| This is the
first textbook to focus on environmental threats to child health.
It will interest professionals and graduate students in public health,
pediatrics, environmental health, epidemiology and toxicology. The
first three chapters provide overviews of key children's environmental
health issues as well as the role of environmental epidemiology
and risk assessment in child health protection. Overarching themes
are the susceptibility of the rapidly developing fetus and infant
to environmental toxicants, the importance of modifying factors
(e.g. poverty, genetic traits, nutrition), the role of health outcome
and exposure monitoring, uncertainties surrounding environmental
exposure limits and the importance of timely intervention.
Later chapters
address the health effects of metals, PCBs, dioxins, pesticides,
hormonally active agents, radiation, indoor and outdoor air pollution
and water contaminants. In analyzing potential environmental hazards,
the author addresses both biologic and epidemiologic evidence,
including the likelihood of causal relationships. Among the health
outcomes he discusses are developmental, reproductive, and neurobehavioral
effects, respiratory disease, cancer and waterborne infectious
diseases. These discussions cover environmental exposure sources/indicators,
interventions, and standards, and conclude with a summary of calls
for an improved science base to guide public health decisions
and protect child health. |
