PMID- 34065553
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20210625
LR  - 20240402
IS  - 1660-4601 (Electronic)
IS  - 1661-7827 (Print)
IS  - 1660-4601 (Linking)
VI  - 18
IP  - 10
DP  - 2021 May 20
TI  - The Health Impacts of Hazardous Chemical Exposures among Child Labourers in Low- 
      and Middle-Income Countries.
LID - 10.3390/ijerph18105496 [doi]
LID - 5496
AB  - Of 218 million working children worldwide, many are suspected to be exposed to 
      hazardous chemicals. This review aims to synthesize reported evidence over the 
      last two decades on chemical exposure and adverse health consequences in children 
      labourers in low- and middle-income Countries (LMIC). Included studies 
      investigated health outcomes related to chemical exposures among child labourers 
      aged 5-18 in LMIC. Twenty-three papers were selected for review, focusing on 
      pesticides (n = 5), solvents (n = 3), metals (n = 13) and persistent organic 
      pollutants (POPs) (n = 2). Adverse health effects identified among child 
      labourers included abnormal biomarkers, for example elevated blood and urine 
      chemical concentrations, neurobehavioural deficits and neurological symptoms, 
      mental health issues, oxidative stress and DNA damage, poor growth, asthma, and 
      hypothyroidism. Workplace exposure to chemicals has pernicious health effects on 
      child labourers. Large research gaps exist, in particular for long-term health 
      impacts through chronic conditions and diseases with long latencies. A sizeable 
      disease burden in later life is likely to be directly attributable to chemicals 
      exposures. We urge national and international agencies concerned with child 
      labour and occupational health, to prioritize research and interventions aiming 
      to reduce noxious chemical exposures in workplaces where children are likely to 
      be present.
FAU - Scott, Natasha B
AU  - Scott NB
AUID- ORCID: 0000-0002-6500-6281
AD  - LSHTM Alumni, London SW1V 4LS, UK.
FAU - Pocock, Nicola S
AU  - Pocock NS
AD  - Lumos Foundation, London EC3R 8NB, UK.
AD  - Gender Violence & Health Centre, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 
      London WC1E 7HT, UK.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
DEP - 20210520
PL  - Switzerland
TA  - Int J Environ Res Public Health
JT  - International journal of environmental research and public health
JID - 101238455
RN  - 0 (Hazardous Substances)
SB  - IM
MH  - Child
MH  - Cost of Illness
MH  - *Developing Countries
MH  - Hazardous Substances
MH  - Humans
MH  - *Occupational Health
MH  - Workplace
PMC - PMC8160821
OTO - NOTNLM
OT  - chemical exposure
OT  - child labour
OT  - hazardous work
OT  - health impact
COIS- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
EDAT- 2021/06/03 06:00
MHDA- 2021/06/29 06:00
PMCR- 2021/05/20
CRDT- 2021/06/02 01:13
PHST- 2021/01/28 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2021/04/30 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2021/05/05 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2021/06/02 01:13 [entrez]
PHST- 2021/06/03 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2021/06/29 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2021/05/20 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - ijerph18105496 [pii]
AID - ijerph-18-05496 [pii]
AID - 10.3390/ijerph18105496 [doi]
PST - epublish
SO  - Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 20;18(10):5496. doi: 
      10.3390/ijerph18105496.