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back to ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS topics
This list contains information on a number of harmful
materials and chemicals. Included are links to other web sites.
Pollutants
Indoor air pollution
Molds, carbon monoxide, pesticides,
cleaning products, tobacco smoke, and radon are some of the many
gases and particles that make up indoor air pollution. Indoor air
pollution is related to the presence of dirt, moisture, and warmth.
Dirt, moisture, and warmth lead to 1) the presence of molds and
mildew; 2) the presence of insects and vermin, which produce allergic
reactions and/or need for pesticides; and 3) problems with poor
ventilation. The most serious effect of indoor air pollution, particularly
for children, is asthma. Pesticides can cause brain damage. Molds
and allergies contribute to the onset of asthma as well as increase
the severity of asthma attacks. Short-term exposure to indoor air
pollution causes general discomfort, including symptoms such as
wheezing, itchy nose and throat, burning, watery, blurred vision,
dizziness, headaches, fatigue, chest pain, nausea, and flu-like
symptoms. See Home’s
Your Haven—Make It Safe and What’s
in Your Child’s School?
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA is the United States governmental agency that works to “protect
human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/hip-painting.html
National Resource Defense Council (NRDC)
According to its web site, “NRDC uses law, science, and the
support of more than 500,000 members nationwide to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment
for all living things.”
http://www.nrdc.org/air/default.asp
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Made up of experts in the fields of nursing, medicine, research,
and policy, the Network is a national multidisciplinary organization.
Its topics cover indoor air pollution, lead, mercury, PCBs, smoke,
pesticides, and general information about children’s environmental
health.
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/WhatisPEH.html
Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health
and the Environment (MACCHE)
Part of George Washington University’s Medical Center, MAACHE
has information for parents and health care providers on a variety
of topics, including pediatric environmental health.
http://www.gwu.edu/~macche/
(see “Information for Parents”)
Lead
A highly toxic metal that occurs naturally
in the environment, lead is most often found in combination with
other elements. Children are at highest risk for lead exposure
from deteriorating old (pre-1978) paint, soil near roadways with
heavy traffic (from former use of leaded gasoline), and dust contaminated
with lead. Even small doses of lead can make learning more difficult
for your child. Exposure to lead results in damage to the brain,
kidneys, nerves, blood, and reproductive system. Consequences of
lower levels of lead exposure include reduced attention spans, learning
disabilities, reduced IQ, hyperactivity, hearing loss, and behavioral
problems. Higher levels can result in blood anemia, kidney damage,
severe stomachache, muscle weakness, and severe brain damage. Exposure
of pregnant women to lead can cause premature birth and lower birth
weights. See Build Your Child’s
Defenses Against Harmful Substances,Home’s
Your Haven—Make It Safe, Don’t
Bring Pollutants Home From Work, At
the Market, Pick What’s Safe, What’s
in Your Child’s School?, and Avoid
Pollution that Comes from Far Away.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR)
An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ATSDR
is a leader in studying the effects of hazardous substances in the
environment on public health.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs13.html
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Made up of experts in the fields of nursing, medicine, research,
and policy, the Network is a national multidisciplinary organization.
Its topics cover indoor air pollution, lead, mercury, PCBs, smoke,
pesticides, and general information about children’s environmental
health.
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/WhatisPEH.html
Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota’s Environmental Health Division has a web page dedicated
to frequently asked questions about children’s environmental
health, including lead exposure and lead poisoning.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/children/faqs.html
Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the
Environment (MACCHE)
Part of George Washington University’s
Medical Center, MAACHE has information for parents and health care
providers on a variety of topics, including pediatric environmental
health.
http://www.gwu.edu/~macche/
(see “Information for Parents”)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA is the United States governmental agency that works to “protect
human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/lead.html
http://www.epa.gov/children/toxics.htm
Radon
Radon is a radioactive, odorless, colorless gas. It forms naturally
in the earth, and it can seep into buildings through cracks in foundations
and floors and through pipelines. Radon can also be found in building
materials like concrete and brick. Radon is most frequently found
in basements and ground-level rooms. Radon concentrations are also
higher in the winter when there is less ventilation inside. People
who are exposed to radon have a greater risk of developing lung
cancer later on, especially those who are also either smokers or
often exposed to second hand smoke. Thousands of people die each
year from radon-related lung cancer. Therefore, the EPA advises
that all homes and schools be tested for radon. The test is simple
and inexpensive. If your building has concentrations higher than
4pCi/L (pCi/L is a measure of radioactivity), you need to take action
to reduce the radon in the air. There are several ways to reduce
radon levels. The simplest include increasing ventilation through
windows and fans and sealing cracks and openings in buildings through
which radon can enter. See Build
Your Child's Defenses Against Harmful Substances, Home's
Your Haven-Make It Safe, and What's
in Your Child's School?.
US Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA is the United States governmental agency
that works to “protect human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/consguid.html#howenters
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/rnxlines.html
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/schoolrn.html
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association's mission is to prevent lung disease
and promote lung health.
http://www.lungusa.org/air/radon_factsheet99.html
Mercury
A metal that occurs naturally in the environment,
mercury is most often found in the following forms: methylmercury,
metallic mercury, mercurous chloride, and mercury vapors. Children
are at highest risk for mercury exposure from contaminated fish,
mercury brought home from the work place, and products that contain
mercury such as batteries and thermometers. While many exposures
to mercury happen from eating and drinking, mercury can also be
absorbed by breathing. Mercury is a liquid at room temperature
but vaporizes easily; in vapor form it is readily absorbed through
the lungs. If ingested, mercury can slow your child’s progress
in reaching developmental milestones, like walking and talking.
Mercury causes brain damage, including mental retardation, inability
to move, and speech impairments as well as lung, stomach, and intestinal
damage if mercury vapors are inhaled. Babies born to women exposed
to mercury during pregnancy may have severe brain damage or cerebral
palsy. Other effects of mercury exposure to a baby while it is
in the womb are potential blindness, involuntary muscle contractions
and seizures, muscle weakness, and inability to speak. See
Build Your
Child’s Defenses Against Harmful Substances, Home’s
Your Haven—Make It Safe, Don’t
Bring Pollutants Home From Work, At
the Market, Pick What’s Safe, and
Avoid Pollution
that Comes from Far Away.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR)
An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ATSDR
is a leader in studying the effects of hazardous substances in the
environment on public health.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts46.html
Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota’s Environmental Health Division has a web page dedicated
to frequently asked questions about children’s environmental
health, including mercury.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/children/faqs.html
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/fish/index.html
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Made up of experts in the fields of nursing, medicine, research,
and policy, the Network is a national multidisciplinary organization.
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/trainingmanual/manual-developmental.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA is the United States governmental agency that works to “protect
human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/children/toxics.htm
Ozone
The chemical reaction that takes place when sunlight comes in contact
with chemicals found in such things as car exhaust and industrial
pollution produces the gas ozone. This gas has been designated
ground-level ozone air pollution. Ground-level ozone air pollution
and stratospheric ozone depletion by chlorofluorocarbons are unrelated.
Children are at highest risk for exposure to ground-level ozone
from playing outside on warm, sunny days, especially in the mid-afternoon,
when most of these sun/chemical reactions take place. Inhalation
of ozone affects the functioning ability of lungs and the heart.
It can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest illnesses like
bronchitis and chronic cough. Ozone also increases the frequency
and severity of asthma attacks. Children are more vulnerable than
adults to the effects of ozone. Their airways are narrower than
those of adults. Also, they have markedly increased needs for oxygen
relative to their size. See Home’s
Your Haven—Make It Safe.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Made up of pediatricians in the United States, Canada, and Latin
America, the AAP is dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being
of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
http://www.aap.org/policy/04408.html
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Made up of experts in the fields of nursing, medicine, research,
and policy, the Network is a national multidisciplinary organization.
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/WhatisPEH.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA is the United States governmental agency that works to “protect
human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/ozone/index.html
Pesticides
Pesticides are used to control unwanted pests,
including insects, rodents, weeds, plant disease, and fungi. According
to George Washington University’s Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s
Health and the Environment, over 1 billion pounds of pesticides
are used each year in the United States alone as well as over 4
billion pounds worldwide. Children are at highest risk for exposure
to pesticides from use of pesticides in and around the home and
from food products that contain pesticides used during the agricultural
process. While many exposures to pesticides happen while children
are eating or when putting their hands in their mouths, they can
also breathe in pesticide fumes. Exposure to pesticides primarily
damages the nervous system, which includes the brain. Short-term,
intense exposure to pesticides is associated with headaches, blurred
vision, salivation, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps,
slow pulse, diarrhea, confusion, and weakness. Very intense exposure
to pesticides can cause paralysis, tremors or convulsions, loss
of consciousness, and death. Problems with respiration and the
immune system are also associated with exposure to pesticides.
See Build Your Child’s Defenses Against
Harmful Substances,Home’s Your
Haven—Make It Safe, At the Market,
Pick What’s Safe, What’s in
Your Child’s School?, and Avoid
Pollution that Comes from Far Away.
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Made up of experts in the fields of nursing, medicine, research,
and policy, the Network is a national multidisciplinary organization.
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/WhatisPEH.html
Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the
Environment (MACCHE)
Part of George Washington University’s
Medical Center, MAACHE has information for parents and health care
providers on a variety of topics, including pediatric environmental
health.
http://www.gwu.edu/~macche/
Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota’s Environmental Health Division has a web page dedicated
to frequently asked questions about children’s environmental
health, including pesticides.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/children/faqs.html
Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC)
According to its web site, “NRDC uses law, science, and the
support of more than 500,000 members nationwide to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment
for all living things.”
http://www.nrdc.org/health/farming/default.asp
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA is the United States governmental agency that works to “protect
human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/pest.htm
PCBs (short
for polychlorinated biphenyls)
PCBs are mixtures of individual chemicals that are no longer produced
in the United States but are still found in the environment. They
are either oily liquids or solids that are colorless or light yellow
and have no smell or taste. While manufacture of PCBs was stopped
in the United States in 1977, they are slow to break down. Children
are at highest risk for PCB exposure from old products that contain
PCBs (like old appliances and electrical equipment), contaminated
fish, and hazardous waste sites. Exposure to PCBs can cause brain
damage in children as well as a decreased immune system. Infants
born to women who were exposed to high levels of PCBs during pregnancy
suffer from lower birth weight, problems with motor skills, and
a decreased ability to fight infections. These infants then become
the children who are more at risk for lower IQs, hyperactivity,
decreased ability to pay attention, and learning disabilities.
See Build Your Child’s Defenses Against
Harmful Substances, At
the Market, Pick What’s Safe, and Avoid
Pollution that Comes from Far Away.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR)
An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ATSDR
is a leader in studying the effects of hazardous substances in the
environment on public health.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts17.html
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Made up of experts in the fields of nursing, medicine, research,
and policy, the Network is a national multidisciplinary organization.
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/trainingmanual/manual-developmental.html
Minnesota Department of Health
Minnesota’s Environmental Health Division has a web page dedicated
to frequently asked questions about children’s environmental
health, including PCBs.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/fish/index.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA is the United States governmental agency that works to “protect
human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/children/toxics.htm
Sun
While moderate sun exposure is healthy, being outside in the mid-afternoon
on an especially sunny day can be harmful to your child’s health.
During this time the sun’s rays are strongest, the UV Index is highest,
and the ozone levels are highest (previously mentioned in “Ozone”
section). People have the highest chance of getting a sunburn and
being exposed to the ultraviolet (UV)—the most dangerous—rays of
the sun. Aside from painful sunburns, over-exposure to the sun
during childhood can cause skin cancers later as an adult. Sun
over-exposure can also cause cataracts, premature wrinkles, and
suppression of the immune system. See Build
Your Child’s Defenses Against Harmful Substances and Home’s
Your Haven—Make It Safe.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA is the United States governmental agency that works to “protect
human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/puzzles/index.html
Tobacco smoke
Composed of more than 3,800 different chemical compounds, tobacco
smoke comes from products like cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Children
are at highest risk for exposure to tobacco smoke from being around
adults who smoke. The more a child is exposed to tobacco smoke,
the more the child gets sick and may require hospitalization. Some
serious illnesses include asthma, pneumonia, and even SIDS, as well
as an increase in likelihood of lung cancer and coronary heart disease
as an adult. A baby born to a woman who either smokes or is exposed
to smoke while pregnant is at risk for lower IQ, learning disorders,
impaired speech and language skills, and inability to pay attention.
They are also at an even higher risk for developing the serious
illnesses listed above. See Build
Your Child’s Defenses Against Harmful Substances, Home’s
Your Haven—Make It Safe and What’s
in Your Child’s School?
Children’s Environmental Health Network
Made up of experts in the fields of nursing, medicine, research,
and policy, the Network is a national multidisciplinary organization.
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/WhatisPEH.html
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/trainingmanual/manual-developmental.html
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Made up of pediatricians in the United States, Canada, and Latin
America, the AAP is dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being
of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
http://www.aap.org/policy/re9716.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA is the United States governmental agency that works to “protect
human health and safeguard the environment.”
http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/
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