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We're exposed to hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals every day. Know how to protect toxins' softest target: children.
Why children are more vulnerable
Kids' rapid growth and faster metabolisms mean they take in more food, water and air relative to their body weight than adults do. They also take in more pollutants, proportionally. Children's organ systems are still developing, and exposure to environmental toxins during these early stages can interfere with this. Their bodies also don’t neutralise and excrete most toxins well.
Kids spend more time near the ground, and are thus at greater risk of exposure to toxic dust particles and chemicals that tend to gather on floors and in soils. Small children frequently put their hands and other objects in their mouths, along with toxins picked up from surfaces.
How to protect them...
Make your home 100% smoke-free, and keep kids away from smoky environments.
Teach frequent hand-washing, especially before eating. Discourage children from putting dirty fingers in their mouths and noses. It’s better kids don’t wander around with food as they tend to put it down on dirty surfaces and then back in their mouths.
Don’t swop dirt for toxins. It really is possible to keep your home clean using fewer, less toxic cleaning products. A good rule of thumb: if it’s better for the environment, it’s better for you too. Make more use of hot (just boiled is best) water and steam cleaners. The sun is also a potent disinfectant, so let it shine in, and expose cleaning sponges, cloths etc. to it regularly. Microwaving moist sponges on high for 2-4 minutes also disinfects them.
Pesticides don’t harm just pests. Pesticides are far more likely to pose a health threat than the average household insect. Instead of reaching for a can of Armageddon, consider other options: mosquito nets, and keeping your house scrupulously clean of food debris.
Keep the bad stuff outside. Shoe-soles bring dirt and toxins from the outdoor urban environment onto floors where children play, so slip off the shoes indoors. Control dust and debris levels, and keep play areas and toys clean.
Playing on grass is generally better than soil or dusty surfaces. Plant bare patches in the garden to anchor soil and help dilute toxins. Keep kids away from busy roads and industrial areas whenever possible; avoid these environments too if you’re pregnant. When choosing a new home or school, pollution levels in the area and its proximity to industry should feature in your decision.
What about plastic? Plastics are so ubiquitous that it's impractical and often unnecessary to try to avoid them. It’s better to avoid heating food or drinks in plastic containers though. When heated, some plastics leach toxins that may contribute to problems like reproductive and hormonal disorders and cancer in the long term. Plastic water bottles are fine, and fine to re-use a few times, but don’t wash them in very hot water, as this might cause some breakdown of the material.
A nutritious diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and low-fat dairy helps prevent toxins from being absorbed into the body, and strengthens your child’s immune system. Certain toxins build up in fatty animal tissues, so cut down on high-fat animal foodstuffs. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products, remove fat from meat and choose lean cuts. You can provide more of your children's protein needs by substituting grains, pulses and nuts. Processed foods are generally less nutritious and more likely to contain unhealthy additives.
Not only do we live in a polluted world, we deliberately apply more toxins to our homes and bodies with commercial cleaning and grooming products. Next up: how to “lighten the chemical load".
Why children are more vulnerable
Kids' rapid growth and faster metabolisms mean they take in more food, water and air relative to their body weight than adults do. They also take in more pollutants, proportionally. Children's organ systems are still developing, and exposure to environmental toxins during these early stages can interfere with this. Their bodies also don’t neutralise and excrete most toxins well.
Kids spend more time near the ground, and are thus at greater risk of exposure to toxic dust particles and chemicals that tend to gather on floors and in soils. Small children frequently put their hands and other objects in their mouths, along with toxins picked up from surfaces.
How to protect them...
Make your home 100% smoke-free, and keep kids away from smoky environments.
Teach frequent hand-washing, especially before eating. Discourage children from putting dirty fingers in their mouths and noses. It’s better kids don’t wander around with food as they tend to put it down on dirty surfaces and then back in their mouths.
Don’t swop dirt for toxins. It really is possible to keep your home clean using fewer, less toxic cleaning products. A good rule of thumb: if it’s better for the environment, it’s better for you too. Make more use of hot (just boiled is best) water and steam cleaners. The sun is also a potent disinfectant, so let it shine in, and expose cleaning sponges, cloths etc. to it regularly. Microwaving moist sponges on high for 2-4 minutes also disinfects them.
Pesticides don’t harm just pests. Pesticides are far more likely to pose a health threat than the average household insect. Instead of reaching for a can of Armageddon, consider other options: mosquito nets, and keeping your house scrupulously clean of food debris.
Keep the bad stuff outside. Shoe-soles bring dirt and toxins from the outdoor urban environment onto floors where children play, so slip off the shoes indoors. Control dust and debris levels, and keep play areas and toys clean.
Playing on grass is generally better than soil or dusty surfaces. Plant bare patches in the garden to anchor soil and help dilute toxins. Keep kids away from busy roads and industrial areas whenever possible; avoid these environments too if you’re pregnant. When choosing a new home or school, pollution levels in the area and its proximity to industry should feature in your decision.
What about plastic? Plastics are so ubiquitous that it's impractical and often unnecessary to try to avoid them. It’s better to avoid heating food or drinks in plastic containers though. When heated, some plastics leach toxins that may contribute to problems like reproductive and hormonal disorders and cancer in the long term. Plastic water bottles are fine, and fine to re-use a few times, but don’t wash them in very hot water, as this might cause some breakdown of the material.
A nutritious diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and low-fat dairy helps prevent toxins from being absorbed into the body, and strengthens your child’s immune system. Certain toxins build up in fatty animal tissues, so cut down on high-fat animal foodstuffs. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products, remove fat from meat and choose lean cuts. You can provide more of your children's protein needs by substituting grains, pulses and nuts. Processed foods are generally less nutritious and more likely to contain unhealthy additives.
Not only do we live in a polluted world, we deliberately apply more toxins to our homes and bodies with commercial cleaning and grooming products. Next up: how to “lighten the chemical load".
