Children at risk from chemical exposures
Nearly 30% of children around the world experience negative health effects from environmental causes, according to a series of reports from the International Programme on Chemical Safety published by the World Health Organization.
A group of international experts produced the reports, Principles for Evaluating Health Risks in Children Associated with Exposure to Chemicals (PDF size: 3.2 MB), which were released online last month. In addition to "traditional" threats, such as unsafe drinking water and vector-borne diseases, children—especially those living in poverty—now face emerging hazards from chemical exposures. The authors outline methods for assessing these exposures and characterizing the risks. They also emphasize the importance of taking into account specific life-stage exposures, particularly when translating toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics from adults to children.
