Child Health and the Environment

November 2, 2008

I attended an excellent workshop at the Ontario Early Years Centre this week. The presenter was Caroline Brown, an educator and consultant on child heath and the environment. The subject of the workshop was Child Health and the Environment. Her presentation was basically two-fold. First, why children are uniquely vulnerable to environmental hazards and secondly, what one can do to reduce them.

I was vaguely aware of many of the points which she presented, but some facts were surprising to me. Recently, I had been patting myself on the back for having significantly reduced the number of chemicals in our home. However, it became quite obvious to me after the first few minutes of the workshop that I had only began to skim the surface of reducing chemicals in my home.

As a mother you would drive yourself completely crazy were you to try and reduce every single harmful product from your family, but this workshop certainly made me think a little more about ways I can try and reduce harmful substances in my home.

Some of the reasons children are uniquely vulnerable include such reasons as their physiology, their behaviour (e.g. lying on the floor to play, putting everything and anything into their mouths) and lifespan (e.g. still have most of their life ahead of them).

I often wondered to myself why many chemical cleaners and personal care items are approved by regulatory bodies if they are so harmful. Ms. Brown explained that many of these products have safe levels were they to be the only products we are exposed to. The issue is the cumulative effect of the numerous products we bring into our homes, as well as reactions caused by certain chemicals being mixed together. Makes sense …

She shared with us information from a publication of the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment, entitled “Child Health and the Environment: A Primer”. Here are some of the points which were surprising to me:

• Children spend over 80% of their time indoors and indoor dust should be treated as an environmental contaminant which should be removed (as contaminants can be tracked in from outside on our shoes). Apparently, one of the best things you can do to reduce contaminants in your home is frequent dusting and vacuuming.
• Foods high in animal-fat contain higher levels of persistent organic pollutants, i.e. higher % of fat in milk, butter, cheese and meat could result in higher levels of toxic substances in our bodies.
• Phthalates are chemicals that are used to soften polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic). They are found in soft vinyl products such as children’s toys and packaging. There is evidence of health risks associated with these chemicals and the European Union banned phthalates in children’s toys in 2005. Soft vinyl toys should not be given to younger children. Don’t microwave in plastic containers - even those designed for the microwave and alternatives should be sought to vinyl shower curtains and backbags - e.g. fabric. I knew about not microwaving in plastic - but I had no idea about the other points.
• Children who swim frequently can be exposed to high levels of disinfection by-products (from heavy chlorination of swimming pool water).
• You should avoid burning candles in your home as by-products of combustion include carbon monoxide, VOC’s polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and soot.

So, while I know I cannot reduce every single contaminant in my family’s home here are a few things on my to-do list:

• Stop wearing my outdoor shoes in the house. Even when I’ve forgotten something upstairs
• Start buying more organic products where I can - for starters I plan to start buying organic homo milk and apples as these items are heavily consumed in my house.
• Throw out my son’s vinyl bath toys. I haven’t had the heart to toss my son’s beloved “bath guys” yet.
• Buy glass storage containers for food.
• Toss my Pampered Chef microwave containers. Although, how I love them so.
• Buy fabric shower curtains.
• Stop feeling guilty that I never get to take the baby swimming at the pool like we did with his older brother. Turns out I’ve been doing him a favour.
• Think twice before burning candles.

The book I mentioned above (Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment, entitled “Child Health and the Environment: A Primer”) can be downloaded for free on the CPCHE’s website and is a fantastic resource. It is definitely worth a read. You’ll read things you already knew, but you may find a few ways to reduce chemical contaminants in your home.

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