Protect Your Child From Environmental Health Risks

Why is your child at greater risk? Your child’s body is still growing inside. Your child’s body is still growing inside. Your child takes in more air, liquids and food per pound than you. Your child takes in more air, liquids and food per pound than you. Your child’s behavior exposes her to different environmental threats. Your child’s behavior exposes her to different environmental threats.

Your child’s changing body - At birth, your baby’s nervous, respiratory, reproductive and immune systems are not fully developed. At birth, your baby’s nervous, respiratory, reproductive and immune systems are not fully developed. Exposure to environmental risks can affect development. Exposure to environmental risks can affect development. Your child is more vulnerable to toxins and microbes than you. Your child is more vulnerable to toxins and microbes than you.

What your child takes in - Your child breathes in more air per pound of weight than you. Your child breathes in more air per pound of weight than you. Your child takes in more food and liquid per pound of weight than you. Your child takes in more food and liquid per pound of weight than you. This causes your child to ingest more pollutants, making her more susceptible to toxins. This causes your child to ingest more pollutants, making her more susceptible to toxins.

Your child’s behavior - Your child spends more time on the ground or floor, exposing her to toxins in dust, soil & carpet. Your child spends more time on the ground or floor, exposing her to toxins in dust, soil & carpet. She engages in a lot of hand-to-mouth contact. She engages in a lot of hand-to-mouth contact. She spends more time outdoors, which increases her exposure to outdoor pollutants. She spends more time outdoors, which increases her exposure to outdoor pollutants.

Lead Poisoning You can not see, smell or taste lead. It can be around without you knowing. You can not see, smell or taste lead. It can be around without you knowing. Lead can be in dust, paint, soil, drinking water or food. Lead can be in dust, paint, soil, drinking water or food. Your child can consume lead when: Your child can consume lead when: –Crawling on the floor. –Playing in dirt around the home. –Putting toys in his mouth.

Lead Poisoning Effects Lead poisoning can cause: Lead poisoning can cause: –Decreases in IQ –Reading and learning disabilities –Impaired hearing –Hyperactivity –Decreased growth –Brain damage

How to protect your child Have your home tested if it was built before Have your home tested if it was built before Test your child’s blood lead level. Test your child’s blood lead level. Keep your home clean and dust free. Keep your home clean and dust free.

How to protect your child Have your water tested for lead. Have your water tested for lead. –Do not use hot water for drinking or formula. –Run the cold water 60 seconds before use. Feed your child iron and calcium rich foods. Feed your child iron and calcium rich foods.

Pesticides Pesticides are used to prevent & kill pests. Pesticides are used to prevent & kill pests. Your child is at risk if she crawls and plays on pesticide sprayed floors and lawns. Your child is at risk if she crawls and plays on pesticide sprayed floors and lawns. Your child may put things that have touched pesticides into her mouth. Your child may put things that have touched pesticides into her mouth. Your child may eat fresh produce that has been sprayed for pests. Your child may eat fresh produce that has been sprayed for pests.

Effects of Pesticides Poisoning Poisoning Birth defects Birth defects Nerve damage Nerve damage Cancer Cancer Allergies and asthma Allergies and asthma

How to protect your child Try something besides pesticides before using chemicals. Try something besides pesticides before using chemicals. Store pesticides in the original container in a locked cabinet or shed. Store pesticides in the original container in a locked cabinet or shed. Read the label and follow directions. Read the label and follow directions. Buy limited quantities & give away excess. Buy limited quantities & give away excess. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

Toxic Household Chemicals Toxic household chemicals include normal items such as bleach, lighter fluid, oven cleaner, batteries, mercury thermometers, shoe polish and gasoline. Toxic household chemicals include normal items such as bleach, lighter fluid, oven cleaner, batteries, mercury thermometers, shoe polish and gasoline. Your child may be poisoned if he eats or drinks these household chemicals. Your child may be poisoned if he eats or drinks these household chemicals.

Effects of Toxic Household Chemicals Toxic substances may: Toxic substances may: –Burn skin or eyes. –Make your child sick to his stomach. –Cause itching. Long-term exposure can: Long-term exposure can: –Slow your child’s growth. –Damage his lungs. –Cause cancer.

How to protect your child Try safe products such as a plunger or vinegar before you use chemicals. Try safe products such as a plunger or vinegar before you use chemicals. Store chemicals out of the reach of your child. Store chemicals out of the reach of your child.

How to protect your child Follow label directions. Follow label directions. Keep the Poison Control Center number near the telephone. Keep the Poison Control Center number near the telephone. Never burn or dump leftover chemicals on your property. Never burn or dump leftover chemicals on your property.

Polluted Water & Contaminated Fish Polluted water poses risks to your child when she drinks unfiltered water or swims in polluted lakes or streams. Polluted water poses risks to your child when she drinks unfiltered water or swims in polluted lakes or streams. Infants are most at risk because: Infants are most at risk because: –They drink more fluids per pound of weight. –Their immune system is still developing. Freshwater fish may be contaminated with mercury, which can be harmful. Freshwater fish may be contaminated with mercury, which can be harmful.

Effects on Your Child Bacteria and viruses may cause upset stomach, diarrhea or more serious illness. Bacteria and viruses may cause upset stomach, diarrhea or more serious illness. Nitrates in drinking water affect an infant’s ability to absorb oxygen. Nitrates in drinking water affect an infant’s ability to absorb oxygen. Eating fish contaminated with mercury or PCBs may threaten a child’s developing nervous system. Eating fish contaminated with mercury or PCBs may threaten a child’s developing nervous system.

How to protect your child Have your well tested once a year. Have your well tested once a year. Keep chemicals away from the well. Keep chemicals away from the well. Read carefully the annual water quality report from your public water system. Read carefully the annual water quality report from your public water system.

How to protect your child Properly maintain home water treatment systems. Properly maintain home water treatment systems. Do not feed children freshwater fish if there is an advisory. Do not feed children freshwater fish if there is an advisory. Always follow swim advisories. Always follow swim advisories.

Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas from combustion appliances and car exhaust. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas from combustion appliances and car exhaust. Appliances that are not hooked up or working right may produce CO. Appliances that are not hooked up or working right may produce CO. Children are at higher risk from CO. Children are at higher risk from CO. Fetuses are especially at risk. Fetuses are especially at risk.

Effects of Carbon Monoxide Headache Headache Dizziness Dizziness Weakness Weakness Nausea Nausea Vomiting Vomiting Coma Coma Possible death Possible death

How to protect your child Have a professional check furnace flues, fuel-burning appliances and chimneys once a year. Have a professional check furnace flues, fuel-burning appliances and chimneys once a year. Do not use burners or gas ovens for heat. Do not use burners or gas ovens for heat.

How to protect your child Do not use unvented gas or kerosene heaters where your child sleeps. Do not use unvented gas or kerosene heaters where your child sleeps. Do not idle cars or mowers in the garage. Do not idle cars or mowers in the garage. Install a carbon monoxide alarm near your child’s room. Install a carbon monoxide alarm near your child’s room.

Asbestos Asbestos fibers are dangerous when breathed in. Asbestos fibers are dangerous when breathed in. Asbestos fibers cannot be removed from the lungs once they are inhaled. Asbestos fibers cannot be removed from the lungs once they are inhaled. Asbestos was used in manufactured goods until the 1970’s. Asbestos was used in manufactured goods until the 1970’s. Asbestos is often found in schools. Asbestos is often found in schools.

Effects of Asbestos Known to cause cancer. Known to cause cancer. Continuing exposure increases the risk of developing cancer. Continuing exposure increases the risk of developing cancer.

How to protect your child Consider having your home tested if it was built before 1980 and you suspect asbestos. Consider having your home tested if it was built before 1980 and you suspect asbestos. Hire a certified contractor to remove deteriorating asbestos from your home. Hire a certified contractor to remove deteriorating asbestos from your home. Do not allow your child to play in areas where you suspect asbestos is present. Do not allow your child to play in areas where you suspect asbestos is present. Talk to school officials to find out if there is asbestos in your child’s school. Talk to school officials to find out if there is asbestos in your child’s school.

Asthma from Air Pollution Asthma is the leading chronic illness in children in the United States. Asthma is the leading chronic illness in children in the United States. Outdoor air pollution triggers include ozone, plant pollen, and mold spores. Outdoor air pollution triggers include ozone, plant pollen, and mold spores. Indoor air pollution triggers include: Indoor air pollution triggers include: –Pets kept indoors. –Damp basements. –Cockroaches.

Effects of Asthma Asthma causes airways to narrow which makes it more difficult to breathe. Asthma causes airways to narrow which makes it more difficult to breathe. Asthma deaths are on the rise in children. Asthma deaths are on the rise in children. Exposure to air pollutants can trigger or worsen asthma attacks. Exposure to air pollutants can trigger or worsen asthma attacks.

How to protect your child Keep your child indoors during ozone level alerts or high pollen count alerts. Keep your child indoors during ozone level alerts or high pollen count alerts. Clean carpets and floors often. Clean carpets and floors often. Keep animals outside or out of bedrooms. Keep animals outside or out of bedrooms.

How to protect your child Vent combustion appliances outdoors. Vent combustion appliances outdoors. Control moisture in your home. Control moisture in your home. Ban smoking in the home and car. Ban smoking in the home and car.

Radon Radon gas is made when radium decays. Radon gas is made when radium decays. It enters the home though cracks in the foundation or porous blocks or walls. It enters the home though cracks in the foundation or porous blocks or walls. Radon levels vary across the country. Radon levels vary across the country. It is estimated that 17 to 25% of Kentucky homes have high radon levels. It is estimated that 17 to 25% of Kentucky homes have high radon levels.

Effects of Radon Inhalation of radon causes increased rates of lung cancer. Inhalation of radon causes increased rates of lung cancer. Children who play in basements are most at risk because levels are usually higher there. Children who play in basements are most at risk because levels are usually higher there. Cigarette smoking multiplies the risk of radon-induced lung cancer. Cigarette smoking multiplies the risk of radon-induced lung cancer.

How to protect your child Test your home with a home test kit or have it tested by a professional. Test your home with a home test kit or have it tested by a professional. Seal cracks in the foundation and increase ventilation. Seal cracks in the foundation and increase ventilation. Ban smoking in the home if radon is found. Ban smoking in the home if radon is found. Do not let children spend much time in the basement. Do not let children spend much time in the basement.

Tobacco Smoke Tobacco smoke can impact the health of everyone exposed, especially children. Tobacco smoke can impact the health of everyone exposed, especially children. Smoking indoors or in cars increases the level of exposure. Smoking indoors or in cars increases the level of exposure.

Effects of Tobacco Smoke Frequent exposure increases your child’s risk for: Frequent exposure increases your child’s risk for: –Acute or chronic respiratory conditions. –Bronchitis or pneumonia. –Ear infections. –Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

How to protect your child Do not smoke in your home or car, or around your child. Do not smoke in your home or car, or around your child. If someone smokes indoors, open windows or use exhaust fans. If someone smokes indoors, open windows or use exhaust fans. Talk to your teenagers about the dangers of smoking. Talk to your teenagers about the dangers of smoking.

Getting Too Much Sun Too much exposure to the sun may be dangerous for your child. Too much exposure to the sun may be dangerous for your child. Severe sunburns increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Severe sunburns increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. A fair skinned child with red or blond hair and blue, green or gray eyes is most at risk. A fair skinned child with red or blond hair and blue, green or gray eyes is most at risk.

Effects of Too Much Sun Increased risk of skin cancer later in life. Increased risk of skin cancer later in life. Damage to your child’s immune system. Damage to your child’s immune system. Eye damage and an increased risk of cataracts. Eye damage and an increased risk of cataracts.

How to protect your child Keep infants under 6 months of age out of the sun. Keep infants under 6 months of age out of the sun. Use sunscreen on children over 6 months. Use sunscreen on children over 6 months. Limit your child’s time in the midday sun. Limit your child’s time in the midday sun. Encourage your child to wear sunglasses and a hat with a broad brim. Encourage your child to wear sunglasses and a hat with a broad brim. Warn teenagers about tanning beds. Warn teenagers about tanning beds.