Childhood Vulnerability to Toxins
Early infancy and childhood are critical windows of vulnerability from exposure to toxins.
In just two years, a human being grows from a single cell to a laughing, crawling baby who is learning to walk and talk. The rapidly growing and changing infant has critical periods of development when even small amounts of a toxic substance can have a very serious, lifelong effect. Windows of vulnerability for brain development occur in the first two years of life. During these times, a small dose of a particular toxin may be more devastating than a much larger dose at a later stage.
Toxins known to poison the environment over a long period of time and accumulate in the food chain may be especially harmful to children. They include PCBs, mercury, lead, pesticides and some flame retardants. These toxins are stored in fat or bone and can stay in the body for a lifetime. Exposure during infancy can cause cancer and other immune system disorders as well as brain and nervous system damage.
Research shows that persistent, bioaccumlative toxins may have health consequences over more than one lifetime when women of childbearing age are exposed.
A global effort is underway to reduce the amount of these toxins in the environment. Urge your U.S. representatives to support this effort.