Children are even more suseptable to toxic chemicals than adults. Their bodies are sill developing and many toxins, particularly hormone disruptors can interfere with normal development. Also, their bodies are not as effecient as adults at eliminating toxins and they take in a greater percentage of chemicals per pound of body weight than adults making it particularly important that we protect them from toxic chemicals as much as possible.
Researchers are now looking at how stress changes the effects of toxic chemicals in children. "There is growing evidence that stress may influence one or more of the same physiological pathways as certain chemical toxicants, potentially including oxidative stress, proinflammatory immune function, and autonomic disruption." Chemical exposure combined with stress can exaserbate the body's response or make them more suseptable to illness.
These studies mostly talks about environmental pollutants such as lead and air pollution, but it makes sense that similar correlations could be found between stress and pollutants in personal care products, household cleaners, and other indoor pollutants.
Studies like this are a reminder of the importance of protecting children from pollutants and toxins and of allowing them to grow up in stress-free environments. Both can have big impacts upon their future health.
For more information read: Stress-Pollution Interactions: An Emerging Issue in Children's Health Research
Comments
Leave a comment