Plastic toys, pajamas, baby bottles, shampoos, household cleaners — these are all items most families have and use without a second thought. Unfortunately, many of these everyday products can expose children to harmful toxicants during their early years. In the United States, the systems meant to protect our youngest and most vulnerable from such chemicals are falling short, leaving their health and future at risk.
From before birth through their early years, children are particularly susceptible to hazardous chemicals, due both to their developing bodies and to behaviors that increase exposure. Factors such as higher metabolic rates, developing organs, and greater consumption of air, food, and water relative to body size make them more vulnerable.
Additionally, children often engage in activities like playing on the ground and putting objects in their mouths, which can lead to higher levels of exposure.
Inadequate regulation & its consequences
Protecting children from environmental hazards is crucial not only for their immediate health but also for their long-term development and well-being. Proactive measures to ensure that children grow up in safe and healthy environments can prevent chronic diseases, developmental disorders, and other health issues.
Lack of effective regulation of toxicants in the US poses significant risks to public health. Agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) face political pressure, insufficient funding, and bureaucratic challenges that delay the regulation of harmful substances. The federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was updated in 2016 in an effort to improve regulation of chemicals in the US, but weaknesses in the regulatory structure remain.
This ineffective regulatory response has resulted in rising rates of many chronic health conditions, as well as intergenerational impacts. Comprehensive reforms and increased transparency are essential to prioritize public health and strengthen oversight of toxicants.
Expert insights & legislative challenges
The implications of these inadequate safeguards were explored by the Consortium for Children’s Environmental Health in a recently published article in The New England Journal of Medicine entitled “Manufactured Chemicals and Children’s Health — The Need for New Law.” This group of 25 leading experts in children’s environmental health said it best: “A revamping of law and restructuring of the chemical industry are required.”
In an interview, co-author Dr. Ken Geiser argued that for the past 25 years, the government has not taken sufficient action to protect children — or the population in general — from hazardous chemicals. He also noted that many of these chemicals simply don’t need to be used.
“Limited testing is required of new chemicals that come to the market. It really is hostile to the precautionary principle, which is that you should act with caution about risks even when there is not yet totally solid scientific information.”
Unfortunately, the current administration is unlikely to make progress in this area. In fact, given plans to weaken the EPA (including potential layoffs of over 1,000 scientists), many current policies will likely be eroded. Geiser predicts that efforts to strengthen TSCA implementation are unlikely at this time, and that regulations having to do with food quality, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals may either be repealed or not fully enforced.
The urgency of reform
Given recent deregulatory steps — EPA recently announced plans to scale back 31 rules controlling pollution — odds of further repeals of other environmental protection measures are high.
Meanwhile, environmental health scientists tell us our children are not being protected as they deserve. The New England Journal of Medicine article describes this as a global crisis, noting that no part of this planet is uncontaminated. Hazardous chemicals are found in all species, all humans, and many, many products — including the plastic toy your child might be chewing on every day.
Ensuring a safe and healthy environment for future generations requires immediate and substantial changes in how we control harmful chemicals. Despite current trends in the opposite direction, strengthening chemical law benefits us all — and is worth fighting for.