part 2: chemicals, kids and cancer

Part 2: Chemicals, Kids and Cancer: why kids are particularly vulnerable to toxic home chemicals by Peter Dingle PhD

Kids’ Behaviour

Aside from the physiological and biochemical reasons behind children’s increased susceptibility to toxins, there are behavioural, cultural and sociological reasons as to why they are more at risk. Increased exposure of infants and kids occurs through both their food consumption and respiration. Kilogram for kilogram of body weight, children drink more fluids, eat more food and breathe more air than adults. Children aged one to five years for example, eat three to four times more food per kilogram than the average adult. The types of food they eat also increase their exposure. In the first five to seven years of life, a child’s diet is very limited. One study in the US estimated that children between one and five years of age consumed six times the amount of fruit consumed by women aged 22 - 30, and 18 times more apple and apple products, including juices and purees. More recent estimates from studies in the US suggest that the intake of apples by infants expressed as a ratio of body weight may be up to 20 times higher than that for adults. These consumption rates mean that young children face a greater risk from residues such as pesticides and fungicides in fresh produce than do adults. This highlights the need to feed our kids as much organic and biodynamic produce as possible.

Young children’s play behaviour can be a potential source of exposure to toxic substances. Mouthing, whereby hands and objects are put into the mouth (an exploratory behaviour of the young called PICA), has been shown to lead to significant ingestion of soil and dust. One study found average daily estimates of soil consumed by kids ranged from 25.3 to 81.3 mg/day, and reported that this was consistent with results from other studies. This dramatically increases their risk of exposure to heavy metals and pesticides in the soil. This doesn’t mean that you stop your children from playing outside. It does mean you shouldn’t use any pesticides or toxic chemicals in the garden. Other behaviour such as crawling and playing close to the ground can also contribute to higher exposure to many chemical as this is where many of the chemicals actually accumulate. Children’s tendency to play around cars while the engine is running really highlights this. More than 4000 chemicals spew from the exhaust pipes of cars. I often see kids playing around the car while parents are saying their farewells. For kids, who are closer to exhaust pipe height, it’s a toxic game.

Kids also don’t have the experience or know how to reduce their exposure. Unlike adults who can relate a chemical smell to making them sick or causing an allergic reaction, young children have too little experienced to make the connection and often lack the necessary verbal skills. So they will continue to expose themselves to more of the toxin. We, as adults and parents, must provide the protection of a safe environment. And children are easily influenced by the conditioning of media advertising to use toxic chemicals such as deodorant spray cans or perfumes. Or to consume more junk foods with toxic food additives in them.

Research is proving the toxicity of these chemicals. Many studies, including some of our own research and other Australian studies, show that the higher the use of chemicals in the home, including cleaning chemicals, the use of spray cans and pesticides, the higher the incidence of childhood disease, such as asthma and allergies. In a few years when the research is complete, it will also show an increase in children’s and adult’s cancer rates. It is also worth noting that thousands of kids are poisoned by domestic chemicals every year. Some of them are permanently damaged. Some children die. The fewer toxic chemicals you bring into the home the safer it is for your children and you.

What can YOU do? * Set a goal to reduce the amount of synthetic chemicals you have and use in the home by 50% over the next month. When you achieved this, review your chemical use again, and see if you can reduce it further. * Use safer more environmentally friendly chemicals * Use high quality, genuine fibre technology for cleaning. * Don’t use spray cans - they are major air pollutants. Just read the warning on the back of the can to see how toxic they are. * Use non toxic baits and traps for pests instead of toxic pesticides. * Do not believe the pest control company when they tell you their product is safe. They are not and they are actually not allowed to say they are safe. * Don’t paint the new baby’s room. * Don’t put child care centres on busy roads. * Do not believe the advertisements on TV that tell you will be better off using synthetic chemicals. You won’t be but they will make a lot of money out of you. * Ban spray cans from your child’s school. * Don’t allow people to smoke around children.

For more information on reducing chemicals in your home, visit http://www.drdingle.com