Toxic Chemicals and Our Children's Health

*The information in this post was provided by Wanda Kelley, for further information, please visit A Health Café. As parents we are concerned for the safety of our children. We try to ensure their well-being as infants and growing children. Yet every year millions of household poisonings occur. Many of these poisonings result in child fatalities. The tragedy is that using safer products in the home could have prevented these poisonings.Did you ever believe your toddler was safe in his room playing only to find him in the bathroom under the sink?  Have you ever been on the phone, lost track of time and then found your child... but not in the room that you left her? It happens.We need to childproof our homes by:Putting protective plugs in wall sockets.Installing child locks on all cabinets.Removing poisonous household chemicals from children's reach.And be aware of all products in your home that pose a potential hazard:Cosmetics, Deodorants, PerfumesDrain Cleaners, Oven Cleaners, Bleach, Hair SpraysDishwashing Detergents, Laundry Detergents, Air Fresheners, Mouthwash The risks involved when swallowing or ingesting a toxic household product have been publicly addressed. But did you know that inhalation and absorption through the skin are two more ways that toxins enter the body? Many experts believe that absorption and inhalation can be more debilitating than ingestion of a toxic substance. When toxins are ingested the stomach immediately begins to break them down.  When a hazardous chemical is absorbed or inhaled the toxins travel directly to the major organs through the blood stream within minutes. CHILDREN ARE VULNERABLE TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN THE ENVIRONMENTThe United States has seen a worrisome increase in certain childhood diseases, and researchers are working hard to determine whether this increase is linked to environmental exposures.Childhood asthma has increased by more than 40% since 1980, affecting more than 4.2 million children under the age of 18 nationwide. Meanwhile, the incidence of two types of childhood cancers has risen significantly over the past 15 years: acute lymphocytic leukemia is up 10% and brain tumors are up more than 30%. And although there are no registries for learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders among children, there has been growing attention in recent years to an apparent increase in both.Remember a child's system is continually developing. The ratio of child intake rate (of harmful substances) to child body size is greater than that for adults for some routes, including the skin. The world is a dangerous place today, do what you can for your child where you can - Childproof your home.