CHILDREN's SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CHEMICALS: A REVIEW BY DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE

Abstract

Concerns about adequate protection of children's health from chemicals in the environment have created a need for research to identify how children's risks differ from adults'. A systematic review of factors that affect child sensitivity throughout development may be useful for research and practice in this area. We summarized available literature and other peer-reviewed information on factors that affect pharmacokinetics and exposure in an age-based developmental framework. Biological processes related to chemical absorption (gastrointestinal, dermal, and pulmonary), distribution, metabolism, and excretion were considered, along with reference to behaviors and other factors associated with child-specific exposures. The available information was summarized in a timeline of maturation for biological processes. It indicates variability in the duration and timing of maturation for each biological function. Possible implications for understanding pediatric sensitivity to environmental chemicals are discussed in light of factors affecting exposure through development. Themes that emerge from the evidence are presented as hypothesis-generating conclusions. This approach may be useful for evaluating developmental trends of susceptibility, and for identifying time periods and/or chemical classes of particular concern and thus important to consider in risk assessment.

Multimycotoxin analysis in urines to assess infant exposure: A case study in Cameroon

“…Children are uniquely vulnerable to environmental toxicants because of their greater relative exposure, less developed metabolism, and higher rates of cell division, growth, and development (Makri et al, 2004). The environmental insults of childhood may manifest themselves over a lifetime of growth to adulthood and senescence.…”

In vitroinhibition of plasma and brain cholinesterases of growing chicks by chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos

“…There are public health concerns that youngsters are at higher risk of being affected by pesticides (Davis & Ahmed 1998;Bellinger 2007). The bases of these are found to be associated with age-related differences in absorption, metabolism and excretion of the pesticide (Johnson 2003;Ginsberg et al 2004;Makri et al 2004;Moser 2011).…”

“…These concerns are based on age-related differences in toxicant absorption, metabolism and excretion as well as on pesticide chemical formulation and the target tissue or enzyme sensitivity (Mortensen et al 1998a(Mortensen et al ,1998bJohnson 2003;Ginsberg et al 2004;Makri et al 2004;Kousba et al 2007;Moser 2011).…”

Assessing exposure of young children to common endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the home environment: a review and commentary of the questionnaire-based approach

“…Within the home, infants and toddlers occupy different microenvironments than Brought to you by | University of Queensland -UQ Library Authenticated Download Date | 7/21/15 5:17 AM adults, which may lead to different pathways and durations of exposure (112,113). Young children exhibit frequent hand and object-to-mouth behaviour (78), whereas certain play activities may lead to increased non-dietary EDC exposure (12,77,114,115). Toys in themselves can be an important source of exposure to some EDCs (99,100).…”

“…The less-varied diet of young children -compared with adults and older children -and their relatively larger food intake may lead to greater or different EDC exposures (77,78). In infants, their diet is even more restricted, often to a singular source.…”