Children's Health Concerns
Why Are Children More Susceptible To Toxic Chemicals?
A leader in promoting safe school site selection policies across the United States, the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ) outlines how children are especially vulnerable and should be protected from unnecessary exposure to chemicals:
Children are more susceptible to exposure from chemicals than adults. Because organ systems are still developing, children absorb, metabolize, detoxify, and excrete poisons differently from adults. Children eat, drink, breath, and have more skin exposure per pound of body weight than an adult; therefore, they consume and absorb more toxins relative to adults.
Normal activities heighten children’s vulnerability to environmental threats. Their natural curiosity, tendency to explore, and inclination to put their hands in their mouths often opens them to health risks adults readily avoid. Children’s longer remaining life span provides more time for environmentally induced diseases to develop. Exposure to carcinogens during childhood, as opposed to adulthood, is of particular concern since cancer can take decades to develop. In many cases, even the experts don’t know how seriously a child may be affected.
The Precautionary Principle states that when we have a reasonable suspicion of harm and scientific uncertainty about cause and effect, then we have a duty to take action to prevent harm. This is particularly the case when children are involved.