From: Medical Research Council
Date: 05 June 2003

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL TO OBSERVE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS WEEK

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Children are major victims of environmental pollution in South Africa

The people of South Africa bear a double burden of environmental threats to their health, says Dr Anthony Mbewu, Executive Director: Research Development at the Medical Research Council.

According to Dr Mbewu industry as well under-development in informal and inner city settlements cause environmental pollution. He added that it is estimated the one-third of the burden of disease in the world is cause by environmental factors.

"It is that appropriate during Environmental Awareness Week we are mindful that children are particularly vulnerable to environmental pollution and hazards," said Ms Angela Mathee, who heads the MRC's Environment and Health Research Office. Despite making up only 10% of the world's population, young children are estimated to bear around 40% of the world's burden of disease.

She added that long-standing concerns such as inadequate access to water, sanitation and, safe cooking fuels, continue to contribute to two of the biggest killers of young South African children: diarrheal diseases and pneumonia. Rooted in South Africa's political history, there continues to be strong poverty and "racial" dimensions to childhood environmental threats in this country.

Mathee added that most children face the worst environmental hazards in their own homes and schools. "For example, we have known for some time that leaded petrol is a major contributor to high blood levels in as many 55% of children living in impoverished areas. We are only now however, beginning to appreciate that lead-based house paint may also be playing an important role in childhood lead exposure. Preliminary results from an exploratory study currently underway in Johannesburg, is indicating that lead-based paint may have been used in as many as 22% of homes.

Dr Mbewu says that in an acknowledgement of the major contribution of environmental exposures to death and disease, and the disproportionate burden borne by children in this regard, the MRC has made a commitment to scaling up its environment and health research programme, and is particularly pleased to be participating, together with the Department of Health and the World Health Organization, in the initiation and development of the South African Healthy Environments for Children Alliance (SAHECA).

Launched by WHO on 1st September 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Healthy Environments for Children Alliance is a global initiative to address major environmental threats to the health of children in their homes, schools and neighbourhoods.

ENDS

Issued by the Corporate Communication and Stakeholder Relations Directorate of the MRC

For more information please contact Ms Angela Mathee on (011) 643-7403/082-464-7038/ Dr Mbewu on (021) 938-0391/082-440-3073

Vincent Moaga-MRC Media Relations Office-082-827-9787