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Unique Dangers: Why Children are Especially Susceptible

Before birth, the fetus undergoes a delicate process of development. If the fetus comes into contact with industrial chemicals during this period of growth, it can have devastating effects on the child’s development, disrupting normal organ function, or even causing death. Many environmental toxins can easily cross the placenta, gaining access to fetal circulation and exposing the developing fetus to harmful substances. Because many organ systems are still developing during the first few years of life, a child’s organs lack the capacity to repair fetal tissue damage inflicted by toxins. For example, in utero exposure to heavy metals such as lead and mercury can disrupt fetal brain development, while exposure to organic solvents during development can lead to structural birth defects, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, memory deficits, or reduced IQ.

Pound for pound of body weight, children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air than adults. The respiratory rate of an infant is double that of an adult and, for their size, young children eat about four times more food than adults, increasing the likelihood of exposure to pollutants. Children’s behavior also augments their exposure to environmental toxins. Children explore their world by putting things in their mouths, playing outside, and crawling on the ground, where pesticide residues accumulate and toxic heavy metal dust settles.

Cultural, economic, racial, and religious factors play a large role in children’s exposure as well. Poorly maintained housing, combined with limited access to healthcare, may encourage toxin-related health problems. Another concern is “environmental racism,” or the intentional placement of polluting industries in communities predominantly populated by African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and the working poor. According to 2005 surveillance data from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the prevalence of asthma is significantly higher for African-American and Latino children than for Caucasian children. The link between socioeconomic position and pollutant-related illness among children is clear.