A Review of Literature on Healthy Environments for Children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region I. STATUS OF CHILDHOOD LEAD EXPOSURE

Forward Children are among the most vulnerable to environmental threats as they are in a dynamic state of growth with their cells multiplying fast and their organ systems developing at a rapid rate. Comparatively, children breathe more air and consume more food and water in proportion to their weight. Moreover, larger surface area/body weight ratio and Longer " shelf-life " enhances child's vulnerability to environmental risks. On the other hand, as children's immune, digestive, reproductive, and central nervous systems are more vulnerable than those of adults; exposure to certain environmental toxins can lead to irreversible damage as well as adulthood diseases. Work by WHO and other international key players shows that there is real potential for improving child health and creating a better future for the com ing generations through scaling up action to confront environmental dangers. Healthy Environments for Children Alliance brings together governments, NGOs scientists and private entities to harmonize efforts to protect children's health and safeguard the environment. Most importantly, the Alliance will empower communities, especially poor ones, to stimulate action to improve their domestic environment and to ensure that their children have access to basic needs and services. EMR countries share extraordinary conditions of limited resources, harsh climate, and fragile environment that possess its special risks on children's health. Regional wars and aggressions magnify those risks and add to the suffering of children. Creating " healthy places " for the children to live in is a major task that will require the energy of all the parties involved to mark a step forward on the road to " happy faces ". Lead is known for its toxicity and it detrimental effects are enormous to children, even at the lowest concentrations. The major of those effects is the damage that lead can do to the child's developing brain and nervous system. Such damage could occur at blood lead levels starting with 10 ? g/dl (Kessel & O'Connor, 2001). In unborn children, lead poisoning may caus e premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage, and birth abnormalities including neurological damage. In addition, maternal blood-lead levels under 10 ? g/dl may increase risk of having children with behavioral problems or learning disabilities (Kessel & O'Connor, 2001). With the increased pollution caused by industries and heavy traffic emissions particularly in urban areas, along with the continuity of using traditional contaminated remedies and cosmetics and unhealthy habits, childhood lead issue grow s …