Juan Antonio Ortega García is director of the Pediatric Environmental Health Unit / PEHSU (located in the Pediatric Service of the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital / Murcia).
He is also co-author of a document on the prevention of breast cancer since childhood, along with Dr. Carmen Alicia Cánovas Conesa.
From an interview conducted for the Roger Torné Foundation, I have drawn some recommendations for protect the health of our children against certain environmental factors. Regarding the document mentioned, the intention of the experts is to improve the environmental and life quality of breast cancer survivors, their families and the communities in which they live. Y deliver tools to prevent breast cancer since childhood.
And now let's move on to the relationship of health with the Environment:
Dr. Ortega García states that Children need the '4 basic fuels' for life: clean air, water without traceability of undesirable substances, food free of chemical substances and if possible organic production and, finally, children need love and good thoughts.
Air, water, food and thoughts free of any type of toxic is the best guarantee to build healthy and robust adults
Any alteration of the balance of previous basic fuels It will affect the health of children. In Spain, the most important air pollutant is tobacco. In addition, in many cities and peri-urban areas, air pollution by industry and motorized traffic.
The quality of the waters that are drunk in many parts of Spain deserves special attention. And on the other hand, the use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture or even in the house or garden it also constitutes a significant risk.
This expert places 'gluttony' and 'sedentary lifestyle' as factors that violate self-defense systems and make the child a more vulnerable subject in anticipation of chronic diseases of adult life.
The growing social awareness of the relationship between health and the environment It is the main engine of change. The key to improving the environmental health of children is people.
Generating knowledge and transmitting it to the population is our best service. An informed society is able to better decide its future
From the PEHSU they work to recognize, evaluate and manage environmentally related diseases and risks with children, as well as provide education, training and research in Pediatric Environmental Health.
But let's not forget that the duty to be informed about the relationship between environmental factors and children's health belongs to everyone ... as Juan Antonio Ortega says, 'we owe it to our children'.
