Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Academy of Pediatrics says how we build is bad for our kids!
Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics adopted a ground-breaking policy statement on the link between how we build communities and the health of the children in those communities."The current approach to development isn't good for kids." Richard Jackson, Professor and Chair, Environmental Health Sciences UCLA School of Public Health, says.
An excerpt from the article:
"A child's life is affected by the environment in which he or she lives. Relationships between health and the quality of air, water, and food are well recognized.1–3 The physical environments of the home and school also influence health through exposures to lead,4 mold,5 noise,6 or ambient light.7 In addition, the overall structure of the physical environment of a child's community (referred to as the "built environment") can also affect health in diverse ways.
As cities have expanded into rural areas, large tracts of land have been frequently transformed into low-density developments in a "leapfrog" manner. The resultant urban sprawl can increase automobile travel, which increases air pollution8 as well as passenger and pedestrian traffic fatalities.9 Some urban areas may have few supermarkets, produce stands, or community gardens, thereby limiting access to fresh fruits and vegetables.10 The physical environment of a community can support opportunities for play, an essential component of child development,11 and for physical activity, a health behavior that not only reduces risk of excess weight gain12,13 but also has many other benefits for overall well-being. "
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;123/6/1591
Posted by Heidi Green at 8:36 PM
Thank you Heidi, for your contribution and bringing our attention to this excellent research!
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