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	Multiple diseases in children have been linked to manufactured synthetic chemicals by Consortium for Children’s Environmental Health   Jan. 2024   Children are suffering and dying from diseases that scientific research has linked to chemical exposures, findings that require urgent revamping of laws around the world, according to a new paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).   Authored by more than 20 leading public health researchers, including one from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and another from the United Nations, the paper lays out “a large body of evidence” linking multiple childhood diseases to synthetic chemicals and recommends a series of aggressive actions to try to better protect children.   The paper is a “call to arms” to forge an “actual commitment to the health of our children”, said Linda Birnbaum, a former director of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and a co-author of the paper.   In conjunction with the release of the paper, some of the study authors are helping launch an Institute for Preventive Health to support the recommendations outlined in the paper and to help fund implementation of reforms.   The paper points to data showing global inventories of roughly 350,000 synthetic chemicals, chemical mixtures and plastics, most of which are derived from fossil fuels. Production has expanded 50-fold since 1950, and is currently increasing by about 3% a year – projected to triple by 2050, the paper states.   Meanwhile, noncommunicable diseases, including many that research shows can be caused by synthetic chemicals, are rising in children and have become the principal cause of death and illness for children, the authors write.   Despite the connections, which the authors say “continue to be discovered with distressing frequency”, there are very few restrictions on such chemicals and no post-market surveillance for longer-term adverse health effects.   “The evidence is so overwhelming and the effects of manufactured chemicals are so disruptive for children, that inaction is no longer an option,” said Daniele Mandrioli, a co-author of the paper and director of the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center at the Ramazzini Institute in Italy. “Our article highlights the necessity for a paradigm shift in chemical testing and regulations to safeguard children’s health.”   Such a shift would require changes in laws, restructuring of the chemical industry and redirection of financial investments similar to what has been undertaken with efforts to transition to clean energy, the paper states.   The paper identifies several disturbing data points for trend lines over the last 50 years. They include incidence of childhood cancers up 35%, male reproductive birth defects have doubled in frequency and neurodevelopmental disorders are affecting one child in six. Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed in one in 36 children, pediatric asthma has tripled in prevalence and pediatric obesity prevalence has nearly quadrupled, driving a “sharp increase in Type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents”.   “Children’s health has been slipping away as a priority focus,” said Tracey Woodruff, a co-author of the paper and director of the University of California San Francisco’s (UCSF) program on reproductive health and the environment. “We’ve slowly just been neglecting this. The clinical and public health community and the government has failed them.”   The authors cite research documenting how “even brief, low-level exposures to toxic chemicals during early vulnerable periods” in a child’s development can cause disease and disability. Prenatal exposures are particularly hazardous, the paper states.   “Diseases caused by toxic chemical exposures in childhood can lead to massive economic losses, including health care expenditures and productivity losses resulting from reduced cognitive function, physical disabilities, and premature death,” the paper notes. “The chemical industry largely externalizes these costs and imposes them on governments and taxpayers.”   The paper takes issue with the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1977 and amendments, arguing that even though the law was enacted to protect public health from “unreasonable risks” posed by chemicals, it does not provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the authorities needed to actually meet that commitment.   Instead, the manner in which the law is implemented assumes that all manufactured chemicals are harmless and beneficial and burdens government regulators with identifying and assessing the chemicals.   “Hazards that have been recognized have typically been ignored or downplayed, and the responsible chemicals allowed to remain in use with no or limited restrictions,” the paper states. “In the nearly 50 years since TSCA’s passage, only a handful of chemicals have been banned or restricted in US markets.”   Chemical oversight is more rigorous in the European Union, the paper says, but still fails to provide adequate protections, relying heavily on testing data provided by the chemical industry and providing multiple exemptions, the paper argues.   The authors of the paper prescribe a new global “precautionary” approach that would only allow chemical products on the market if their manufacturers could establish through independent testing that the chemicals are not toxic at anticipated exposure levels.   “The core of our recommendation is that chemicals should be tested before they come to market, they should not be presumed innocent only to be found to be harmful years and decades later,” said , a co-author who directs the program for global public health and the common good at Boston College. “Each and every chemical should be tested before they come to market.”   Additionally, companies would be required to conduct post-marketing surveillance to look for long-term adverse effects of their products.   That could include bio-monitoring of the most prevalent chemical exposures to the general population, Mandrioli said. Disease registries would play another fundamental role, he said, but those approaches should be integrated with toxicological studies that can “anticipate and rapidly predict effects that might have very long latencies in humans, such as cancer”. Clusters of populations with increased cancer incidences, particularly when they are children, should trigger immediate preventive actions, he said.   Key to it all would be a legally binding global chemicals treaty that would fall under the auspices of the United Nations and would require a “permanent, independent science policy body to provide expert guidance”, the paper suggests.   The paper recommends chemical companies and consumer product companies be required to disclose information about the potential risks of the chemicals in use and report on inventory and usage of chemicals of “high concern”.   “Pollution by synthetic chemicals and plastics is a major planetary challenge that is worsening rapidly,” the paper states. “Continued, unchecked increases in production of fossil-carbon–based chemicals endangers the world’s children and threatens humanity’s capacity for reproduction. Inaction on chemicals is no longer an option.”   http://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/08/health-experts-childrens-health-chemicals-paper http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMms2409092 http://toxicfreesolutions.org/international-experts-call-for-urgent-action-to-protect-childrens-health-from-harmful-chemicals/ http://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5752-pollution-information-portals-strengthening-access-information http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-toxics-and-human-rights/about-toxics-and-human-rights http://ceh.unicef.org/ceh-essentials/overview-risks   * UN Committee on the Rights of the Child: Children have the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. States are responsible not only for protecting children’s rights from immediate harm, but also for foreseeable violations of their rights in the future due to action, or inaction, today. States can be held accountable for environmental harm occurring both within their borders and beyond:   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/08/urgent-action-states-needed-tackle-climate-change-says-un-committee-guidance
	Tackling Child Poverty and Inequities for a Fairer Future by End Childhood Poverty Global Coalition   Tackling Child Poverty and Inequities for a Fairer Future, by UNICEF – Sola Engilbertsdottir, Charlotte Bilo and Jenn Yablonski.   Today more than 300 million children live in extreme poverty, struggling to survive on less than $2.15 per day. Nearly one billion children experience multidimensional poverty – lacking access to essential services like healthcare, education, and proper nutrition. These stark numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent a fundamental challenge to global development and social justice.   A new UNICEF report commissioned by the G20 Development Working Group reveals how certain groups of children are disproportionately affected by poverty and exclusion. Indigenous children, ethnic minorities, children from a certain race, young women and girls, and children with disabilities often face compounded disadvantages that limit their opportunities and perpetuate intergenerational cycles of poverty.   The evidence from around the world is clear: inequality starts with the lottery of birth - where and to whom you are born still largely determines your life path. In Latin America, for instance, indigenous and Afro-descendant children face significantly higher poverty rates than their peers. In Europe, Roma children experience severe material deprivation at rates up to four times higher than national averages. In Southeast Asia, ethnic minority children consistently face greater barriers in accessing basic services like water, sanitation, and education.   The report stresses that these inequities aren't inevitable – they stem from structural causes that can be addressed through effective policies. It identifies three key policy areas that have proven particularly effective in reducing child poverty and promoting equity:   First, universal access to quality social services is crucial. This means ensuring all children, regardless of their background, can access education, healthcare, and childcare. Countries like Vietnam have made significant progress by implementing specific programmes for ethnic minority communities, providing free health insurance to approximately 29 million poor individuals and members of ethnic minority groups.   Second, inclusive social protection systems, particularly child benefits, can be transformative. Evidence shows that well-designed cash transfer programmes not only reduce poverty but also improve food security, health outcomes, and educational attendance. However, coverage remains inadequate – globally, only 23.9% of children aged 0-18 receive cash benefits, with even lower rates in low-income countries where the need is greatest.   Third, fiscal policies that prioritize early childhood investments are essential. These investments yield both immediate and long-term benefits, creating a foundation for lifelong success. Yet current spending patterns show a concerning trend – many countries, particularly in low-income regions, invest too little and too late in children’s well-being and development.   This means not only expanding service coverage but also ensuring these services are culturally appropriate and accessible to marginalized communities.   Take Brazil’s example: their Unified Social Assistance System combines wide coverage with targeted support for vulnerable groups and allows to integrate cash transfers with comprehensive social services. Their social registry, Cadastro Unico, enables the government to monitor and address the needs of low-income families holistically, connecting children to various services accross healthcare child protection and education.   The economic case for action is compelling. Early childhood investments can yield returns of up to 7%, often much higher. Progressive taxation can help fund these investments while serving as an equalizer in society.   Looking ahead, the challenge is clear: we must accelerate progress in reducing child poverty and addressing inequities. This requires not only implementing proven policies but also ensuring they reach the most marginalized children. The evidence shows it is possible to break the cycle of poverty – now we need the political will and resource commitment to make it happen.   * Jenn Yablonski is the Chief of Child Poverty and Social Protection at UNICEF Headquarters. Sola Engilbertdottir is a Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF. Charlotte Bilo is a Child Poverty and Social Protection Consultant at UNICEF.   http://www.endchildhoodpoverty.org/news-and-updates-1/breaking-the-cycle http://knowledge.unicef.org/SPSP/resource/breaking-cycle-tackling-child-poverty-and-inequities   Oct. 2024   How are multidimensionally poor children affected by conflict?, by Sabina Alkire, Tshoki Zangmo and Maya Evans.   Over half of the 1.1 billion people living in multidimensional poverty worldwide are children, according to the 2024 update of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). The 2024 global MPI, published annually by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme, was released on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This year’s joint report reveals the extent of child poverty around the world using the MPI and explores the links between poverty and conflict.   What are the levels of child poverty globally?   584 million children are deprived in one-third or more of the ten weighted poverty indicators measured by the global MPI. This internationally comparable index provides a comprehensive picture of poor people’s health, education and living standards across over 100 countries.   “Out of 6.3 billion people included in the MPI nearly 28 per cent of children are living in multidimensional poverty, which is more than double the rate for adults at 13.5 per cent. — 2024 Global MPI   Over half of these children, about 317 million, live in Sub-Saharan Africa, and 184 million are in South Asia.   Child poverty isn’t just an issue limited to countries with high overall poverty. Even in countries with low national poverty levels, child poverty remains a concern. For example, in Argentina, where only 0.4 per cent of the population is multidimensionally poor, children make up 53.7 per cent of that group. In Turkmenistan, where the poverty rate is 0.2 per cent, children account for 53.4 per cent of poor people. Similarly in Tonga, 0.9 per cent of the population is poor, and 56.0 per cent of them are children.   These numbers reveal a troubling reality; children bear a disproportionate burden of poverty across various countries. This highlights the importance of disaggregating poverty data by age and focusing on the lived experience of children wherever they are growing up.   How is conflict affecting children?   In addition to updating the levels and trends of multidimensional poverty globally, the 2024 global MPI report also explores the theme of conflict and its links with poverty. It reveals that countries at war have higher deprivations in every one of the ten indicators of multidimensional poverty than in non-conflict settings.   So, what does this mean for children living in households that are both poor and at risk of violent conflict? In conflict-affected countries, children face more time in the dark, with over one in four poor people lacking access to electricity, compared to just over one in twenty in more stable regions.   School attendance plummets,17.7 per cent of the poor population have a primary-school-aged child not in school, compared to 4.4 per cent in non-conflict settings.   More households in conflict zones have an undernourished member of any age under 70 (20.8 per cent vs. 7.2 per cent). And, most heartbreakingly, a higher proportion of households have experienced the death of a child in the preceding five years (8 per cent vs. 1.1 per cent).   The outlook for children in Afghanistan   The 2024 global MPI report highlights the dire situation for children in Afghanistan. Afghan children bear a disproportionate share of multidimensional poverty. In 2022/23, 70 per cent of children were living in poverty compared to 57.8 per cent of adults. This means that six out of ten poor people in Afghanistan are children– even higher than the global average.   There are about 5 million more poor children than adults in Afghanistan, with 15.5 million poor children compared with 10.8 million poor adults. Deprivations in school attendance and nutrition contribute the most to poverty.   Looking at the trend data for Afghanistan from 2015/16 to 2022/23, a period marked by a sharp increase in poverty, the incidence of poverty among children increased by seven percentage points, whereas it increased by three percentage points among adults. These figures may even underestimate the true level and change of poverty due to the lack of nutrition data in 2015/16 and cooking fuel data in 2022/23.   Children’s education has been particularly disrupted by decades of armed conflict, socio-political and humanitarian crises, and natural disasters. Between 2015/16 and 2022/23, the proportion of Afghans living in poor households with out-of-school children rose significantly, from 35 per cent to 43.8 per cent.   This issue particularly affected children living in rural areas, where the proportion increased from 42.3 per cent to 52.7 per cent, compared to an increase from 12.3 per cent to 17.7 per cent in urban areas. The ban on the education of girls beyond year six by the de facto authorities will also severely exacerbate this situation, resulting in a generation of young women denied their basic right to education. This bleak outlook for girls means limited employment opportunities and has increased the risk of early child marriage or domestic violence.   Shining a light on child poverty is a global imperative   This year’s report highlights the persistent need to keep child poverty at the forefront of our efforts, regardless of a country’s income level or conflict status.   * The report on the global Multidimensional Poverty Index is an open-source dataset that is available to all actors interested in data on child poverty. OPHI’s 2024 Data Table 3 provides detailed, age-disaggregated data (including ages 0–9, 10–17 and 0–17) for 112 countries.   * Sabina Alkire is the Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). Tshoki Zangmo is a Researcher at OPHI. Maya Evans is the OPHI Head of Communications.   http://www.endchildhoodpoverty.org/news-and-updates-1/mpi2024 http://ophi.org.uk/global-mpi/2024 Visit the related web page
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