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‘Overwhelming evidence’ that common products are fuelling huge surge in childhood cancer cases, scientists warn
Plus, other risks and causes linked to childhood cancer
CHILDREN are suffering and dying from diseases linked to exposure to synthetic chemicals and plastics found in everyday products, leading scientists have warned.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine calls for urgent action and a complete overhaul of chemical laws and regulations to better protect children.
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"The evidence is so overwhelming and the effects of manufactured chemicals are so disruptive for children, that inaction is no longer an option," said Daniele Mandrioli from the Ramazzini Institute in Italy.
"Our article highlights the need for a paradigm shift in chemical testing and regulations to safeguard children's health," he told .
The study, written by over 20 leading public health experts, reveals there are around 350,000 synthetic chemicals, chemical mixtures, and plastics worldwide, most of which are made from fossil fuels.
Since 1950, production has increased 50-fold and continues to rise by three per cent each year.
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By 2050, it is expected to increase even further, the paper states.
At the same time, non-communicable diseases linked to these chemicals are rising in children and have become the leading cause of death and illness among them.
The study highlights a 35 per cent increase in childhood cancer rates and reveals that one in 36 children are now diagnosed with autism.
The number of children with asthma has tripled, and obesity has quadrupled, driving a sharp rise in type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents.
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For boys, the rate of birth defects in the reproductive organs has doubled.
The researchers link these health trends to the surge in synthetic chemical and plastic production.
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“There’s an ancient axiom in medicine and toxicology that the dose makes the poison,” said lead author Dr Philip Landrigan, director of the Global Observatory on Planetary Health at Boston College.
“But what we’ve learned is that in early human development, timing is as important as the dose,” he explained.
“Even a tiny dose at the wrong moment in pregnancy can have serious consequences for a child’s health and development.”
The danger continues after birth, with even low levels of exposure to harmful chemicals leading to potential lifelong health problems for children.
To tackle this, the researchers are calling for major changes in chemical regulation.
“Chemicals should be tested before they come to market," Dr Landrigan said.
"They should not be presumed safe only to be found harmful years later,” he added.
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The paper criticises the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1977, saying it fails to protect public health.
The law assumes chemicals are safe unless proven otherwise, burdening the government with proving risks.
As a result, few chemicals have been banned or restricted.
While the European Union has stricter regulations, the paper argues it still relies too heavily on industry data and includes too many exemptions.
“Each and every chemical should be tested before they come to market," the study argues.
Manufacturers must also monitor the long-term effects of their products.
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The researchers warn that without action, childhood disease rates will continue to rise.
They urge governments and manufacturers to act quickly to protect children’s health and future generations.
Risks and causes of cancer in children
The risk factors for children's cancers is not fully understood.
This is because this group of cancers are rare and there are lots of different types, making it difficult for researchers to study.
There are some known risk factors that can increase the risk of a child developing cancer.
These include:
- Medical conditions - for example, children with Down's syndrome are 10 to 20 times more likely to get leukaemia than other children.
- Genetics
- Problems with development in the womb
- Exposure to infections - in rare cases, infection with Epstein Barr virus (a common infection in young children that can cause glandular fever) can contribute to the development of cancers.
- Exposure to radiation
- Previous cancer treatments
Source: Cancer Research UK
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