Why Children are Especially Sensitive to Environmental Exposures

Children’s Vulnerabilities and Environmental Toxins

In the United States 1 million fetal deaths occur annually and 300,000 low birth weight infants occur, children’ environmental health issues include; air, both indoor and outdoor, water, infectious agents and chemicals treating the water, lead, asthma, mercury and pesticides.

Why are children especially vulnerable to their environment?  First and foremost children experience rapid body growth and development. Children experience high exposure rates, a child’s diet, behavior, and physiology differs greatly from adults. For example, a child’s hand-mouth behaviors pose significant risk for toxic exposures.  Children occupy close proximity to floors and the ground, where soil, dust, and poor air quality exist.  Children intake higher ratios of air, water, and food per body weight compared to adults.  These behaviors put children at greater risk for environmental exposures.

An important note about children and their skin; a child’s skin is more permeable than adults and is the most permeable immediately after birth. I believe its especially important to avoid baby's first bath for at least a few hours after birth, and understand what soaps and lotions are going on baby’s skin. Children are born with a white waxy or cheesey like substance on their skin called vernix caseosa. This is the infant’s natural protective barrier, and when rubbed into their skin (instead of rubbed off) will help protect them from dermal exposures. Infants are equipped with their own protective barrier, and it’s important that we parents understand the purpose of the vernix and what steps should be taken to protect our little bundles of joy's skin.

Finally, children have immature detoxification systems and there is inadequate toxicity testing when it comes to the harmful effects of environmental toxins and children.

The primary sources of exposure in children are food, air, soil, and water and the routes of exposure are of course ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption. Exposure to environmental toxins can cause serious adverse health effects like nervous system damage, respiratory, reproductive and immune system damage as well as major birth defects.

This is why I'm always harping on the importance of organic foods (ingestion exposure to pesticides) chemical free baby lotions, baby soaps and even what toys kids play with.