During the past 50 years, more than 85,000 industrial chemicals have been registered in the United States alone. The US is not alone as countries around the world including Canada and the United Kingdom face the same issues. Many of these chemicals have found their way into children’s environments: in the food they eat, the water they drink, the air they breathe and the products to which they are exposed. Some children may even be exposed to them while still in the womb. Alarmingly, the majority of these chemicals are largely unstudied and unregulated until proof of harm is already established. With their still developing bodies and high metabolic rate, children are the most vulnerable to their effects. Exposure to these carcinogens by children is widespread, and the harmful effect on their still developing bodies is a cause of concern for parents worldwide.
Children are exposed to chemicals, toxins and other carcinogens in many ways:
- A mother’s breast milk can be contaminated with toxins that are inconsequential to adults but are a detriment to an infant’s health
- Drinking water can often contain pharmaceuticals and farming pesticides
- The ingredients of baby food may have been grown or treated using pesticides and other agricultural chemicals
- Common household products (cleaners, personal care products, carpet and flame retardant found in furniture) can all be dangerous to a child’s health
- Children’s toys may be manufactured with the use dangerous chemicals
- Diesel exhaust and other manufacturing byproducts pollute the air supply of children