Why Are Children at Greater Risk?

Reporter: Wendy Mesley; Producer: Gaelyne Leslie; Researcher: Louisa Jaslow

Dr. Gideon Koren is a pediatrician at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
Koren says young children are especially vulnerable, partly because of exposure. Everything goes in their mouths and they virtually live on the floor:

1. Their body systems and organs are not fully developed (developing organs are more sensitive to environmental toxicants): a newborn baby has the “framework” for the structures that control respiration, heartbeat, reflexes and bone growth but the organ development continues for 10 – 15 years.

2. Neurological development is ongoing during childhood, with very crucial stages occurring during pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.

3.The way in which, and extent to which they metabolize chemicals are very different than in adults.

4.They exhibit behaviours that increase their contact with chemical toxicants (closer to the floor, i.e. their breathing zone is different, hand to mouth activity, time spent indoors, play).

Gasping For Breath

Ever gasp for breath after using a cleaning agent, or worry about your toddler exploring under the sink? The average home contains 150 different cleaning products. Most are classified as hazardous waste, and they are expensive too!

Consumers looking to save money on their home budgets are in luck today. Several groups of cleaning products offer not only savings but a healthier environment for you and your family. Greener products perform as well or better than more toxic brands and can cost less per load than familiar name brands.

Getting Started

The easiest way to start is to buy one of the greener detergent products that states that it is environmentally friendly.

Help Keep the Environment Clean

Before it is all said and done, all of your water ends up back where it starts - and often that is nearby lakes and rivers.
Chlorine is harmful to the immune and reproductive systems. If every household removed just one 64 oz. bottle of bleach from their laundry rooms, millions of pounds of chlorine could be held from entering the environment.

Laundry detergents that are low in phosphates help keep our lakes and rivers clean!
Many toxins bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of animals through the food chain. Keeping as many chemicals out of the environment promotes a healthier life for us all.