Science Source

Sheffield PE and Landrigan PJ

Environmental Health Perspectives

Published date March 1, 2011

Global climate change and children's health: threats and strategies for prevention

Reviews projected impacts of climate change on children's health, the pathways involved in these effects, and prevention strategies
Assesses primary studies, review articles, and organizational reports
Finds that in the year 2000 climate change was responsible for > 150,000 deaths worldwide and that 88 percent of the disease burden fell on children
States that documented health effects include changing ranges of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue; increased diarrheal and respiratory disease; increased morbidity and mortality from extreme weather; changed exposures to toxic chemicals; worsened poverty; food and physical insecurity; and threats to human habitation