Infants and Young Children
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Children, including the unborn, are more vulnerable to environmental toxins because of their small size and developing bodies. Household chemicals have a greater effect on their growing bodies and organs, and consequences may last a lifetime. Some facts to consider: At certain stages of pre-natal development, exposure to low doses of some chemicals can cause permanent harm. Infants crawl, breath and eat on the ground and carpets, where dust and chemicals settle. The human nervous system, hormonal system and organs continue to develop into young adulthood, making children vulnerable until then. Most of the 75,500 chemicals listed for use in the United States have not been tested for toxicity to children.
Bisphenol A and other plastics
Bisphenol A, or BPA, is a chemical found in the polycarbonate plastic used to make products like water bottles and baby bottles. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently reevaluated the safety of BPA and now says that ‘recent studies provide reason for some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.’ See “Update on Bisphenol A for Use in Food Contact Applications: January 2010”. Given the suggestion from some animal studies that infants and the fetus may be the most vulnerable to the effects of BPA, parents and caregivers may choose to reduce their exposure to products containing BPA. See Bisphenol A in Plastic Bottles, Food Containers and Canned Goods.
A great deal of attention has been focused recently on phthalates, which are plasticizers used use to make polyvinyl chloride PVC) more flexible. PVC is found in many consumer products, including toys, shower curtains, baby bibs, plastic cling wrap, car floor mats, window blinds, water pipes, hoses, gutters, and siding.
The following resources discuss how to reduce exposure to BPA and other chemicals in plastics:
- Health Canada: Questions and Answers for Action on Bisphenol A Under the Chemicals Management Plan (www.chemicalsubstanceschimiques.gc.ca/fact-fait/bisphenol-a_qa-qr-eng.php)
- Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit: Check the Kind of Plastics You Use (www.aoec.org/PEHSU/documents/bpa_patient_july_8_08.pdf)
- Washington State Department of Health: Bisphenol A Fact Sheet (www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/bpa.htm)
Mercury
People are most often exposed to mercury by eating fish and shellfish that contain methylmercury. Children, including the unborn, are most vulnerable to mercury poisoning because their developing brains and nervous systems are sensitive to low-doses of methylmercury. Methylmercury exposure can affect thinking, memory, attention, language, and fine motor skills. Infants are exposed to methylmercury from their mothers, both in the womb and through breastfeeding. Children are exposed when they eat fish containing mercury.
This healthy fish guide will help you and your family reduce your exposure to mercury in fish.
Lead
Lead is a toxic metal that can impair a child’s growth, hearing and learning ability. Lead is tracked into the house on shoes and can be released when old paint inside the house is disturbed. It accumulates in rugs, carpets and furniture and gets on the hands and other items infants put in their mouths. Lead dust is the biggest source of lead intake for infants.
The following articles discuss how to reduce lead exposure in infants and young children:
Reducing exposure to lead from older homes. Washington Toxics Coalition.
“Despite new lead laws, consumers still need to be vigilant,” Tom Watson, Seattle Times, October 4, 2008.
“Getting the Lead Out of Toys,” Tom Watson. Seattle Times, Nov. 3, 2007.
Breastfeeding and infant health
Information about breastfeeding and infant health is available from Public Health – Seattle & King County. The information is also provided in Spanish at Lo que dicen las mamás sobre dar pecho.
Other resources that address the issue of how to reduce chemical exposure in infants and young children include:
Breastmilk: Protection for your Baby. A flyer that discusses flame retardents and breastfeeding. This flyer is also in Spanish at La Leche Materna: Proteccion para su Bebe
Choices for a Healthy Pregnancy. Washington Toxics Coalition Web site provides information about how to protect unborn children, infants and young children from harmful chemicals.
New laws to protect children from chemical exposure
Policymakers recognize the importance of limiting the exposure of children to harmful chemicals. Three new Washington state laws address this issue.
- The Children’s Safe Products Act (also known as the “Toxic Toy bill”),signed in April 2008, requires toys and other children's products to be tested for toxics prior to their sale in Washington.
- Another law bans toxic flame retardants for use in consumer products starting in January 2009.
- The new law banning Bisphenol-A (BPA) in food and beverage containers used by children under age three will go into effect beginning July 1, 2011. Learn more about the law. Find out how to reduce your exposure until the law takes effect.
In October 2009, the Northwest Children’s Environmental Health Forum and Fair brought policymakers, academic researchers and parents together to work on eliminating harmful environmental exposures to children from pre-conception to age six.
