Environmental Hazards

Toxic substances are found in many places, both indoors and outdoors, and can harm a child’s health even before they are born. Exposure to small amounts of toxic substances can have long term effects on the developing brain, lungs and reproductive system of an unborn baby or young child.

  • Household dust can contain small amounts of toxic substances such as chemicals, dust mites, mould and pet dander.
  • These substances can be harmful to your child’s health, especially during early development.
  • Your child can be exposed to dust by:
    • swallowing it from touching dusty surfaces and putting their hands in their mouths (especially when playing or crawling on the floor)
    • breathing it in
  • You can protect your child by:
    • using a damp cloth or mop to clean instead of dry dusting
    • taking your shoes off before entering your home
    • reducing the amount of clutter in your home
    • storing toys in closed containers to keep dust off

Tip: Pregnant women should avoid changing vacuum bags to limit exposure to dust and chemicals.

For more information:

Dust and Dust Mites – Health Canada

Mould – Health Canada

  • Many cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can harm your child’s health.
  • These chemicals can increase the chance of health problems in children.
  • Children can be exposed to these chemicals by:
    • swallowing – for example, by touching surfaces with cleaning product residue and then putting their hands in their mouth
    • breathing in fumes – from cleaning products
    • absorbing through their skin when touching cleaning products or recently cleaned surfaces
  • Some chemicals can cross the placenta during pregnancy and may affect the developing baby.
  • Exposure has been linked to health problems such as wheezing and asthma in children later in life.
  • You can protect your child by:
    • using non-toxic or eco-friendly cleaning products
    • avoiding fragranced products which often contain hidden chemicals
    • keeping all cleaning products out of reach of children

For more information:

Chemicals and pollutants in the home: Tips for pregnancy and preparing for baby — Health Canada

Use Household Chemicals Safely – Health Canada

  • Mercury is found naturally in rocks and soil and can enter lakes and streams, where it builds up in fish. The bigger the fish, the higher the concentration of mercury.
  • Mercury exposure can harm the developing brain and nervous system during pregnancy and early childhood.
  • Children can be exposed to mercury by:
    • eating fish that contains mercury.
    • breathing in mercury vapours from broken products that contain mercury (like glass thermometers or batteries)
  • You can protect your child by choosing fish that is low in mercury.

For more information:

Fish, Mercury, and Your Health – Toronto Public Health Mercury – Health Canada

Plastic is made of many different chemicals, and some can be harmful — especially for babies and young children. Exposure to these harmful chemicals during pregnancy or early childhood can affect brain development.

Three types of harmful plastics

  • Phthalates: Used to make plastic flexible. Often found in products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), such as soft plastic toys, teething rings and personal care products.
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Chemicals that evaporate into the air and give off a “new plastic” smell. Found in toys, cleaners, shower curtains, air fresheners and paint.
  • Bisphenol–A (BPA): Used to make hard, clear. Found in reusable water bottles and the lining of food and beverage cans.

    How children can be exposed to harmful plastics

    • Chewing or sucking on plastic toys or other items
    • Eating or drinking items that have been heated in plastic
    • Breathing in vapours from new plastic material, such as flooring or shower curtains

    How to help protect your child

    • Not using plastic in the microwave
    • Storing food in glass containers
    • Choosing fresh or frozen food instead of canned
    • Avoiding teething rings, toys and other items that contain PVCs, VOCs, or BPAs

    Tips to reduce new plastic exposure

    • Let new plastic items air out before use.
    • Wash new plastic toys before giving them to your child.

    For more information:

    Bisphenol A (BPA) – Health Canada

    Phthalates – Health Canada

    Volatile Organic Compounds – Health Canada

    • Paints, solvents and dust from home renovations can release harmful chemicals and fumes. These can cause breathing problems and affect the brain of children and developing fetus.
    • Indoor paint made before 1980 and outdoor paint made before 1990 may contain lead.
    • Children can be exposed by:
      • swallowing lead contaminated paint chips and dust
      • chewing old painted items
      • breathing in fumes from fresh paint, paint thinners, and solvents
      • breathing in lead contaminated dust or mould

    How to help protect your family

    • Keeping children and pregnant women away from areas being renovated
    • Sealing off renovation areas with plastic sheeting and good ventilation
    • Wet-wiping or mopping instead of dry sweeping to reduce dust
    • Hiring a certified professional for lead paint removal

    For more information:

    Chemical safety for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects and renovations - Canada.ca

    Second-hand smoke is the smoke from the end of a burning cigarette and the smoke that is exhaled by the person smoking.

    • There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

    Third-hand smoke is the toxic chemicals and tiny particles that stay on surfaces and in household dust after a cigarette is smoked.  These can stick to hair, skin, walls, fabric, carpet, furniture and toys. It can stay on surfaces for days or even weeks.

    • Infants and children are especially at risk because they breathe faster and have smaller lungs.
    • Children exposed to second-hand smoke are at greater risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma.
    • Children can be exposed by:
      • breathing in second-hand smoke
      • touching surfaces that have chemicals from third-hand smoke and putting their hands in their mouths, especially while playing or crawling
    • E-cigarettes and vaping also release chemicals that can harm children’s lungs and development.

      How to Reduce Exposure

      • Protect your child by not allowing smoking in your home or car.
      • Ask family and visitors to smoke outside and away from doors and windows.

      For more information:

      What You Need to Know About Second-Hand Smoke — Canadian Cancer Society

      Second-Hand Smoke – Health Canada

      Second-hand Smoke and the Law – Toronto Public Health

      For more information:

      Healthy Home Guide – Health Canada

      Healthy Homes for Children – Caring for Kids (Canadian Paediatric Society)