Occupational disease can also develop in non-working children

EDITOR—I agree with Scanlon et al, who say in their editorial that child labour is now globally the largest single cause of child abuse.1 They add that most of it takes place in the developing world and much is hidden. What they do not say is that, in a situation analogous to passive smoking, children who do not work can also have occupational disease. In Madhya Pradesh in northern India there is a “belt” of stone …