Are we poisoning our children's future?

Monday, 27 March 2000 10:00

The book is the first of its kind in Australia and provides an essential resource for teachers, administrators, maintenance staff, parents, carers and children to actively set about reducing the chemical load in schools and childcare centres, as well the home and office.

"Reducing the chemical load in children's environments is critical. The incidence of sick school syndrome is on the increase. More and more children are being diagnosed with diseases and disorders such as asthma, ADD and multiple chemical sensitivity which are caused or exacerbated by chemical exposures," said the book's author Ms Jo Immig.

"Due to their small size, rapid rate of growth and level of activity, children are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of chemical exposures. Some chemicals, such as lead, pesticides, and solvents, have been found to have profound effects on their growth, behaviour and intelligence, particularly in early childhood".

"Toxic Playground includes practical checklists for identifying and minimising chemical pollutants indoors. A Chemical Hazards Audit provides the basis for developing priorities for chemical risk reduction strategies. Case studies of children with chemical sensitivities are included to illustrate the challenges these children, their parents and carers and teachers face in providing healthy environments.

"Reducing the chemical load is also a challenge for all state government and private schools and childcare centres to ensure children are provided with the healthiest environment possible to grow and learn," Ms Immig concluded.

Toxic Playground: A guide to reducing the chemical load in schools and childcare centres

Author Jo Immig
Published by Total Environment Centre
104 pages including illustrations
Full colour jacket, printed on recycled paper
Price $23 (plus $2 postage)
ISBN 0-947360-16-6
Toxic Playground: A guide to reducing the chemical load in school and childcare centres is the first of its kind in Australia. This book provides an essential resource for teachers, administrators, maintenance staff, parents, carers and children to actively set about reducing the chemical load in schools and childcare centres.
Reducing the chemical load in children's environments is essential. More and more children are being diagnosed with diseases and disorders such as asthma, ADD and multiple chemical sensitivity that are connected to chemical exposures. The incidence of sick school syndrome is also on the increase.
Due to their size, rate of growth and activity, children are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of chemicals. Certain chemicals, such as lead, pesticides, and solvents, have been found to have profound effects on their growth, behaviour and intelligence, particularly in early childhood.
Children spend a great deal of their early years in childcare and at school. It is in these environments they are exposed to a wide range of potentially damaging chemicals, and where efforts must be focussed to reduce the chemical load.
Toxic Playground features practical checklists for identifying and minimising chemical pollutants indoors. A Chemical Hazards Audit provides the basis for developing priorities for chemical risk reduction. Case studies of children with chemical sensitivities are included to illustrate the difficulties these children, their parents, carers and teachers face in providing healthy environments.

Toxic Playground includes chapters on:
Responding the Alarm Bells: chemicals and children
Before the mid-20th century, exposure to toxic chemicals was gross and visible. Modern chemical exposure is insidious and invisible and the unseen enemy is the chemical load. There are a wide range of heath and behavioural symptoms that may indicate a child is affected by exposure to chemicals.
Understanding the toxicology of chemicals
When is a chemical a poison? What is acute and chronic toxicity? What is the LD50 ? Making choices about what chemical to use, or not use, can be a daunting process in the face of complex scientific and medical information. Contemporary toxicology is challenging the dose-response foundations of classical toxicology with the emergence of diseases such as multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, attention deficits and endocrine disruption.
Maintaining good indoor air quality
On average, Australians now spend about 80% of their time indoors at home, school or work and less than 3% of time outdoors. Indoor air pollution is ranked among the top five environmental risks to public health by the US Environment Protection Agency. Failure to deal with indoor air pollution can affect the health of children and staff and can be costly in terms of lost 'productivity'.
Learning about the most dangerous chemicals
Is this chemical safe for children? This is the on of the most frequently asked questions about chemicals. There are thousands of chemicals found in schools and childcare centres - lead, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide are known hazards to children and are priority chemicals for reduction around children.
Identifying chemical pollutants and safer alternatives
Common sources of chemical pollution in schools and childcare centres include location of facilities, materials used in the construction of buildings and interiors, toys and playground equipment, office machines, science, technical and applied studies, personal care products, building maintenance, pest control, cleaning materials and chemicals in food and water.
Developing policies to protect children
The United States has taken the lead with a National Agenda to Protect Children from Environmental Health Threats to Children which establishes protective public health standards based on children's susceptibility and takes account of the total chemical load. An outline of steps is provided for schools and childcare centres to develop their own Chemical Risk Reduction Strategies based on the precautionary principle and intergenerational equity.
Self-auditing for chemical hazards
A self-guided Chemical Hazards Audit provides a simple process for assessing priority areas of chemical risk in the school and childcare centre. Case studies of children with sensitivities to chemicals have been included to illustrate the challenges in providing safe environments for all children. Where possible, suggestions are given for safer chemicals or processes to be used in children's environments.
About the Author

Jo Immig has written numerous technical and popular articles on the hazards of and alternatives to toxic chemicals. Jo currently works as toxic chemicals campaigner for Total Environment Centre, where she coordinates community campaigns, undertakes research projects on issues such as the chemical load, indoor air quality and chemicals in children's environments.
Total Environment Centre

Total Environment Centre was established on 1972 as an environmental advocacy and research centre. The Centre provides public information on environmental concerns, advises on toxic chemicals and safer alternatives.