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Environmental Health for Children

Tuesday, 1 December 2009 19:00 By Joel Kreisberg, DC, MA - Vol. 9, No. 4. , 2008

When it comes to environmental toxins, children are especially vulnerable. A large and growing number of children are suffering from environmental health problems, and parents feel an urgent need for help with this.

One survey of parents found that environmental concerns topped a list of 40 common worries, yet it is one of the subjects least often addressed by pediatricians (Kilpatrick N, et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2002 Aug; 110(8): 823–827).

Today’s children are living in vastly more complicated environments than previous generations. Marked increases in chemical production, distribution and use over the last decades have led to a situation in which over 70,000 chemicals are now in use in the United States, though little is known about their long term impacts on our children (Schaefer M. Environ Health Perspect. 1994; 102(Suppl 2): 155–156).

What is known clearly is that lead, mercury, air pollution and pesticides, as well as other contaminants, are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, respiratory illnesses, immune dysfunction and cancer (Rosen LD, Imus D. Explore. 2007; 3(5): 524–528). Children are particularly vulnerable in the neonatal, preschool and adolescent stages of development.

“Children are not just ‘Little Adults’ when it comes to environmental exposure,” as is so clearly stated in the Children’s Environmental Health Network’s An Introduction to Children’s Environmental Health (www.cehn.org). Pound for pound, kids consume more food and water and breathe more air than adults, magnifying their exposure to environmental chemicals. By nature, children live and play closer to sources of toxin exposure: floors, carpets, and soil.

Prevention is key for protecting children, and education is essential for prevention. Teleosis Institute, the sustainable healthcare organization I founded, highly recommends the Pediatric Environmental Toolkit offered by Physicians for Social Responsibility (www.psr.org). The Toolkit offers user-friendly clinical tools as well as educational materials for preventing exposures to the most common chemicals found in homes, schoolyards and public places.

In your practice, try to incorporate the taking of environmental health histories, and learn the most common environmental risks for each age group. The most common toxin exposures for children are cigarette smoke, mercury in fish, home/garden pesticides, and chemicals used on pets. If parents are exposed to toxic chemicals at work, their work clothes may have an adverse impact on their kids. In general, soles of shoes are the most common carriers of toxins into a home, so it makes a lot of sense to remove shoes before entering the house.

The Greater Boston chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility publishes an excellent guide entitled, “Out of Harm’s Way: Preventing Threats to Child Development,” that contains a lot of practical tips on how to reduce children’s exposure to environmental toxins. Here are a few tips you can share with patients (the full report is available at www.igc.org/psr):

Reduce Risks from Pesticides

  • Peel or wash fruits and vegetables.
  • When possible, buy organic foods grown without pesticides.
  • Do not use pesticides on children. Check shampoos, soaps and lotions for toxic ingredients (the Environmental Working Group has compiled an index of common chemical culprits that can be found at www.ewg.org/chemindex/list).
  • Use non-toxic methods for trapping unwanted household pests.
  • Do not use pesticides on pets. Eliminate ticks and fleas by cleaning and brushing your pet regularly.

Reduce Risks from Lead

  • Test children’s blood to determine lead levels, especially if they live in a house built before 1960.
  • Have house paint checked for lead (local public health or environmental health agencies can usually provide these tests). Remove, cover or seal lead paint.
  • Do not use candles, hair dyes, pottery or any other products labeled as containing lead.
  • Avoid lead in drinking water by running water for a minute or two before drinking. Always use cold water for drinking or baby formula.
  • Have soil in the yard tested for lead. Do not grow vegetables, or let children play in soil testing positive for lead.

Reducing Risks from Mercury

  • Consume minimal amounts of high-mercury fish like swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and fresh tuna.
  • Use digital rather than mercury thermometers. Do not throw out your mercury thermometers. Call your City or County Health Department to find out how to safely dispose of mercury.

Reducing Risks from Toxic Household Products

  • Avoid cleaning products such as antibacterial soaps, bleach, ammonia and air fresheners which often contain toxic ingredients.
  • Use cleaning products that contain non-toxic ingredients or make your own cleaning solutions using baking soda or vinegar.
  • Use scrubbing pads and brushes to eliminate the need for toxic cleaners.

There’s much more to green medicine and improving children’s environmental health than just worrying about toxic chemicals. Teach families about the importance of clean air and water, the benefits of sunlight and exercise, and the pleasures of a healthy, natural food diet. Parents desperately want this information, and as a healthcare practitioner you have great opportunities to help create a healthier and safer future for the families in your community.

Other Resources

Joel Kreisberg, DC, a chiropractor and clinical homeopath, is Founder and Executive Director of the Teleosis Institute, a non-profit organization in Berkeley, CA, dedicated to educating health professionals about the principles of ecologically sustainable medicine. Dr. Kreisberg maintains a private practice in Homeopathy and Holistic Healthcare in Berkeley, California.

 

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