Children face unique Health Risks Essays

Children face unique Health Risks Essays Children face unique Health Risks Paper Children face unique Health Risks Paper Essay Topic: Unique Because of their physiology, children face certain health risks that adults do not, and have been found to be particularly at risk to health dangers from exposure to pesticide residues in food. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, governmental agencies and independent organizations conducted studies on chemical pesticide toxicities. In 1996 the EPA began testing of all pesticides on the market to specifically determine their risk levels for children. Many pesticides have already been banned because of their propensity for causing cancer, birth defects, and neurological disorders in children and infants. Because there is conflicting information in the media about which chemicals are dangerous and to what degree, parents must be wise about the measures they take to protect their own children. Using only organically grown produce and refraining from the use of any pesticide products in ones own garden and lawn are two of the most important ways parents can protect their childre! n. Introduction Children face unique health risks because of their physiological differences with adults. Unfortunately, it is easy for adults to forget this fact. According to scientists Lawrie Mott of the Natural Resources Defense Council, pesticides are one of the five worst environmental threats to our nations children (Dumanoski, p. 46). Indeed, the recent increases in cases of childhood cancer (brain and leukemia are the most common forms in children), birth defects, and learning disorders are serious causes for alarm. Can any of these disorders be proven to be caused by pesticide residues? Of all health risks to children, pesticide use is certainly one that seems to have garnered much attention from researchers and the media. Unfortunately for consumers, there are so many conflicting opinions and information that it is difficult to determine the true dangers, how much of what will cause which medical problems? Children are exposed to so many dangers, such as falls and accidents, these are challenges that have a clear link between cause and effect (Partridge, p. 71). On the other hand, pesticide use does not. There are so many factors involved, including the thousands of chemical pesticides on the market, concentration levels of those pesticides, and the ages at which children are exposed to specific pesticides. There are no absolutes. Even the few chemicals that have been proven to cause health risks offer no definitive information about the severity of potential damage. It is most difficult to determine risk factors without human experimentation, and that is considered by many people to be unethical. Parents need assistance weeding through all the information available on pesticide dangers in order to determine how to protect their children. In recent years, many federal agencies and legislators, as well as nonprofit groups, have become involved in the issue. Actress and mother Meryl Streep and other Connecticut mothers founded Mothers Others for a Livable Planet in the late 1980s in response to the National Resources Defense Councils (NRDC) report Intolerable Risk: Pesticides in Our Childrens Food. The study examined data on the eating habits of American children and the pesticide levels in 27 different food crops, relating this information to rates of cancer and other diseases in children. Eight of the pesticides studied were found to be carcinogens. Scientists determined that a child was four times more likely to be exposed to these specific carcinogens as was an adult, because of the childs eating habits and the fact that the tolerance levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were based on someone with the body weight of an average grown man. This would mean that children could potentially be ingesting high enough levels of chemical pesticides to be harmful to their health. Because of Mothers Others and similar consumer organizations, public awareness of environmental toxins and synthetic growth hormones in our food has risen, and sales of organic food products have increased. The Intolerable Risks study reported that in some cases, depending upon the age of the child and other factors such as body mass, even brief exposures to certain toxins can cause damage to the development or function of an organ system. The report recommended that the EPA set new tolerance levels for pesticide use on food products, keeping in mind the differences between children and adults as well as health considerations. In response, the EPA announced in 1995 a new national health policy under which all future EPA risk assessments (such as those dealing with toxins in food) would consider threats to children and infants. One year later, Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act, which stated that infants and children need additional protection against exposure to pesticides; it requires testing of all pesticides to determine their effects on children. Under this law, unless tests prove that there is reasonable certainty of no harm (Heubner and Chilton, PG), no pesticide residue is allowed on any food product. The EPA has estimated that it will take approximately 10 years to re-evaluate all of the tens of thousands of chemical pesticide compounds that are currently on the market. Even though pesticide companies have tested products on human volunteers for decades, the EPA will not utilize the findings of such studies in its determinations of legal pesticide limits (Reuters, PG). In 1996 the EPA released its Environmental Health Threats to Children report, which had several purposes. Among them was to provide recommendations for funding for comprehensive studies on environmental health risks to children. The agency recommended that research be done for the first time on the cumulative effects of exposure, rather than simply studying the possible effects of singular chemical exposures, as had historically been done. It makes sense. Most children are exposed to many more than one chemical by age five. The 1996 report affirmed that because children are still growing, children breathe more air, eat more food, and drink more liquids per body mass than do most adults. Furthermore, they are more vulnerable to toxin exposures because their organs and immune systems are still developing; this is especially true for infants. Likewise, infants are often exposed to things that older children arent because they crawl around on floors, tend to put objects into their mouths, and suck on thumbs or fingers that may have been exposed to toxins such as pesticides or other chemicals on grass, carpet, or in soil. Additionally, children consume more fruit, like grapes and apples; applesauce; and fruit juices than do adults. In 1997 the EPA conducted a conference on Preventable Causes of Cancer in children, in order to examine the possibility of a link between cancer in children and environmental toxins. Although death rates from cancer have decreased recently due to better treatment methods having been developed, the incidences of cancer in children have risen. It was determined that the incidence of cancer in children has increased since the 1970s from 12. 8 cases per 100 children to 13. 6 cases per 100. Cancer is the third leading causes of death in children between the ages of one and four, accounting for approximately eight percent of all deaths in that age group. In the five to 14 age group, the disease is the second leading cause of death, and accounts for approximately 12 percent of all deaths. About 1500 children die each year from various forms of cancer. Many pesticides have been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals, and thus are dangerous to children. It is believed that leukemia, a cancer of the immune system, may be caused by toxic exposures to chemicals during pregnancy (Dumanoski, p. 48). As the childs immune system matures during the first two years of life, the leukemia develops. Many birth defects are also linked to pesticide residue. Birth defects account for about 11 percent of all deaths in the one to four age group, and about five percent of all deaths in the five to 14 age group. The link between pesticides and birth defects can be illustrated by a study by the University of Minnesota Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Pathology, which determined that the rates of genital and urinary tract birth defects in the children of Minnesota farmers and other families living in the states farming communities are particularly high where specific pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are used. Researchers were stunned to discover that children conceived in the spring, when the use of these chemicals is higher than in any other season, tended to have higher rates of birth defects (Dumanoski, p. 47). Childrens brains and immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems take years to fully develop. The potential for infertility can occur with just a single exposure to a dangerous chemical. This can even occur through a chemicals passage from mother to infant in the womb. Over time, toxic substances a womans body has accumulated are stored in her fat cells. Therefore, even toxins she has been exposed to pre-pregnancy can cross the placenta to the fetus. In 1998 the U. S. Department of Agriculture performed tests on thousands of domestic and imported fruits and vegetables for pesticide residues. The produce samples used for the study consisted of a combination of fresh and processed items. The highest levels of residue were found in apples, cantaloupes, grapes, green beans, peaches, pears, spinach, strawberries, and winter squash. Pediatrician and author Philip J. Landrigan, M. D. is the director of the environmental risk study panel of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D. C. His panel recently confirmed that pesticide testing does not take into account the special vulnerability (Joyce, PG) of children and infants. The panel has not determined that there is evidence of pesticides causing childhood diseases, only that there is a necessity for changing the way pesticides used on food crops are measured. According to Landrigan, less than half of the 75,000 synthetic chemicals now on the market have undergone testing for toxicity; of those that have, few of them have been tested specifically for toxicity in children (Dumanoski, p. 47). A long-time advocate of childrens health, Dr. Landrigan was recently instrumental in establishing a special EPA Office of Childrens Health Protection. As of June 2000, the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports magazine has become involved in the pesticide issue, and has urged the federal government to require greater precautions in treating food crops with pesticides on behalf of Americas children. Consumers Union has reported that there are approximately 20 specific chemicals that are to blame for most of the toxic residues found in our food. One of these is chlorphyrifos, which the EPA has recently banned because of its potential for causing blurred vision, memory loss and other neurological deficiencies. Two of the most common brand names for chlorphyrifos are Dursban and Lorsban. These pesticides are commonly found in apples grown in New Zealand, grapes grown in Chile, tomatoes grown in Mexico, and soybeans grown in the United States. The chlorphyrifos products are among the most widely used pesticides (Hebert, PG), and they will likely stay on store shelves until the end of 2001. Its use has already been completely banned on fruits and vegetables, but will still be allowed on some grains and other crops. Another recently banned agricultural chemical is Captan, a fungicide that has been proven to be a carcinogen. Captan has been banned by the EPA for use on 42 different food crops. It is hoped that, as a result of the more intensive testing required by the 1996 food safety law, more of these dangerous chemical pesticides will be banned in the near future by the EPA. In a June 2000 report, the Consumers Union encouraged consumers to take special precautions in feeding fresh produce to their children, revealing that many pesticides banned by the EPA as far back as the 1970s are still showing up in some food products today. One of these is the chemical dieldrin, which remains in soil for long periods of time. The National Agricultural Chemicals Association has announced that it will take the recommendations of all the involved agencies and organizations very seriously, and will take whatever actions are necessary to make the food safety system in the United States better for children (Joyce, PG). Heubner and Chilton posit that some of the policies regarding food production could be more harmful than helpful by bringing about other risks. For example, reducing the amounts of pesticides used on fruits and vegetables has been proven to lower crop outputs. This means less food, a decreased variety of food, greater costs for farmers, higher prices for consumers, and a potential for increased rates of incidence of natural toxins and carcinogens. Indeed, many plants produce their own poisons to ward off insects and other pests. These can also be dangerous to human health, but it is only the man-made chemical pesticides that are currently being studied for their negative effects. Perhaps a better option is utilizing nonchemical synthetic pesticides that are less dangerous to our health. The infamous Intolerable Risks report did not discuss potential exposures to natural toxins, nor did it compare the risks of pesticides to the benefits of a varied and plentiful food supply (Heubner and Chilton, PG). Perhaps what this country needs is the ability to put environmental risks in context with other risks to childrens health. Certainly, environmental contaminants are not one of the top risks to the health of our children. Scientists are attributing childhood cancer, birth defects, asthma, and other disorders to environmental toxins when there is sometimes no concrete and definitive proof. There are many other factors that could contribute to health problems in children, including poor diets, increased exposure to tobacco smoke, and poor prenatal care. All of these are lifestyle issues, and the lifestyles of American people can certainly be considered to be at least contributors to some childhood ailments. For example, approximately five million of the 15 million Americans who have asthma are children. Even though air quality is reported to have improved since 1970, asthma rates have doubled since that time. Asthma deaths have increased by 40 percent since 1982. These increased rates of incidence and death can be attributed, at least partially, to lifestyle changes. Children spend more time indoors than they used to, which exposes them to more tobacco smoke, cockroach allergens, and other indoor pollutants. The fact is, we dont know why asthma is becoming more prevalent†¦ (Heubner and Chilton, PG), but to blame it entirely on environmental toxins is hardly fair. The same could be true for cancer and birth defects. As a nation, perhaps we should spend less time worrying about environmental effects on children and more time dealing with social problems that are undeniable risks to children drugs, gunshot wounds, etc. There is so much conflicting information in the media about pesticide toxicity, that consumers have a difficult time determining what is the truth. For example, in 1989 the EPA called for a gradual phasing out of the user of Alar, the brand name of the Uniroyal Chemical Companys apple growth enhancement chemical daminozicle. Alar was used by apple orchards to regulate apple growth, so that farmers could harvest them all at once. Subsequent to the EPA action, a 60 Minutes segment on Alar use led to a nationwide boycott of apples, resulting in a complete withdrawal of Alar from the market. Alar had been pointed out in the Intolerable Risks report as a possible carcinogen. In fact, the NRDC determined that Alar was likely to cause at least one case of cancer in every 4,200 children under the age of five who were exposed to the chemical. In 1999, however, the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) determined that there has never been any scientific, definitive proof that Alar causes human disease, and that in order to develop any negative effects from Alar residue on apples, one would have to consumer gallons of juice made from apples grown with the chemical, per day, for a long period of days. Therefore, the risk is now thought to be minimal. With so much conflicting information available through both the media and governmental agencies, how can parents know how best to protect their children? Firstly, experts warn parents not to stop feeding their children fruits and vegetables. These foods contain important nutrients for growing bodies. There are several ways that parents can protect their children from pesticides in food. The consumer organization Environmental Working Group recommends that parents demand that their supermarkets carry fresh locally produced fruits and vegetables. Produce grown locally is less likely to have high exposure to chemicals, because they dont need preservatives to stay fresh for transport across the country. Other options include buying organic or pesticide-free produce, or growing ones own pesticide-free produce at home. All product should be carefully washed before being eaten. If a fruit or vegetable has a waxy buildup on the outside, it should either be peeled or washed with a drop of mild soap before being given to children. Children can also be exposed to pesticides while playing in their own backyards. The National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides suggests that parents avoid using chemical lawn products, and water their lawns less frequently but for longer periods of time. This practice will allow grass to grow stronger with the ability to crowd out weeds (Gould, p. 145). Not all of these suggestions will work for every familys lifestyle. Parents should review the available information and make informed decisions that make sense to them. Additionally, there are plenty of materials on the market that can offer further information to consumers on reducing their risks of pesticide exposure. Gould recommends the book Raising Children Toxic Free: How to Keep Your Child Safe From Lead, Asbestos, Pesticides and Other Environmental Hazards, by Herbert L. Needleman, M. D. and Philip J. Landrigan, M. D. Organizations such as the Childrens Environmental Health Network and the EPA offer free information on environmental health hazards to children. What about environmental issues besides pesticide use that can affect the health of Americas children? The EPA has pledged to consistently and explicitly consider children when assessing environmental hazards (Dumanoski, p. 51) in the future for example, hazards in air and water quality. Pesticide use is really only a drop in the bucket. American lifestyles are causing many of the medical problems suffered by children in this country. **Bibliography** Bibliography Dumanoski, D. Childs Plague: Its Dangerous to be a Kid in a Polluted World, Sierra. 21 November 1997. Volume 82, p. 46-52. Gould, J. Keeping our Children Safe: What You Can Do to Protect Them from Hazards in the Air They Breathe, the Foods They Eat, and More, Good Housekeeping. 1 October 1996. Volume 223, p. 145-147. Hebert, H. J. EPA to Ban Common Pesticide, AP Online. 8 June 2000. www. elibrary. com [November 18, 2000]. Huebner, S. ; Chilton, K. Overplaying Environmental Threats to Children, Consumers Research Magazine. 1 April 1998. Volume 82. www. elibrary. com [November 18, 2000]. Joyce, C. Scientists Concerned About Pesticide Effects on Kids, All Things Considered (NPR). 28 June 1993. www. elibrary. com [November 18, 2000]. Krasnow, I. Militant Mothers, Taking up Issues That Matter, The Washington Post. 2 November 2000, p. C4. Partridge, K. Choose Your Poison, Todays Parent. 1 September 1999. Volume 16, p. 69-74. Toufexis, A. Watch Those Vegetables, Ma; Pesticide-Laden Produce May Endanger Your Tots, Time. 6 March 1989, p. 57. Author Not Available. Pesticide Residues Seen Too High in Childrens Food, Reuters Business Report. 7 June 2000. www. elibrary. com [November 18, 2000].