Environmental & Occupational Health

The environment plays an important role in the health of people of all ages,  as illustrated by zip codes being one of the strongest determinants of health and longevity.   A longitudinal study by the Alameda County Health Department revealed a 10-year difference in the life expectancy between residents of the poorest neighborhoods and residents of the richest neighborhoods within the same county (1). Environmental racism is a growing concern in many low-income communities and communities of color that have a disproportionate share of waste disposal sites and industries with potentially hazardous emissions (2).  In addition, a growing number of studies are linking what have traditionally been labeled behavioral health outcomes, such as obesity, repeat teen pregnancy, and substance use, to environmental risks.

Environmental toxins contribute to illnesses such as asthma and cancer, and to neuro-developmental and reproductive conditions. However, environmental concerns vary somewhat based on age and development. Children and young adolescents are physically smaller than adults, increasing their vulnerability to lower exposures of toxins and to workplace hazards. Most importantly, adolescence is a time of rapid physical and sexual growth; the body is particularly vulnerable to disruption of the hormonal and endocrine changes necessary for normal development and reproduction. Fortunately, we are seeing a positive trend toward considering the needs of children and adolescents in environmental and occupational health regulations. Still, much remains to be learned about how to best protect youth from environmental hazards.

Home

Children and adolescents spend between 80% and 90% of their time indoors, thus indoor environments have a large effect on their health.  The major environmentally-attributable diseases include asthma, lead poisoning, cancer and developmental disabilities (3).  A growing number of youth are affected by asthma, the most common chronic illness of childhood (4). In California, approximately 1.7 million children have been diagnosed with asthma, and in 2007 lifetime asthma rates among adolescents in schools was the highest of any age group in California, at 17.7% (5). Approximately 80% of childhood asthma cases are allergic asthma cases (6).  Allergens in the home environment come from mold, pets, mice and rats, cockroaches, and dust mites, all of which are associated with increased risks for asthma and lung morbidity (7). In addition, environmental tobacco smoke (also known as second-hand smoke) is associated with both asthma development and asthma morbidity (8).

School

The physical condition of schools in California has raised concerns about the exposure of youth to environmental hazards. School buildings are densely populated, with the typical school having approximately four times as many occupants as office buildings for the same amount of floor space. The portable classrooms used to alleviate overcrowding and create space for class size reduction are often constructed from materials that release irritant chemicals into the air. The concentration of these chemicals can reach dangerous levels if classrooms are not adequately ventilated.

Work

According to the 2009 Census, there are over 3,038,000 youth (ages 15 to 24) in the labor force in California. Nationally, in 2009, 359 workers under the age of 24 died from work-related injuries.  From 1998 to 2007, an average of 795,000 youth with work-related injuries were treated in hospitals each year (9). Adolescents’ rate of emergency occupational injuries is approximately double the rate of workers over 25 (10). Factors contributing to youth injuries at work are lack of adequate health and safety training, inadequate supervision, lack of experience, and assignment of tasks for which youth may not be prepared, physically, cognitively, or emotionally (11). In addition, the physical conditions of most job sites, health and safety protection standards, and health and safety training are often adult-oriented. Agricultural occupations carry fewer restrictions for laborers under age 18. This is a concern for California’s youth given the hazardous nature of agricultural work and its prevalence in California.

Community

Although environmental health has traditionally focused on pollutants and toxins, researchers are now finding that the environment plays a large role in health behaviors and decision making as well.  A recent study found that people who live nearby an abundance of fast food restaurants and convenience stores have a significantly higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes, regardless of household or community income (12).  Another study revealed a significant correlation between lead exposure and repeat teen pregnancy and increased tobacco use (13).  In addition to measuring the problem, researchers are testing innovative solutions: one recent study found that simply posting signs stating the amount of physical activity that would be required to burn off the caloric equivalent of sugary sodas reduced the chances of African American adolescents buying that drink by 50% (14).

Learn More

Data and research are essential tools for raising awareness of adolescent health issues, to plan programs and service delivery, and to formulate policy at the state and local levels. CAHC is committed to maintaining a website that serves as a gateway to a wide array of resources, and regularly updating our site to include the most up-to-date research. Direct links are provided when possible, and abstracts are provided for journal articles.

Navigate to the upper right hand corner of this page for a more in-depth look at this health topic. Sections include research, resources, and youth voices.

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Sources

(1)    Beyers, M. and Prentice, B. Health Inequities in the Bay Area. Bar Area Health Inequities Initiative Report 2008.

(2)    Bullard, E. Environmental Justice for All: It’s the Right Thing to Do. Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation, 1994.

(3)    Breysse, P., Farr, N., Galke, W., Lanphear, B., Morley, R., Begofsky, L. The Relationship between Housing and Health: Children at Risk. Environmental Health Perspectives 112(15), November 2004: 1583-1588.

(4)    Akinbami, L.J. and Schoendorf, K.C. Trends in childhood asthma: prevalence, health care utilization, and mortality. Pediatrics 110(2 pt 1), 2002: 315-322.

(5)    Milet M, Tran S, Eatherton M, Flattery J, Kreutzer R. The Burden of Asthma in California: A Surveillance Report. Richmond, CA: California Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, April 2007.

(6)    Institute of Medicine. Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2000.

(7)    Breysse, P., Farr, N., Galke, W., Lanphear, B., Morley, R., Begofsky, L. The Relationship between Housing and Health: Children at Risk. Environmental Health Perspectives 112(15), November 2004: 1583-1588.

(8)    Institute of Medicine. Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2000.

(9)    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Young Worker Safety and Health, 10/4/2011.

(10)   Ibid.

(11)   Ibid.

(12) California Center for Public Health Advocacy, PolicyLink, and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Designed for Disease: The Link Between Local Food Environments and Obesity and Diabetes. April 2008.

(13) Lane, S.D. et al. Environmental Injustice: Childhood Lead Poisoning, Teen Pregnancy, and Tobacco. Journal of Adolescent Health 42(1), January 2008: 43-49.

(14) Rattue, Grace. In-store Calorie Signs Reduce Teenage Sugary Drink Consumption. Medical News Today 12-16-2011.