The report also shows that children are especially vulnerable to degradation of natural resources, particularly in agriculture, where natural nutritional factors are diminished through over production and its subsequent depletion of soil content.

Since there are millions of children working in the agricultural sector, exposure to pesticides is an increasing risk.

High levels of chemical toxicity can be found elsewhere, particularly from lead, most commonly found in leaded gasoline, which causes permanent neurological disorders and affects both physical and mental development.

Global environmental issues such as climate change, the loss of biological diversity and the depletion of the planet’s protective ozone layer are also cited in the report.

Low public awareness of the effects of environmental degradation upon children is hindering efforts to address environmental concerns and the report calls for nations to focus attention on children’s immediate surroundings, such as the home, schools and local communities.

Such a grass roots approach would undoubtedly lead to a general improvement in the entire environment.

The full report: Children in the New Millennium: Environmental Impact on Health, can be ordered, in book form, from the UN Environmental Programme’s Publications Web site: http://www.earthprint.com