Blog #7 Protecting our children from environmental harm

This module was overwhelming. The literature describes how we have known for many years which chemicals are toxic at even very low levels. We have evidence that demonstrates toxic chemicals and metals present in nearly all children in America. Since the landmark 2000 publication "In Harm's Way", by The Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, the understanding of how these environmental exposures explain a multitude of behavioral, neurological and endocrine disorders is clear. The mounting evidence presented in the 2015 UCSF recording at the FIGO conference further supports the need to change policy, and educate expecting families on the risks present in our environment. But here we are- in 2019 and children continue to be exposed. The EPA has not used their position to make this a public health crisis. The greater medical community has not acknowledged this as a public health crisis. We continue to see rising diagnoses of childhood learning & behavior disorders. Cancer in children is on the rise. Infertility, disorders of the endocrine system, autoimmune diseases, allergies and asthma are globally on the rise.
This is all PREVENTABLE. The costs of caring for children who face a lifetime of health issues or are disabled by critical developmental exposures are astounding. Unfortunately, we must first face the industries who do business with chemicals, and the dependence WE have created on materials and machinery that threaten our health.


How should we change our practice? As was mentioned in several articles and videos, we can reduce harm, but may not be able to eliminate 100% of exposure. Providers are often reluctant to engage patients and families about environmental risks and potential causation for diagnosis in children because of their own lack of confidence in this area. It seems we need environmental health champions that provide direct education and consultation to pediatric, OBGYN and primary care providers across our country. More public health dissemination of education is also necessary.

We need educated voices that speak louder than the dollars behind the companies responsible for using toxic companies. I think if the public understood how this is affecting our future generations-- by potentially creating a more dependent population of children who have serious learning, and developmental disabilities---maybe even economists would be on board to shed light on this dark crisis.

I plan to start in my classroom by educating nurses and future advance practice providers to understand the risks, and the evidence related to environmental health. I will speak openly with my peers and colleagues and continue to seek ways to model healthier choices and support policies that seek to add transparency to the chemical industry.  I will also continue to recognize that not all communities are equally exposed. Geographic medicine is about social determinants of health. Communicating how zip code influences these negative health outcomes represent inequity and racism is key to gaining traction in this area.