The Center of Education for Children’s Health and the Environment

Why should you be concerned about toxic exposures in young children and unborn babies?

Chemical exposures in young children are greater pound-for-pound than those of an adult. Young children have an immature, porous blood-brain barrier which allows greater chemical exposure to reach the developing brain. Their rapidly developing organs and systems are more vulnerable to damage from these exposures. The systems that detoxify and excrete chemicals in young children are not fully developed and they have a longer life span ahead of them for adverse effects to arise.

The document – “Polluted Children, Toxic Nation - A Report on Pollution in Canadian Families” summarizes what we currently know in Canada about the growing body of research on toxic exposures and chemical contamination and what that might mean for the future health of our children.

It provides an excellent summary of children’s unique vulnerability and how their behaviour increases their risk of exposure to chemicals. What is very helpful is the insight it will give readers about the differences between low levels of exposures versus high levels of exposures.

It is easy to read and can be downloaded at:

www.environmentaldefence.ca/reports/toxicnationFamily.htm