Environmental Dimensions of Childhood Well-being

1. Environmental Dimensions of Childhood Well-being Chemical and Environmental Hazards: Working together, protecting communities Health Protection Agency Conference Manchester 20-21 May 2008 Meg Huby: Department of Social Policy Steve Cinderby: Stockholm Environment Institute at York Annemarieke de Bruin: Department of Social Policy Piran White: Environment Department www.sei.se/relu University of York

2. Environmental dimensions of childhood well-being Review of the evidence for environmental impacts on the well-being of children and young people (SDC, 2007) The environmental domain of the Child Well-being Index (DCLG, 2008) Social and Environmental Inequalities in Rural England (SEIRA, Rural Economy and Land Use Project) www.sei.se/relu

3. Environmental dimensions of childhood well-being www.sei.se/relu University of York

4. The environment influences: • health and physical development • pollution • radiation • noise • good diets, exercise and mobility • land & food quality • green space • road safety • mental, cognitive, emotional and social development • green space • biodiversity • participation and educational empowerment • biodiversity • environmental change www.sei.se/relu University of York

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6. OTHER SOURCES OF HEALTH RISK • UV radiation from exposure to sunlight • Electromagnetic fields • ELF from mobile telephones • RF from base stations and masts • Noise www.sei.se/relu University of York

7. POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT • Children like outdoor open spaces for: • play • letting off steam • quiet reflection • exchanging confidences • Contact with the natural environment encourages mental well-being & cognitive development • Also linked to creative and imaginative well-being • Natural environments stimulate easier social interaction and help develop independence, self-esteem and respect for others www.sei.se/relu University of York

8. PARTICIPATION & EMPOWERMENT • Children are concerned about their environments. • Environmental education & experience enable them to contribute to local & global communities. • They are likely to carry their concerns into adulthood. www.sei.se/relu University of York

9. Sources of uncertainty: • Closer proximity is not necessarily equivalent to higher risk or benefit • Risks and benefits depend on: • type of exposure pathway • child’s response to exposure • Environmental impacts rarely occur in isolation www.sei.se/relu University of York

10. World wide, at least 40% of the environmental burden of disease falls on children under 5 years old (Smith et al., 1999) • ‘Large proportions of deaths and disability adjusted life years lost in European children are attributable to outdoor and indoor air pollution, inadequate water and sanitation, lead exposure and injuries’ (Valent et al., 2004) www.sei.se/relu University of York

11. THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” (UNCED Agenda 21, Principle 15) www.sei.se/relu University of York

12. Domains of Childhood Well-being • material situation • health • education • crime • housing • environment • children in need www.sei.se/relu University of York

13. Material well-being • the percentage of children under 16 living in families in receipt of various means tested benefits • Health • based on emergency hospital admissions, outpatient attendances and receipt of Disability Living Allowance • Environment • Quality: number of wild bird species, natural green space and woodland, air quality, road safety • Access: number of types of play facility within walking distance, distances to schools www.sei.se/relu University of York

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16. Doncaster Barnsley Rotherham Sheffield Children not in benefit households www.sei.se/relu University of York

17. The End! www.sei.se/relu University of York