Journal of Environmental and Public Health
Volume 2016, 2016

Exposures Resulting in Safety and Health Concerns for Child Laborers in Less Developed Countries (Review) (Open Access)

Shendell D.G.* , Noomnual S. , Chishti S. , Sorensen Allacci M. , Madrigano J.
  • a Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), Center for School and Community-Based Research and Education (NJ Safe Schools Program), New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rutgers SPH, Piscataway, NJ, United States, Exposure Measurement and Assessment Division, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
  • b Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), Center for School and Community-Based Research and Education (NJ Safe Schools Program), New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rutgers SPH, Piscataway, NJ, United States
  • c Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), Center for School and Community-Based Research and Education (NJ Safe Schools Program), New Brunswick, NJ 08854, United States, Rutgers Center for Green Building, Edward J. Bloustein School for Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers, the State University of NJ, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers, State University of NJ, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States
  • d Rutgers Center for Green Building, Edward J. Bloustein School for Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers, the State University of NJ, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, United States
  • e Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rutgers SPH, Piscataway, NJ, United States

Abstract

Objectives. Worldwide, over 200 million children are involved in child labor, with another 20 million children subjected to forced labor, leading to acute and chronic exposures resulting in safety and health (S&H) risks, plus removal from formal education and play. This review summarized S&H issues in child labor, including forced or indentured domestic labor as other sectors of child labor. Specifically, we focused on exposures leading to S&H risks. Methods. We used PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. References were in English, published in 1990-2015, and included data focused on exposures and S&H concerns of child labor. Results. Seventy-six journal articles were identified, 67 met criteria, 57 focused on individual countries, and 10 focused on data from multiple countries (comparing 3-83 countries). Major themes of concern were physical exposures including ergonomic hazards, chemical exposure hazards, and missed education. Childhood labor, especially forced, exploitative labor, created a significant burden on child development, welfare, and S&H. Conclusions. More field researche data emphasizing longitudinal quantitative effects of exposures and S&H risks are needed. Findings warranted developing policies and educational interventions with proper monitoring and evaluation data collection, plus multiple governmental, international organization and global economic reform efforts, particularly in lower-income, less developed countries. © 2016 Derek G. Shendell et al.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

developing country Developing Countries human statistics and numerical data manual labor physical abuse ergonomics Humans Adolescent preschool child occupational exposure safety Child, Preschool Review welfare child labor long term exposure developed country Child Development employment health hazard public health Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84976587726&doi=10.1155%2f2016%2f3985498&partnerID=40&md5=b7932fdcf6371d820a09c37bfca529d2
DOI: 10.1155/2016/3985498
ISSN: 16879805
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English