Although the Venus figures date from the late Paleolithic era, this view of women did not change much in the next 20,000 years. With the approaching millennium, however, the field of health research has begun to consider women apart from their children or prospective progeny. Reflecting this shift in viewpoint, funds for research on the environmental health of women have now become available. The report marshaled the evidence that children are more vulnerable to the effects of environmental agents. Because of physiologic reasons, as well as age-related behaviors, children's exposures tend to be higher and may also be more toxic.
Children tend to metabolize compounds faster but detoxify more slowly.
Differences in body size and composition also affect levels of toxicity. In addition, there are critical windows of time in children's lives when vulnerability to the adverse effects of exposure is increased, most notably during dynamic periods of growth and development. A few points are presented here to indicate the scope and significance of these differences. In the United States, women typically spend more time in their homes and neighborhood environments than men do, potentially increasing their exposures to such toxic agents as indoor and outdoor pesticides, as well as pollution and ultraviolet radiation. Women have more body fat than men and may store more fat-soluble toxic material, even when exposed to the same amount as men.