Aren’t adult and child levels fairly comparable?
A. Absolutely not. Think about it – when we give our children an aspirin, we would think twice before ever giving them the “adult dose.” Yet, when most air and water regulations were created, they gave children “adult doses” by setting all standards on the cancer and acute health risks to that of a 160-pound adult. Because children’s biochemical and physiological functions are not fully developed, they are more vulnerable to the toxins that surround them. And because their brain, immune, and reproductive systems are still developing, exposure to even low levels of toxins can wreak havoc on a developing child – and more so to a developing fetus.
