Breathing 1,2-dichloroethane may also cause cancer in animals. Because of the cancer findings in animals we cannot rule out the possibility of cancer in humans. Children are at greater risk than adults from certain kinds of exposures to hazardous substances emitted from waste sites and emergency events. They are more likely to be exposed because they play outdoors and they often bring food into contaminated areas. They are shorter than adults, which means they breathe dust, soil, and heavy vapors close to the ground.
Children are also smaller, resulting in higher doses of chemical exposure per body weight.
The developing body systems of children can sustain permanent damage if toxic exposures occur during critical growth stages. Most importantly, children depend completely on adults for risk identification and management decisions, housing decisions, and access to medical care. Children may be exposed to 1,2-dichloroethane contamination from this well water both by drinking the water and inhalation of vapor during showering.