conditions and limit access to essential healthcare. For example, extreme heat aggravates cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, resulting in increased hospitalizations and mortality among older populations.
Furthermore, natural disasters disrupt healthcare services, making it difficult for elderly individuals to obtain necessary medical care and medications, further worsening their health challenges during such crises.
Emerging research has also revealed that exposure to environmental toxins can trigger epigenetic changes with transgenerational effects, increasing health vulnerabilities across generations. These environmental stressors can induce heritable epigenetic alterations, heightening disease susceptibility and impacting health outcomes in future generations.
Life Stage and Reproductive Health Resources
Life Stage and Reproductive Health Chemical Pollution
The effects of plastic exposures on children’s health and urgent opportunities for prevention. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.
• Research & Reports
Life Stage and Reproductive Health Noncommunicable Diseases
The health, environmental, and cost implications of providing healthy and sustainable school meals for every child by 2030: A global modelling study. The Lancet Planetary Health.
Researchers estimate the health, environmental, and financial impacts of expanding sustainable school meals for all children by 2030. Findings suggest substantial health and environmental benefits at low cost across countries of all income levels, though dedicated policy and financial support will be needed in low-income countries to achieve universal school meals.
• Research & Reports
Life Stage and Reproductive Health Chemical Pollution
The Health Risks from Plastics Almost Nobody Knows About. The Washington Post.
Phthalates, chemicals found in plastics, are linked to an array of problems, especially in pregnancy.
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Infectious Diseases Life Stage and Reproductive Health
Associations between long-term drought and diarrhea among children under five in low- and middle-income countries. Nature Communications.
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News Related to Life Stage and Reproductive Health
The Increased Burden of Global Environmental Change on HIV/AIDS Morbities and Mortality Among Farmers in Mufindi District, Iringa Region, Tanzania
