Protecting Kids from Environmental Exposure

Girl drinking out of public water fountain with text - Environmental exposure questions? Expert answers.

Children’s rapid development from before they are born through early childhood makes them more vulnerable to environmental exposures. Contact the experts at your nearest Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) to learn how to protect your child from exposure to health hazards in the environment.

What do these situations have in common?

You are renovating an older home. While you are sanding window frames, some paint dust and chips fall on the floor. Your toddler puts them in his mouth.
You live near an abandoned old factory. Your child loves playing in the dirt—and you have caught her eating mud pies.
You enjoy gardening and use pesticides to protect your garden. However, you are pregnant and wonder if pesticide exposure could harm your unborn child.

If you guessed that in each situation, children are exposed to harmful substances in their environments, you are right!