Authors
Landrigan-PJ; Pollack-SH; Belville-R
Source
Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Second Edition 1992; :1365-1370
Abstract
Child labor, or the paid employment of children under 18 years (yr) of age, was discussed. While child labor is a major international problem, it is also still common in the United States despite federal and state legislation. The history of child labor and the legislation enacted to protect children in the United States was traced. The disadvantages of child labor fall into two categories: threats to education and development; and risks of injury, illness, and toxic exposure. Employed children have too little time for homework, and academic performance declines. Health risks include injuries, particularly in the food industry. From 1980 to 1987, 10,047 workers' compensation awards were made in New York State to children under 18yr of age. Toxic occupational exposures cause chronic illnesses such as asthma, and exposure in early life may lead to later malignancies such as mesothelioma. Rural children are employed extensively in agriculture, and suffer hazards associated with farm machinery such as lacerations, crush injuries, and amputations. The authors conclude that child labor has reemerged as a serious health hazard in the United States, and recommend steps for the prevention of injury and illness in working children.
Keywords
NIOSH-Grant; Traumatic-injuries; Carcinogens; Epidemiology; Farmers; Miners; Injury-prevention; Occupational-exposure; Occupational-hazards; Children; Regulations
Contact
Community Medicine Mount Sinai School of Medicine One Gustave L Levy Place New York, NY 10029
Document Type
Book or book chapter
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-002717
Priority Area
Traumatic Injuries; Disease and Injury
Source Name
Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Second Edition
Performing Organization
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
