Environmental health is defined as “the science and practice of preventing human injury and illness and promoting well-being by identifying and evaluating environmental sources and hazardous agents and limiting exposure to hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents in air, water, soil, food, and other environmental media or settings that may adversely affect human health” (NEHA, n.d.). Biological, environmental, and social factors can have a profound effect on children’s health and development.
Biological
Biological experiences such as exposure to death, serious injury, sexual violence, and even just hearing adults talk about trauma that happened to a relative or close friend are considered childhood traumas that result in distress,
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The response expressed by children is believed to be influenced by their developmental level, race, previous traumatic experience, and preexisting child and family problems. Gathering a detailed history of trauma exposure is essential in preventing further traumatic experiences (APA, 2008). If an adult was exposed to trauma as a child, their immune system and body’s stress response system may not develop normally, therefore, when exposed to even the normal level of stress the system recognizes it as extreme stress. Because of this response, the person may be perceived as overreacting or detached and in most instances, they may lash out at those around them. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study included over 17,000 participants ranging in age from 19 to 90 years old. Of those participants, nearly two thirds experienced one traumatic exposure, and even more reported two or more incidents of traumatic exposure. The results between childhood trauma exposure and high-risk behaviors (e.g., smoking and unprotected sex) were connected in this study. To prevent these traumatic experiences from occurring, it is best to promote a supportive family environment by nurturing parenting skills, enforcing household rules and child monitoring, and making healthcare and social services easily accessible (CDC,