Growing children are more sensitive than adults to the effects chemicals have on the human body. Here's why:

• Behavior: Children are more prone to put objects or their hands in their mouths. They are also closer to the floor/ ground where toxins may accumulate in the carpet or pesticides may lurk in the grass. Thus, children are more exposed than adults.
  
  
• Smaller body size: Pound for pound children eat more food, breathe more air, and drink more water/ fluids than adults, leading to a higher dose of potentially harmful chemicals.
  
  
• Developing immune system: Children's bodies are less able to metabolize and process harmful chemicals. Also, if a child is exposed to a certain chemical at a vital stage of development, there could be lasting effects.

You can keep your child's world healthier. Here are some tips:

• Check out Non-toxic Nursery for ways to create a healthier home environment for babies and children.
  
  
• Choose solid wood or cloth toys whenever possible, avoiding harmful formaldehyde glues that may be in pressed wood products and phthalates and lead which could be in pvc plastics. If purchasing plastic, be sure it is free of phthalates, lead, and bisphenol-A (BPA).
  
  
• Refer to healthystuff.org to check for heavy metals and other chemicals of concern in your child’s car seat, toy, or backpack.
  
  
• Sign up to receive advance notification of pesticide sprays at your child's school. Read Pesticide in Schools to learn more.
  
  
• Check out School Supplies Go Green for resources on non-toxic lunchboxes, backpacks, and more.
  
  
• Read labels of all your child's personal care products. Opt for the USDA Organic Seal whenever possible. Avoid children's make-up as it often contains numerous harmful ingredients. Avoid DBP and other phthalates in nail polish. Our Top 5 Personal Care Ingredients to Avoid chart will help you to know what to watch out for.
  
  
• Explore the information on the other green living pages and know that any of the tips provided are even more important for children.
  
  
  
  

LMG Articles of Interest - Healthy Living Library

• Fresh Air? (PVC bath toys), Spring 08
• Bill Seeks to Protect Michigan Children from Dangerous Pesticide, Spring 08
• New Car Smell, Fall 07
• Michigan House Votes to Get (More) Lead Out, Fall 07
• Pesticides and ADHD, Spring 07
• Green Gifts for Everyone on Your List, Winter 06
• Lead for Lunch? Winter 06
• Wash Your Hands!, Winter 05
• Protect Your Little Campers, Winter 05
• You’re Right to Register, Fall 04
• Safer Science Labs, Fall 04
• Mercury Thermometer Replacement, Fall 04
• Science Students Clean Up, Fall 04
• Bill to Strengthen School Pesticide Law Passes Senate, March 04
• Peaches, Peanuts, Potatoes: Poison Traps?, December 03
• Organic is Beneficial, August 03
• Hazardous Inheritance, August 03
  
  
  

Links

• Center for Children's Health and the Environment
• Child Proofing Our Communities
• Children's Environmental Health Institute
• East Michigan Environmental Action Council
• Healthy Child, Healthy World
• Healthy Stuff
• Michigan Network for Children's Environmental Health
  
  
  

Videos

• The Price of Pollution
• Nursery: Bottles and Bedding
• Nursery: Skin Care
• Nursery: Cleaning and Painting