Their bodies and internal organs are undergoing rapid growth and exposure to toxic substances can result in impaired development and compromised immune systems. Children's immature bodies are less able to detoxify substances. Children are exposed to more environmental threats . Compared to adults, they eat proportionately more food, drink more fluids, breathe more air, and play outside more. As a result, they ingest more pollutants per pound of body weight than adults.
Children are least able to protect themselves.
While they have a natural curiosity and tendency to explore and greater fearlessness, they are not able to make informed decisions as to their activities and, as a consequence, put themselves at greater health risk. Children have a longer life expectancy. Therefore, they have more time to develop chronic diseases that might be triggered by early environmental exposures. Early childhood exposure to certain carcinogens or toxicants may be more likely to lead to disease than the same exposures experienced later in life. Recognizing children's vulnerability to environmental health threats and the need for improved research and protection, President Clinton issued an Executive Order in 1997 encouraging Federal Agencies to ensure their policies consider disproportionate risks to children that result from environmental health and safety risks.