Exposure

Children face an array of complex environmental health threats. They are more susceptible than adults to harmful health effects from some chemicals, including pesticides, because of their activities, and because their small, developing bodies are more sensitive to toxic stress. Several factors may contribute to increased vulnerability of children to pesticides. The rapid development and immaturity of their body organs and systems makes them more susceptible than adults to toxic effects of any chemicals. For example, children’s tissues may absorb chemicals more readily and be less able to break them down, and their organ systems may be less effective at passing some chemicals out of the body. USEPA has made a special commitment to ensure that all children are protected against harm from pesticides and other chemicals.

The exposure of children to pesticides around their homes, and in public areas such as schools, playgrounds or day care centers, has been recognized as an important and inadequately understood problem. In conducting a 1993 review of potential risks due to pesticides in the diets of children, the National Research Council (NRC) determined that children, including infants, might be at greater risk than adults from harmful effects that pesticides can cause. Potential effects of pesticides on people of any age include central nervous system damage, cancer and respiratory illness. In addition, based on the NRC report and under the Food Quality Protection Act , USEPA has taken steps to ensure that necessary additional testing will be undertaken to assess any special vulnerability of children to pesticide effects on development, the immune system, the reproductive system and the visual system.