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On the road to adulthood, children face many risks. Among them are risks from exposures to environmental toxins. From the time before birth until puberty, we expose children to multiple chemicals. Since World War II, we have developed more than 80,000 chemicals for use in cleaners, pesticides, plastics, personal care products, industrial products and other conveniences. We know very little about the effect of these chemicals on a child’s development. 		 

Researchers are finding that some chemicals can cause damage to a child’s developing brain, while others may cause cancer or mimic or block hormones.

Children are not little adults. They are vulnerable to chemicals that adults can tolerate. Their bodies are simply not ready to process and remove toxins. And kids receive proportionately larger doses of environmental toxins than adults.

Learn more about children’s vulnerability

You CAN protect your kids from environmental toxins. CHEC has developed the following resources to help you in your home and beyond.

HealtheHouse is full of interactive resources to help you identify environmental hazards in the home and reduce health risks to your children. You will find:

  • CHEC’s Virtual House: Point-and-click on items in the home for information about potential unhealthy exposures.
  • House Rules: Learn the six rules to maintaining a healthy home for you children.
  • HealtheHome Quiz: Fill out this online questionnaire to identify potential environmental exposures in your home and ways to minimize the risks.
  • Resource Room: Search through CHEC’s extensive library of articles, chemical profiles, How To Lists and CHEC Lists for the answers to your environmental health questions.

First Steps is our monthly email program for your baby's health. Each month’s email identifies common sources of toxic exposure at each stage of development followed by simple steps you can take to minimize the risk to your baby, from the months before birth to 24 months.

Safer Products Store helps you find products that are safe to use around children.

Erin Brockovich Action Kit: Take your concern for children into your community. This kit outlines ways you can take action.

The Chec Report #18: Check out the latest information on lead in chilren's toys.

The Chec Report #19: Check out the latest information on Creating a Healthy Kitchen

Other Resources

Household Detective: Our newly update 200-page handbook that identifies environmental threats to children's health found in every American home and offers practical information and tips on how to create a healthier home.

Not Under My Roof Video: Olivia Newton-John and Kelly Preston guide new parents through simple and affordable steps to help safeguard their children's health.

One important way you can help protect your children from toxic chemicals is to support CHEC so that we can continue to expand our resources, promote research into children’s environmental health issues and ensure that our elected officials advocate for policies that protect our children. Click here to learn how to become a member or donate.