Children are in a dynamic state of growth and their central nervous, immune, reproductive and digestive systems are still developing. Hence their ability to detoxify and excrete toxins differs from that of adults. Exposure to environmental toxicants during windows of vulnerability can irreversibly damage the normal development of organs and systems. Young children breathe faster, and eat and drink more in proportion to their body weight than adults. Consequently, children absorb more toxicants contained in air, water or food, which makes them more vulnerable to acute and chronic effects of environmental hazards.
Children spend more time outdoors than adults and their life takes place close to the ground.
All these behaviours are characteristic of early childhood and increase a child's exposure to environmental hazards. Finally, children are exposed to toxicants at an early age and for prolonged periods of time. Therefore, they have more time to develop diseases with long latency periods such as cancer.