Environmental history-taking as part of pediatric consultations: a pilot study

Introduction . Children’s environmental health studies the influence of the environment on health and disease in children. Global environmental exposures pose a serious threat to health, warranting further research and action. Objective . To assess the environmental health of a sample of children living in urban and rural areas in Uruguaiana, Brazil. Population and methods . We included parents/legal guardians (n = 714) of children seen at Policlinica Infantil de Uruguaiana between January and October 2021, who completed the environmental history-taking in pediatrics (Brazilian Society of Pediatrics). Collected data were analyzed based on place of residence (urban or rural) or household income. Results . The comparison between inhabitants of the urban area (n = 660) and the rural area (n = 54) established that, among those living in the rural area, activity with chemical substances (15% versus 32.7%; p = 0.004), living near a plantation (7.5% versus 74.5%; p < 0.001) or near a source of contamination (4.8% versus 32.7%; p < 0.001), having a dog (62% versus 87.3%; p < 0.001), using pesticides (0.6% versus 32.7%; p < 0.001), and exposure to chemical contamination (2.6% versus 18.2%; p < 0.001) were significantly higher. In the urban area, exposure to vehicle traffic near the house (85% versus 48.1%; p < 0.001), an average income below 3 minimum wages (90%), and a low level of education predominated. Conclusion . Environmental history-taking is critical for the detection of environmental threats present in the areas where children and adolescents live, learn, play, and study.