A Father's Exposure to Toxic Chemicals can Affect the Health of his Children

A Father’s Day Report ” Men, Boys and Environmental Health Threats”

  The health of all children living in Canada is at risk from exposure to environmental hazards.Hundreds of toxic substances, such as air pollutants and pesticides are known, or aresuspected of contributing to adverse child health outcomes. Much remains to be understood about environmental links to adverse health impacts. In the meantime, it is better to be safe than sorry. Much can be done to reduce or prevent exposures. 

  According to Health Canada,

• 12.2 per cent of children in Canada have asthma
• 26 per cent of children between the ages of six and eleven have one or more learning or behavioural problems
• Birth defects are the leading cause of infant death
• Several cancers are on the rise among young adults

For a number of these health outcomes boys seem to be particularly at risk. The prevalence of cancer, asthma, learning and behavioural disorders, and some birth defects appears to be greater among boys than among girls. Health outcomes where girls appear to be at higher risk include breast cancer among young women, asthma after the age of 15, and two birth defects, spina bifida and congenital hip dislocation.

The reasons that boys appear to be at greater risk for the health outcomes discussedin this report are largely unknown. Several reasons have been suggested including genetic, hormonal, and physiological differences between the sexes.

 Of concern is the fact that, according to US biomonitoring studies, men appear to have a greater body burden of certain chemicals than women including lead, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organophosphate pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Large scale biomonitoring studies have not yet been conducted in Canada that would help determine whether a similar difference exists in the Canadian population. It is not known why this male-female difference is the case, although differences in metabolism have been suggested as well as potential differences in levels ofexposure (e.g., through work). A father’s exposure to toxic chemicals can affect the health of his children- male or female. Numerous studies have found a link between paternal occupational exposures and negative child health outcomes including birth defects, cancer and developmental delays. This report summarizes the information currently available on the rates of diseases and disabilities of boys compared to girls and what is known about the environmental links to these health impacts. The issue of male vulnerability to environmental hazards is an emerging area of scientific research and public education.

  More is known about the hazards of maternal exposures to toxic chemicals. The reduction or prevention of maternal exposures remains very important forthe health of all children. This report focuses on environmentally-linkeddiseases and disabilities amongst boys. It also examines the role fathersplay in ensuring children’s environmental health.

 The focus of this Father’s Day report is also on exposure to toxic chemicals commonly encountered in the indoor and outdoor environment rather than on well-known hazards such as smoking, alcohol and drugs. We need to know more about the reasons why boys appear to be more vulnerable. In the meantime, bothparents, and all members of society, can take action to prevent exposure to toxic chemicals.

 The Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) is a multi-sectoral collaboration of organizations (formed in 2001) that is working to protect children’s health from environmental exposures and toxic chemicals by moving children’s environmental health issues into the minds of decision-makers, serviceprovider organizations, individual practitioners, parents and the public.

 For more information on ways you can get involved and steps that you can take to ensure a healthy future for you and your children visit the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment at www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca.