A Review of What is Known about Impacts of Coastal Pollution on Childhood Disabilities and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Coastal pollution is getting global attention for its enormous impacts on human health by the means of consumptions of seafood, involvement of risky jobs and exposure to water related disastrous events. Critical review of published and unpublished literatures and documents show the effects of heavy metals, chemicals, and radioactive substances are considered as long termed and deadly, and children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable population to such exposures and at risk of adversely affecting their development. The physiological systems of children and fetuses are developing fast and usually sensitive to disruptions induced by environmental pollutants and exposures in utero increase the risk of future toxic insults. Almost sixty percent of the world‘s population is at risk of this contamination and coastal developing countries are facing significant challenges by this form of pollution. The main objective of this review was to explore the situation of coastal water pollution and its impact on child health and pregnancy outcomes globally. However, these observations are indecisive due to limitations of evidence to support. Therefore, further epidemiological studies are required to confirm these initial observations.

Keywords: Coastal pollution, heavy metal, radionucleotides, childhood disability, adverse pregnancy outcome.