The American people strongly support tough environmental standards that protect children's health. Policymakers need to take a stand on the issue of children's environmental health. Here are important facts and some questions to help citizens and candidates determine where they stand on these issues. For this reason, exposure to environmental toxicants can disrupt normal development and cause permanent damage. Children often cannot metabolize, detoxify, or excrete toxins as well as adults.
Children crawl on the ground and put their hands, fingers, and objects in their mouths.
This normal behavior greatly increases the possibility of exposures through ingestion and contact with dusts and toxicants. A wide variety of chemicals and agents can cross the placenta and permanently damage the developing fetus. Children are exposed to indoor and outdoor air pollutants including air particulates, ozone, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and environmental tobacco smoke. 12 Almost 2 million pre-school children in the U.S. are at risk for exposure to lead. 13 Children are exposed to pesticides through food and water, household and garden use, and school and building maintenance.