protecting the fetus and the child
from environmental hazards

a healthy environment
for all children

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California Project:

Fact Sheet on

Children’s Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

Chemicals play a major role in our every day lives. They are part of what we eat, where we work, and how we live. Despite their prevalence in our lives, many chemicals are hazardous, or toxic. Toxic chemicals can be found in our soil, water, air, and bodies. This contamination has serious health implications for humans and wildlife everywhere.

Children are often more vulnerable than adults to the harmful affects of chemical pollutants because they are still developing. In addition, children’s behavior, including increased hand to mouth activity, a tendency to crawl and play in spaces that could be contaminated, and a lack of awareness about proper safety and sanitary habits, put children at a higher risk. In some cases, childhood exposure to toxins can cause serious immediate and long term health damage.

Built environments, including schools, residential areas, and places of work, can be sites of hazardous chemical contamination. In fact, many toxic chemicals can be found right in your home.

• Household products such as detergent, floor and furniture polish, paints, and various cleaning products for glass, wood, metal, ovens, toilets, and drains may contain hazardous chemicals such as ammonia, sulfuric and phosphoric acids, lye, chlorine, formaldehyde, and phenol. Air fresheners can also contain chemicals that are harmful to health. Art supplies, such as markers, paint, and glue, may also contain toxic materials. When not properly handled, these products can make the home environment a dangerous place, especially for kids.

• Home furnishings, such as carpets, curtains, wall decorations, and some furniture, may be treated with chemicals that are potentially dangerous. It is important to note that a few days after installation, new carpets emit volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals associated with carpet manufacturing that can be harmful to humans and the environment. Gas and wood stoves and kerosene heaters may also release dangerous chemicals.

• Building materials such as particle board, insulation, asbestos, and treated wood (used for decks and outdoor furniture), can also pose health threats. Some play sets and toys, as well as outdoor swing sets and play grounds, may also be treated with toxic chemicals, made from toxic plastics, or include hazardous materials. The more time that children spend playing in such an environment, the higher their exposure to toxic chemicals, and the greater the risk to their health.

As their name suggests, Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) Chemicals pose a particular threat. Persistent means that they do not break down. Bioaccumulative means that they can build up in the food chain to levels that are dangerous. PBT Chemicals can travel long distances, transfer between air, water, and land, and remain dangerous and intact for long periods of time. Examples of PBT are dioxin, mercury, and PCBs. These chemicals are particularly harmful to children and developing fetuses. One important way to limit exposure to PBT Chemicals is to be careful of amount and type of fish intake. For more information on PBT Chemicals visit the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/pbt/fact.htm.

Various health effects can result from toxic chemical exposure, including allergic reactions, asthma, migraines, dizziness, nausea, eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation, various forms of cancer, and even death. The health effects resulting from exposure depends upon many factors, including how toxic the chemical is and the degree of exposure.

You can help protect children from the hazards of toxic chemicals at home and in school. Make an effort to use nontoxic products. Use natural products for cleaning agents such as baking soda, soda ash, vinegar, and creme of tarter. A variety of nontoxic products can be found in health food stores and some supermarkets. Make sure to check labels carefully and keep all hazardous products well-marked and away from children. Check to see if various school and household appliances, toys, and learning materials are hazardous. Keep living, playing, and learning areas, especially the kitchen and bathroom, clean and safe.

www.epa.gov/epahome/topics.html website for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which can be searched for a variety of information about toxic chemicals and pollutants and US regulations regarding such materials

www.epa.gov/kidshometour part of EPA’s website geared toward children information and a tour of toxic chemicals in the home

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html#-D- website for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, summaries about and answers to frequently asked questions for specific toxic chemicals

www.childproofing.org Childproofing our Communities Campaign, a locally based, grassroots effort coordinated by the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice (CHEJ), a national environmental organization, provides many useful links

www.igc.org/psr/ihw.htm a document by Physicians for Social Responsibility about various toxic threats to child development and information linking developmental disorders and toxic chemicals

www.greenhome.com/learn on-line dept. store and information resource that sells environmentally friendly products from home appliances to apparel. It also contains articles, including how to make non-toxic cleaners for your home

www.eohsi.rutgers.edu/rc the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute provides educational material about toxics, including ToxRAP material for classroom lessons

• California Information Resources:

http://dioxin.abag.ca.gov/ Bay Area Dioxins Project

http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/tri/report/index.html US EPA Region 9 Toxins Release Inventory for 2000

http://www.ewg.org/issues/home.php?i=6 Environmental Working Group's Toxic information page provides recent reports about toxic chemicals

http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/toxics.htm California Air Resources Board