{"id":23090,"date":"2018-07-27T00:00:43","date_gmt":"2018-07-27T04:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=23090"},"modified":"2018-07-28T08:26:35","modified_gmt":"2018-07-28T12:26:35","slug":"report-childrens-exposure-toxic-chemicals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2018\/07\/report-childrens-exposure-toxic-chemicals\/","title":{"rendered":"Report Urges Lower Children\u2019s Exposure to Toxic Chemicals"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, July 27, 2018) The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued new guidelines for measures to lower children\u2019s exposures to chemicals in food and food packaging that are tied to health problems such as obesity, metabolic changes,\u00a0decreased birth weight, and endocrine disrupting effects, including reduced fertility. Exposures to these chemicals\u2013added to food during processing or in food packaging\u2013are disproportionately high among minority and low-income populations, according to the report, especially given inadequate federal regulation and oversight.<\/p>\n

The guidelines, issued in both a statement<\/a> and technical report<\/a> by the AAP entitled, Food Additives and Child Health<\/em>, came after the group decided to review and highlight emerging child health concerns related to \u201cthe use of colorings, flavorings, and chemicals deliberately added to food during processing (direct food additives) as well as substances in food contact materials.\u201d Food additives, in particular, have been documented to be linked to endocrine disruption and other adverse health effects.\u00a0According to AAP, \u201cregulation and oversight of many food additives is inadequate because of several key problems in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Current requirements for a \u201cgenerally recognized as safe\u201d (GRAS) designation are insufficient to ensure the safety of food additives and do not contain sufficient protections against conflict of interest. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have adequate authority to acquire data on chemicals on the market or reassess their safety for human health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Infants and children are more vulnerable to chemical exposures, but data about the health effects of food additives on infants and children are limited or missing. AAP identifies as compounds of concern,\u00a0bisphenols, which are used in the lining of metal cans; phthalates, used in adhesives and plasticizers; nonpersistent pesticides, which have been addressed in a previous AAP policy statement; perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), which are used in grease-proof paper and paperboard food packaging; and perchlorate, an antistatic agent used for packaging in contact with dry foods with surfaces that do not contain free fat or oil; nitrates and nitrites,\u00a0and artificial food coloring.<\/p>\n

For instance, bisphenol A (BPA) exposure in utero has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes,\u00a0and cross-sectional studies have associated BPA with decrements in fetal growth,\u00a0childhood obesity. Certain phthalates are linked to adverse effects on male fetal genital development, and studies have shown PFCs to contribute to metabolic changes,\u00a0decreased birth weight, and endocrine disrupting effects including reduced fertility. In 2012, AAP issued a statement<\/a> of childhood exposures to pesticides recognizing that reducing pesticide exposures in foods may be significant for children<\/a>. AAP also noted that choosing organic food, which has significantly lower toxic pesticide residues is also beneficial to\u00a0larger environmental issues, as well as human health impacts<\/a>\u00a0like pollution and global climate change.<\/p>\n

Specific recommendations to pediatricians and consumers include:<\/p>\n