Impact of Domestic Waste Exposure on Health and Nutritional Status of Children Aged 5-7 Years

Abstract

Environment and health are interrelated suggesting any change in one will effect and alter the other. Domestic solid waste dump exposure exerts harmful impact on health of humans especially children. Children (age group 5-7 years) were compared with a group of children having similar socio-economic background but not exposed to waste dumps. The results showed that the weight (M=15.8 kg with SD ± 5.6), height (M=41.4 inches with SD ± 3.7) and BMI (M=14.1 kg.m2 with SD ± 3.3) of observational children were below the values of those not exposed and also below recommended values. Additionally, they exhibited the clinical symptoms of iron, calcium and protein deficiencies seen in their pale eyes, nails and skin, discoloured teeth and brittle hair. Overall disease status in both groups was almost similar. Waste exposed children were suffering more from diarrhoea as compared to others. Other health related problems like eyes infection, skin infections/allergies, respiratory tract infections and nervous disorders were also prevalent among waste dump dwelling children. The results of CDC percentile growth charts depicted that waste-exposed children scored lower for weight-for-age (30%) sample exhibited 3rd-5th percentile scores) and BMI-for-age growth charts (25% sample exhibited below 5th percentile scores), whereas height-for-age growth charts showed no discrete results. Hence, it has been proved that compromised health and nutritional status was observed among waste exposed children by reporting malnutrition and wasting in them.