Proposal for a Children’s Environmental Health Program in Mexico: Childhood Syndemics

Abstract

Childhood is a stage of susceptibility to environmental threats due to the physiological development of organs and systems, which begins in the fetal stage and concludes in late adolescence. However, children are also vulnerable because they have specific exposure pathways, such as intrauterine transmission, breastfeeding, higher soil ingestion, and more. To make matters worse, certain adult decisions impact childhood, with a clear example being normative child ageism—many environmental regulations are not designed to protect children. This is particularly concerning as today’s children face an increasing array of risks, including climate change, growing chemical production, the water crisis, and biodiversity loss. In Mexico, a growing number of children live in unhealthy environments, making it imperative to establish a national children’s environmental health program. This program should not only ensure the protection of children but also include the training of professionals who, in addition to designing measures to reduce health risks, advocate for changes in national regulations. A program that, from the perspective of children’s rights, seeks transgenerational equity.