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October 1993, Vol 147, No. 10 >
Article | October 1993

The Dangers of Illegal Child Labor FREE

PHILIP J. LANDRIGAN, MD, MSC, FAAP; RENATE BELVILLE, MA
Am J Dis Child. 1993;147(10):1029-1030. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1993.02160340015002.
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Work is a major and, until now, an insufficiently appreciated contributor to the ongoing epidemic of childhood injury. Recent reports have documented that each year, work among children and adolescents accounts for more than 30000 injuries,1 20000 compensation claims,2 thousands of cases of permanent disability,3 and more than 100 deaths.4 Injuries include amputations, burns, scalds, scalpings, fractures, eye loss, and electrocutions. In addition, working children are exposed to toxins such as benzene (in pumping gasoline), pesticides (in lawn care and agriculture), and asbestos (in construction and maintenance work). These exposures increase the risk of developing leukemia, neurologic impairment, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Although precise data are lacking, the fraction of all adolescent injuries that are caused by work appears to be substantial. The estimated number of 15- to 19-year-olds killed each year at work (n=110)4 is comparable to the number who

REFERENCES

1 +
Human Resources Division. Child Labor—Increases in Detected Child Labor Violations Throughout the United States: Briefing Report to Congressional Requesters . Washington, DC: US General Accounting Office; (April) 1990;. Publication GAO/HRD-90-116.
2 +
Division of Injury Control, Center for Environmental Health and Injury Control, Centers for Disease Control.  Childhood injuries in the United States . AJDC . 1990;;144:627-646.
3 +
Belville R, Pollack SH, Godbold JH, Landrigan PJ.  Occupational injuries among working adolescents in New York State . JAMA . 1993;;269: 2754-2759.
4 +
Suruda A, Halperin W.  Work-related deaths in children . Am J Ind Med . 1991;;19:739-745.
5 +
Children's Safety Network. A Data Book of Child and Adolescent Injury . Washington, DC: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health; 1991;.
6 +
Anderka MA, Gallagher SS, Azzara C. Adolescent work-related injuries. Presented at the 113th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association; November 19, 1985; Washington, DC.
7 +
Dunn KA, Runyan CW.  Deaths at work among children and adolescents . AJDC . 1993;; 147:1044-1047.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Human Resources Division. Child Labor—Increases in Detected Child Labor Violations Throughout the United States: Briefing Report to Congressional Requesters . Washington, DC: US General Accounting Office; (April) 1990;. Publication GAO/HRD-90-116.
2 +
Division of Injury Control, Center for Environmental Health and Injury Control, Centers for Disease Control.  Childhood injuries in the United States . AJDC . 1990;;144:627-646.
3 +
Belville R, Pollack SH, Godbold JH, Landrigan PJ.  Occupational injuries among working adolescents in New York State . JAMA . 1993;;269: 2754-2759.
4 +
Suruda A, Halperin W.  Work-related deaths in children . Am J Ind Med . 1991;;19:739-745.
5 +
Children's Safety Network. A Data Book of Child and Adolescent Injury . Washington, DC: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health; 1991;.
6 +
Anderka MA, Gallagher SS, Azzara C. Adolescent work-related injuries. Presented at the 113th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association; November 19, 1985; Washington, DC.
7 +
Dunn KA, Runyan CW.  Deaths at work among children and adolescents . AJDC . 1993;; 147:1044-1047.

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