Environmental Contaminants And Its Effects On Children

The number and prevalence of known or suspected carcinogens is growing. Many environmental contaminants are manufactured synthetic chemicals; waste and by-products of industrial processes; chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals used in farming and for landscaping; chemicals used in other commercial activities; combustion by-products of petroleum-powered engines; water disinfection/chlorination by-products; and both man-made and natural sources of radiation (Reuben 16).

Following the industrial revolution, societies across the world began to notice strange effects on individuals throughout certain local communities. Though toxicology was a relatively new and rudimentary practice at the time, scientists were able to trace these effects back to chemicals being exposed to industrial workers, their families, and nearby neighborhoods. Unfortunately, industry in the United States continued to expand with little regard for the effects on human health. As a result from this expansion the amount of chemicals released into the atmosphere skyrocketed continuously all the way to present day society. However, as industry expanded so did scientific technology, the understanding of chemicals, their exposure

The above research shows that endocrine disruptors may pose the greatest risk during prenatal and early postnatal development when organ and neural systems are developing. Additionally, the consequences in animals linked to early exposure may not be apparent until later in life, but EDC’s can affect subfertility, premature reproductive senescence, and cancer. These issues are our greatest concern, and alternative precautionary strategies must be adopted, which including seeking to eliminate or minimize unnecessary risks to the fetus, even in the absence of clear proof of harm. Some of these steps can be taken by individuals, such as lifestyle changes in women who are pregnant, and reducing exposures through the release of chemicals to the environment. However, clinicians and scientist must educate law officials and the public about the threats of endocrine disruptors in order to adverse the trends of disease and destruction throughout the

When categorizing environmental agents in regard to human health, physical, chemical, and biological agents each pose different and great threats. All can have potentially extremely dangerous short term and long term effects. In my opinion, biological agents pose the greatest threat to human health. It is crucial to point out that circumstantially, any of the three could pose the greatest threat, but in general, I believe biological agents do so. I find biological agents to be the most unavoidable with the most severe consequences, in general, of the three categories.

Please identify the three types of contaminants and provide examples of each. (The word count criterion does not apply to this question.)

environmental toxins and substances) during this period can cause major defects in the structure of developing organs (i.e. brain cellular structure, lungs, heart, kidney, and etc.), and other important structures (i.e. bones and muscles). This may result in the death of the fetus or cause severe physical malformations (i.e. congenital abnormalities) or mental impairments (i.e. disorders) (Office of Children’s Health Protection, 2003). As the stages of prenatal development progress, exposure to environmental toxins and substances can result in the fetus developing an array of defects and deficiencies that can continue after birth and up through adulthood (i.e. physical, mental, and behavioral) (Office of Children’s Health Protection, 2003). It is clear that expecting mothers need to be conscious of what they expose their fetuses to in utero so they develop properly. It is imperative that expecting mothers avoid the use of any alcohol or other drug substances during their pregnancy. Each period of development for a fetus is critical and exposure to alcohol and substances can significantly reduce their chance of being born and living a healthy life (Office of Children’s Health Protection, 2003).

The text, Development through the lifespan by Laura Berk, provides a clear description of prenatal environmental influences. The harm done by the teratogen depends on four factors: dose, heredity, other negative influences, and age. For instance, in the period of the Zygote no damage can be made. The embryonic period is when most of the damage can occur because the foundations of the body parts are being created. During the fetal period minor damage can be done, and if damage does occur it usually affects organs in the head. Teratogen effects are not always immediately apparent, some effects can take decades to develop. Exposure to teratogens during the prenatal period can also affect the child’s ability to

A critical area of concern for gynecologists, obstetricians, and other reproductive health officials is how to reduce the exposure to toxic environmental agents to both the mother and developing fetus. Exposure to these chemicals is ubiquitious and the long lasting effects on the reproductive health throughout an individuals life span, which is evident when exposure occurs prior to conception and during fetal gestation. Patient exposure to manufacture and use of industrial chemicals is a critical concern, since there is constant introduction of new chemicals each year and more than 84,000 chemical substances are current listed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Unlike pharmaceuticals, environmental chemicals do

Teratogens can have many different effects on a baby over the course of its lifetime. Teratogen effects range from birth defects, such as the baby being deaf or having intellectual deficiencies, to something as severe as a miscarriage. Consuming drugs or alcohol, developing a sickness, or being exposed to high amounts of lead are all examples that can cause teratogens to take effect. There are many different reasons that can cause these things can happen, but more times than not it is because of something the mother consumed or an environment she put herself in. Studying the causes and effects of teratogens is worthy of study, effects me in my daily life, and additional studies related to the topic should be explored.

A child’s physical development can vary greatly from its environment; these things would include exposure during pregnancy, the child’s diet, and physical activity. Even during pregnancy the environment around a child has a huge effect on their growth. Exposures during pregnancy is when a mother has been exposed towards drugs, stress, poor nutrition, and other things the mother could be associated with. Many studies have shown that “Maternal smoking has also been linked to miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.” “Children’s Medical Services.” Infant Toddler Development Training. Floridahealth online 2012 Web. 27 January 2016. Teratogens or other exposures such as these during pregnancy can a have a permanent impact this child’s entire life. Another factor that can affect a child’s growth is their nutrition. While a child is growing what they eat influence their: weight, height, and energy. An example would be “If a mother is malnourished it is likely the baby will be born malnourished, or worse, be born prematurely, suffer from low birth weight, or die soon after birth.”

In that time, the global community became increasingly industrialized and, as a result, increasingly polluted. Doctors and parents point to the proliferation of pollutants and toxins as factors contributing to ASD. Chemicals in the air, in the water, and in food have negative health impacts that cannot be discounted, if not directly blamed. Common household products, from solvents to cleaning solutions, contain dangerous additives whose long-term effects are unknown. Perhaps fetal development is compromised by exposure to toxins; perhaps infants and small children come into contact with dangerous levels of toxins in and around their homes. Many products come with labels touting the absence of harsh chemical additives—phthalate and phenol-free, for example—but for those diagnosed with ASD, the changes are too little, too

A study was conducted in July of 2007 by the researchers of Public Health Institute, the California Department of Health Services, and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. The subject of the study was children born from mothers who had been exposed to organochlorine pesticides. It was found that these children are at a much higher risk of developing disorders on the autism spectrum than children of other mothers. The risk was estimated to be at least six times higher (“The Problem”). In addition to this, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published a long term study in 2009 that focused on children living in homes where the average supply of grocery foods were products that were exposed to pesticides. These adolescents were then compared to children who lived in residences without exposure to pesticides.

There are many issues that are associated with women and children. The most essential issues are chemical exposure, social exposure and diet. Chemical exposure affect the human biochemical process that helps with human functioning. Also, chemical exposure affect children involuntarily through their mothers and the environment that they are surrounded by. Chemical exposure affects the development of a growing child’s organs and body system. Obesity has been an ongoing problem and will continue to be in the future (Kotch, 2013). For the mother and fetus, obesity can have a negative effect. Such as, diabetes, preeclampsia and after giving birth heart disease and hypertension in mothers. In the fetus, the risk are stillbirth and other inherited

Some medicines , pesticides and chemical can harm the child especially the first 3 months of devopmoent

Many scientific researchers have said that our environment has been filled with toxic chemicals, which us humans have had a part of. There are many different issues that should concern us surrounding these toxic chemicals. The major concern is that many of these toxic chemicals have been claimed to be causing damage to the health of humans and even other life forms. Another concern is that most of the theses toxic chemicals have just recently been produced; and by our environment changing everyday there is no telling what effects these toxic chemicals may have in the long run on the public 's health. Just about all of these toxic chemicals exist in the way they do because of humans. As humans we practice a lot of different activities that cause toxic chemicals to pollute our environment such as, agriculture, industrial, and many domestic activities as well. Many of the toxic chemicals that we produce and use don 't get used in a effective way, which causes them to be wasted, left abandoned, and disposed of. When toxic chemicals are not disposed of properly they effect the environment and the public 's health in a negative way.