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Measles Prevention

Children Are Being Harmed by Toxic Chemicals

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among children such as heart disease, cancers, chronic respiratory disorders, diabetes, and mental health disorders have become the leading cause of children’s illness and death. And unlike the declining incidence of NCDs among adults, NCDs among children are rising.

Increasingly, research links multiple NCDs in children to toxic synthetic chemicals. Production of the estimated 350,000 manufactured chemicals has increased 50-fold since 1950, and manufactured chemicals now cause widespread environmental pollution and human exposure.

Yet unlike pharmaceuticals that require rigorous testing and approval by the Food and Drug Administration, they are marketed with little prior assessment of their hazard and almost no postmarketing surveillance for longer-term adverse health effects. Fewer than 20% have been tested for toxicity, and fewer still for toxic effects in infants and children.

Over the past 50 years, the incidence of childhood cancers has increased by 35%, and male reproductive birth defects have doubled. Neurodevelopmental disorders now affect 1 in 6 children, and autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed in 1 in 36. Pediatric asthma has tripled, and children’s obesity has nearly quadrupled. There has also been a sharp increase in type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents.

Toxic chemicals can cross the placenta, and children are far more vulnerable to toxic chemicals than adults––even brief exposures can cause damage to health. A 2005 study found 287 different chemicals in cord blood of 10 newborn babies - chemicals from pesticides, fast food packaging, coals and gasoline emissions and trash incineration.

In utero and early-life chemical exposures are linked to a variety of diseases, development disorders and lifelong decreases in cognitive ability. Among these toxic chemicals are phthalates, brominated flame retardants, phthalates, organophosphates, perfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs,–chemicals formed by incomplete combustion of organic materials, such as fossil fuels, municipal and industrial waste, wood, tobacco, and meat) and Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs)–a group of chemicals that easily evaporate and have a sweet odor commonly associated with paints and glues found in second-hand smoke, fuels, oils, automobile exhaust, industrial solvents, and a wide variety of consumer products.

A well-studied example of toxicity is the U.S. use of lead as an additive in gasoline between 1950s through the 1970s This caused massive environmental lead contamination, extensive human exposure, and an increase in everyone’s blood lead level. It is estimated that the average IQ among U.S. children was reduced by an estimated 2 to 5 points, the number of children with an IQ above 130 decreased by more than 50%, and the number with an IQ below 70 increased by more than 50%. In the decade after lead was removed from gasoline, children’s mean blood lead level fell by more than 95%, and beginning in 1980, their average IQ was 2 to 5 points higher.

Unfortunately, U.S. chemical law — the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1977 and its subsequent amendments failed to provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the authority to require premarketing toxicity testing of new chemicals or postmarketing surveillance for longer-term adverse events.

TSCA places the burden on government regulators to identify potentially hazardous chemicals, conduct risk assessments, and justify any proposed restrictions using cost–benefit analyses. As a result, few associations between manufactured chemicals and disease in children have been addressed by regulatory action. In the nearly 50 years since TSCA’s passage, only a few chemicals have been banned or restricted in U.S. markets.

The European Union, requires at least some premarketing screening of new chemicals for toxicity, as well as evidence-based analyses of chemicals considered particularly dangerous. In practice, however, it fails to constrain chemical production. Aggressive trade-secret laws in the U.S. and Europe provide shielding from regulation.

In addition, chemical-management policies in both the United States and the European Union consider the hazards of only one chemical at a time, which ignores the reality that children are exposed daily to mixtures of multiple manufactured chemicals that may have cumulative or synergistic effects. Most countries’ chemical laws don’t generally consider children’s particular sensitivities.

Protecting Children from Toxic Chemicals

Safeguarding children’s health against manufactured synthetic chemicals will require shifting chemical law to a more precautionary approach wherein chemicals should no longer be presumed harmless until proven otherwise by both premarketing testing and postmarketing surveillance, thereby prioritizing health protection over unconstrained production of chemicals and plastics.

Until new laws and regulations are implemented, parents can take steps to safeguard their children’s health by taking the following actions:

Keeping Indoor Air Healthy
Keep Your Home and Car Smoke-Free. Never smoke near children. Second-hand smoke increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, and asthma, and is linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

  • Keep Wood Smoke Out. Replace older wood stoves with cleaner gas, pellet, or EPA-certified wood stoves.
  • Keep Surfaces Clean. Vacuum and dust regularly. Dust using a wet rag and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter if you can. Dust particles may contain toxic chemicals.
  • Prevent Mold. Mold can grow in places that are wet. Repair water leaks and dry wet areas right away. Prevent moisture by using kitchen and bathroom fans that vent to the outdoors.
  • Keep Living Spaces Aired-Out. Common sources of indoor air pollution include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings. Air out your whole house regularly. Fresh air reduces the concentration of contaminants.
  • Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, Never use gasoline-powered equipment or burn charcoal inside. Never use a gas oven to heat your home. Install a carbon monoxide detector.
  • Test for Radon. Radon gas is colorless and odorless and occurs naturally. It can seep into your home from the ground. Test for radon with a home test kit.
  • Reduce Toxics in Food and Water America's food and water supplies are among the safest in the world. However, sometimes toxics can get into our food and water and make children sick.
    • Wash Fruits and Vegetables
    • Wash fruits and vegetables to remove dirt and chemical residues. Scrub produce that has a skin, like apples, with a brush or cloth.
    • Eat Fish Low in Mercury
    • Some fish have less mercury than others. Good choices are salmon, cod, flounder, trout, tilapia, and canned light tuna.
    • Do Not Eat some Fish Due to Mercury. People who are or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children should Not eat:
    • Mackerel (King)
    • Marlin (imported)
    • Orange roughy
    • Shark
    • Swordfish (imported)
    • Tilefish (Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic)
    • Tuna Steak - Bluefin and Bigeye (imported longline)

Food Safety Tips
To avoid foodborne illnesses, ensure food is prepared with clean hands, countertops and utensils, washed if eaten raw, cooked to proper temperatures and refrigerated immediately.

Avoiding the Chemical Hazards of Household Products
Toxic chemicals can be found in items including:

  • Disinfectants. Disinfectants can sometimes release harmful fumes that you can inhale, leading to lung irritation.
  • Detergents. Detergents can be corrosive and cause dermatitis.
  • Paints.
  • Cosmetics.
  • Fuels.
  • Glues.
  • Cleaning Products
  • Flame retardants
  • Art supplies
  • Some plastic toys, utensils and containers. Certain types of plastics contain chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene that may be toxic to children. These plastics can be found in baby bottles, sippy cups, teething rings, pacifiers, and toys. When these items are in a child's mouth or when they are heated (such as in a microwave), children can be exposed to harmful chemicals.
  • Pesticides: A diverse group of chemicals used to kill pests, pesticides can be toxic and neurotoxic. They can be found in sprays, powders, baits, and traps.
  • Lead: A known neurotoxicant that can cause permanent damage to a child's nervous system.
  • Mercury: A toxic chemical that can be harmful to children.
  • Arsenic: A toxic chemical that can be harmful to children.
  • Mycotoxins: Toxic chemicals from molds and fungi that can be harmful to children.
  • Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical commonly used in plastics, and lining food cans that is an endocrine disruptor.
  • Persistent organic pollutants: A toxic chemical that can be harmful to children

How to reduce a child's exposure to pesticides:

  • Reduce the need to use chemical pesticides. Prevent pests from entering a building by closing or sealing openings. Eliminate sources of food and moisture so that the environment is not conducive to pests. Use physical means to control pests, such as fly swatters, whenever possible.
  • If you use pesticide products at home or elsewhere: (1) use products such as horticultural oils and diatomaceous earth or non-broadcast products such as baits or traps; (2) read and follow all label instructions, including instructions regarding the proper purpose of the pesticide product, the location for application, the quantity to be applied, the frequency of application, the method of application, and the time-delay prior to reentry of treated areas; and (3) remove food, dishes, toys, and other objects before treating indoors.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
  • Avoid treated areas during and after treatment.
  • Remove shoes at the door so that soil and dust are not tracked into the house.
  • Ensure that pesticide products are stored in safe containers and in places where children do not have access to them.

How to reduce a child's exposure to Volatile organic chemicals (VOCs):
Indoor VOC concentrations and resulting exposures may vary significantly depending on the level of ventilation in your home and the activities in your home, such as smoking, remodeling, or painting. You can reduce VOCs in your home and your child's exposures by following these steps:

  • If you smoke, smoke outdoors and in areas away from children. Avoid areas where your child may be exposed to secondhand smoke.
  • Keep your child away from stored gasoline, especially enclosed areas. Don't allow your child to be exposed to gasoline vapors that are typically given off during refueling.
  • Do not allow your car to idle in the garage even if the garage door is open, and turn your car off immediately upon entering the garage.
  • Follow ventilation and location instructions on product labels for paints, varnishes, strippers, glues, and hobby products.
  • Perform painting, remodeling, carpet replacement, and refinishing projects during the summer months. Open windows to ventilate the work area.
  • Avoid storing VOC containing products, such as paints, paint strippers, kerosene for space heaters, or gasoline for lawn mowers, by buying only as much as you will use right away.
  • Store VOC containing products outside the home, and away from the furnace and other combustion appliances.
  • Check the label when buying paints and other products likely to contain VOCs. Buy products with low VOC content (where available). If you cannot read the label or there is no information available, contact the manufacturer.

How to reduce a child's exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs):
Since PAHs are found throughout the environment, it is difficult to avoid exposure. However, you can significantly reduce your child's exposure by avoiding certain areas and by modifying some home and recreational activities. The following are practical and easy steps you can follow to reduce PAH exposure.

  • Avoid smoke from wood fires, whether from home heating or for recreational purposes.
  • Avoid exposure to automobile exhaust and areas of high traffic congestion.
  • Avoid areas where asphalt road construction or tar roofing is occurring.
  • If you smoke, smoke outdoors and in areas away from children. Avoid areas where your child may be exposed to secondhand smoke.
  • Prepare foods by slower cooking over low heat, rather than by charring or grilling food.
  • Avoid skin contact with soot.

How to protect a child from exposure to arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium:

  • Dust areas in your home regularly. Wet wash window wells, sills, and floors.
  • If you smoke, smoke outdoors and in areas away from children. Avoid areas where your child may be exposed to secondhand smoke.
  • Wash your child's hands with soap and water before eating, naps, and bedtime.
  • Wash bottles, teething rings, and toys with soap and water.
  • Don't let your child eat or chew on anything that may have lead paint on it. Look for teeth marks on the woodwork in your home.
  • Take your shoes off at the door so that soil and dust are not tracked into the house.
  • Make sure that your child has a balanced diet that includes enough calcium, iron, protein, and zinc. Nutritional deficiencies can increase the absorption and the effects of exposure to harmful metals.
  • Use care when handling and disposing of thermometers, batteries, and other consumer products that contain mercury, cadmium, or lead.
  • If you have hobbies that involve welding, soldering, or ceramic or glass glazing, perform them outside the home or in a well-ventilated area away from children.
  • Adults working in jobs where metals are used should shower and change clothes and shoes before coming home. This includes painters, remodelers, and workers in smelters, battery plants, radiator, or auto body shops.

How to reduce a child's exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA):

  • Purchase food cans and containers labeled “BPA-Free.”
  • Switch to fresh or frozen foods when they are available.
  • Avoid microwaving plastic food containers.
  • Try to use glass, porcelain, or stainless steel containers, especially for hot foods and beverages.

A Final Suggestion

Read all labels prior to use of any product containing chemicals be they products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies, and minimize exposure to a child’s skin or fumes a child could breathe. Consider if you really need to use a chemical product before deciding to use it.

Reference:

Wirth DA, et al. Consortium for Children’s Environmental Health. Manufactured Chemicals and Children’s Health––The Need for New Law. New England Journal of Medicine, 2025 16;392(3):299-305. doi: 10.1056/NEJMms2409092.

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