3 ways how climate change is affecting your child's health

Climate change, according to a United Nations report, refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns.

Post the 1800s human activities like burning of fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, natural gas etc. have been primarily responsible for aggravating climate change. This is because these activities release greenhouse gases like CO2 or Methane with traps the sun's heat, resulting in increased temperatures.

Climate change can have various consequences like floods, droughts, melting of glaciers, forest fires etc. Some groups of individuals are more vulnerable than the others.

New research reveals a link between climate change and children's health. Children may be an especially sensitive demographic due to their developing physiology and projected long-term exposure.

There are various ways in which climate change is affecting children and they are as follows

1.       Respiratory problems

In the past 15 years respiratory diseases like asthma have doubled in number, with young kids being the most affected. According to the World Health Organization, over 5 million children die each year as a result of respiratory issues.

This is because children breath more rapidly than adults and tend to play outside more, leading to higher exposure to pollutants. More physical activity in kids results in breathing through mouth rather than the nose. Which doesn’t filter out any pollutants and goes straight to their lungs. As their respiratory organs are still developing the damage could be long-term.

2.       Higher risk of infectious diseases

Rise in temperatures, change in rain patterns and climate variability may result in increase in cases vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, Lyme disease etc.

The young population are more prone to face mutated pathogens. According to research, rising global temperatures will expand the geographical range and transmission rates of vector-borne illness.

Young children once infected by these infectious diseases experience more severe as compared to adults. This issue is more persistent in African countries and tropical Asian countries.

3.       Malnutrition and stunned growth

Climate change is expected to affect an estimated 40 to 300 million people by 2060, according to projections. In the near future a majority of the hungry population would consist of children below the age of fifteen.

Climate change adversely affects the agriculture. High evaporation strips the soil of its moisture, constant flooding and heavy rainfall leads to soil erosion and further affects the food security for the population.

Studies show that because of climate change the food produced today lacks in vitamins and minerals which are vital for growth and development.

The deficiency of these nutrients could lead to various diseases like scurvy, night blindness, goiter etc.  

It could stun the growth of young children and in extreme cases can lead to malnutrition. Many developing economies are affected by this problem.

Conclusion

More research should be conducted in the field of climate change affecting the younger population. For parents and caregivers it is important to make sure that their children consume a balanced diet, learn about the local air quality and regulate the children’s outdoor activities.

Further right policies should be formed to protect children and young adults from the impacts of climate change.