National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers

Environmental exposures in early life may be key risk factors for heart conditions across the lifespan. A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) dives into the multifaceted effects of excessive heat exposure, airborne pollutants, and various substances like lead and endocrine-disrupting compounds on heart health, beginning prenatally. 

Early life is a particularly vulnerable time when infants and toddlers are developing rapidly, so widespread environmental toxicants and pollutants can have long-term harmful health effects. Due to structural racism, communities of color appear to be disproportionately affected by environmental toxicants.   

Environmental Exposures and Pediatric Cardiology: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association gives four key examples of how environmental exposures can impact heart health: 

• Maternal heat exposure and congenital heart disease – High temperatures and extreme heat events can cause adverse birth outcomes, including lower birth weight and preterm birth, which can impact later life cardiometabolic health. Excessive ambient heat exposure may also increase the risk of developing congenital heart disease in early life. 
• Airborne pollution and Kawasaki disease (acquired heart disease) – Kawasaki disease, the most common form of acquired heart disease in the developed world, affects infants, toddlers, and children. Air pollution-related increases in oxidative stress and inflammation may predispose genetically susceptible children to develop this disease. 
• Lead and blood pressure - Early-life exposure to lead by inhalation or ingestion, for instance, through contaminated water or soil, can cause long-term health effects and potentially influence blood pressure throughout a child’s life.   
• Endocrine disrupters and cardiometabolic risk factors - Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pervasive compounds used in food additives, plastics, and manufacturing may be associated with increased blood pressure and changes in blood cholesterol in children. 

So what can be done to reduce exposure? 

Clinicians, researchers, and policymakers can use this information to focus more on environmental exposures, beginning prenatally, to help protect vulnerable infants and toddlers. Partnerships across many sectors (government, private sector, and public health) will be needed to deploy policy change and interventions in an equitable manner to mitigate risks. 

Learn more! 

Full Study: Environmental Exposures and Pediatric Cardiology: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association. 

Harvard Center on the Developing Child – Place Matters: The Environment We Create Shapes the Foundations of  Healthy Development