Chemicals and Chemical Products: A Growing Concern for Children’s Health
In a recent report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a group of experts from the Consortium for Children’s Environmental Health has highlighted the urgent need for nations to start testing and regulating chemicals and chemical products more rigorously. The experts warn that without proper oversight, the rising rates of chronic illnesses among children could continue to escalate.
The global chemical inventories currently contain an estimated 350,000 products, including manufactured chemicals, chemical mixtures, and plastics. Despite the known risks of environmental pollution and human exposure, the regulations surrounding the manufacture of synthetic chemicals and plastics are insufficient. The authors of the report, which include epidemiologists, environmental law scholars, and biologists, are calling for new laws that prioritize health protection over the unchecked production of chemicals and plastics.
Under the proposed new laws, chemicals would no longer be presumed harmless until proven otherwise. Instead, manufacturers would be required to conduct rigorous, independent premarket testing to demonstrate that their products are not toxic at anticipated levels of exposure. Additionally, chemical manufacturers and brands would need to monitor their products post-market, similar to the monitoring process for prescription drugs, to evaluate any long-term negative health effects.
The report is the result of a two-year project by a group of independent scientists from prestigious scientific institutions in the U.S. and Europe. The goal of the project is to address the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in children, which are currently the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Research has shown a link between multiple NCDs in children and exposure to synthetic chemicals.
The authors of the report highlight the alarming rise in NCDs among children in recent decades, including increased incidence of childhood cancer, male reproductive birth defects, neurodevelopmental disorders, pediatric asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. They emphasize that many of these conditions are linked to the production and exposure to synthetic chemicals and plastics.
To protect children from the dangers of chemicals, the authors recommend a fundamental overhaul of current chemical laws and industry practices. This includes implementing new laws that require safety and toxicity testing before chemicals can enter the market, mandated chemical footprinting, development of safer chemicals and manufacturing processes, and policy reforms at both national and global levels.
Lead author Dr. Philip Landrigan of Boston College’s Observatory on Planetary Health warns that pollution from synthetic chemicals and plastics is a significant global challenge that is worsening rapidly. He stresses the urgent need for action to safeguard children’s health and prevent further harm to humanity’s reproductive capacity.
The report concludes with a call to action for governments, industries, and policymakers to prioritize children’s health over the unrestricted production of synthetic chemicals and plastics. By implementing stricter regulations and adopting a precautionary approach, we can protect our children and future generations from the harmful effects of chemical exposure.
For more information, you can access the full report titled “Manufactured Chemicals and Children’s Health: The Need for New Law” in the New England Journal of Medicine.
