EPA

EPA states:
Physiological differences influence the amount of chemical absorbed into the body. Children have a greater surface area to body weight ratio than adults, which may lead to increased dermal absorption. Comparisons of absorption through the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract between children and adults are complex and could lead to either increased or decreased risk depending on the physicochemical properties of the toxic chemical. Become Toxic Awareness.

There are several interconnected factors that may contribute to increased
vulnerability for children, depending on the toxic substance under consideration and the age of the child. Children's tissues, organs, and biological systems are still developing, with several stages of rapid growth and development occurring from infancy to adolescence.

This rapid development and immaturity of body organs & systems predisposes children to potentially more severe consequences within certain age ranges and windows of vulnerability. Another factor that can influence a child's vulnerability is that circulatory flow rates are generally higher in children, which may increase a child's susceptibility to toxic effects.

A child is not an adult, but most toxicological data are based on occupational exposures for adults. More and more, scientists and doctors are discovering that there is a connection between toxic chemicals found in our households and chronic conditions such as attention deficit disorder (ADD), asthma, cancer, central nervous system (CNS) disorders, birth defects, infertility and others. Birth defects are the leading cause of death in children one to four years old. Cancer is the leading cause of death in children over the age of five. Asthma afflicts three times as many victims than just 20 years ago. And the number of children diagnosed with ADD runs in the millions, but according to Dr. Doris Rapp, as many as 2/3 of these cases may be environmentally related and removal of certain chemicals or a change in diet would show dramatic improvements...without the need for powerful narcotics.

It's important to repeat, again, that only 10% of the chemicals found in household products have been tested to determine their effect on the nervous system. And nothing is known about the effects of long-term exposure.

Allergies: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Question: Two years ago there was a chemical spill at my workplace, and many of my co-workers and I became ill immediately after the exposure. Since then, I haven't been the same. It feels like I can't think as clearly now, and I seem to be allergic to almost everything, including perfumes, cosmetics, detergents and household cleaning products. I heard about multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) on a radio talk show, and I think I am chemically sensitive. When I asked my doctor about MCS, he didn't have much to say about it. What can you tell me about multiple chemical sensitivity?

Answer: I can tell you that multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is something of a medical mystery. The medical community is divided over whether or not MCS actually exists.

Some physicians acknowledge MCS as a medical disorder that is triggered by exposures to chemicals in the environment, often beginning with a short term, severe chemical exposure (like a chemical spill) or with a longer term, small exposures (like a poorly ventilated office building). After the initial exposure, low levels of everyday chemicals such as those found in cosmetics, soaps, and newspaper inks can trigger physical reactions in MCS patients. These patients report a range of symptoms that often include headaches, rashes, asthma, depression, muscle and joint aches, fatigue, memory loss, and confusion.

Others in the medical community, however, do not accept MCS as a genuine medical disorder. The Centers for Disease Control, for example, do not recognize MCS as a clinical diagnosis. There is no official medical definition of MCS, partially because symptoms and chemical exposures are often unique and are widely varied between individuals. Some physicians are skeptical of concluding that low concentrations of the same chemicals that are tolerated by everyone else can cause dramatic symptoms in MCS patients. The American Medical Association denies that MCS is a clinical condition because conclusive scientific evidence is lacking.