Characteristics and coping strategies of childhood environmental exposure in the new era

Abstract

Children are in a critical period of growth and development, and their physical and mental functions remain immature. From both physiological and behavioral perspectives, children are highly susceptible to adverse environmental exposures. In the new era shaped by rapid urbanization, new industrialization, and the deep integration of digitalization and networking, children experience multidimensional physical-chemical-social exposures characterized by widespread low-level exposure alongside localized high-level point-source exposure, with emerging environmental contaminants continuously increasing. Major exposure factors include physical stressors such as artificial light at night and noise; chemical pollutants including traditionalchemical contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls) as well as emerging contaminants (e.g., perfluorinated compounds and microplastics); and socialstressors such as prenatal maternal stress, parenting stress, and pervasive digital media exposure. Children's child environmental health response system in China remains to be strengthened. Looking ahead, interdisciplinary collaboration should be promoted to develop comprehensive (e.g., governmental regulation and coordinated actions across families, schools, and healthcare services), precise (accurate assessment of exposure risk, sources, and levels), and dynamic response strategies. High-quality research is also needed to further elucidate the health effects and underlying mechanisms of emerging contaminants and combined exposures, thereby providing evidence to support evidence-based decision-making.

Keywords

environmental exposure / health / new era / response strategies / children