How are children exposed to chemicals?
Chemicals can enter children’s bodies through their skin, the air they breathe, and what they eat and drink.
We all come into contact with chemicals every day. Many human-made chemicals have useful properties and are often found in fabrics (including clothing, furniture, and carpeting), plastic items, food, and water. Other contaminants are naturally occurring and are often found in our everyday surroundings.
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Why test for lead and other metals?
It is very important to reduce children's exposure to lead. Early childhood exposure to lead is strongly linked to permanent cognitive issues and behavioral difficulties, even at very low levels of exposure. While there is a ban on lead in paint and gasoline, lead is still allowed in piping and plumbing used for drinking and cooking water.
Other metals, such as arsenic, chromium, and manganese, can occur naturally or can get into your home from human activities. Metals can be found throughout a child's environment, including in drinking water, food, household dust, soil, and toys. Metals have a wide range of negative effects on children's brains and physical health. Some metals in water are normal and can even be beneficial, but at high concentrations can impact health. This is known as hormesis, a biological response mechanism where low-dose amounts of environmental agents have a beneficial effect and high-dose amounts can be toxic. Click here for more info.
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Why test for forever chemicals?
Forever chemicals are human-made chemicals that do not easily break down in the environment or in the human body. They are also called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
These chemicals have very useful properties—they repel grease, oil, and water. Unfortunately, that means they are often found in everyday items like food packaging, carpeting, clothing, and furniture. Forever chemicals can also be found in food and drinking water.
Scientists are still investigating the health effects of forever chemicals in children, although results suggest they can impact early brain development and can increase the risk of cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and reduced immune responses.
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Why test for flame retardants?
Flame retardants are human-made chemicals that make materials harder to burn or catch on fire. They are commonly used in plastics, children's sleepwear, furniture, car seats and seatbelts, and household appliances.
Exposure to flame retardants has been linked to ADHD, other attention-related behavioral difficulties, and impaired executive function (working memory, self-control, and flexible thinking skills).
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Why test for cigarette smoke?
An estimated 17% of North Carolina adults smoke. Children can experience both secondhand smoke (exposure to active smoking) and thirdhand smoke (smoke residue on toys, carpets, and furniture).
Growing evidence suggests that exposure to cigarette smoke is associated with cognitive and behavioral issues, and attention problems associated with ADHD.