A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has identified a strong connection between synthetic chemical exposure and a significant rise in childhood non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The research, conducted by 25 scientists, economists, and legal experts from 17 institutions in the United States and Europe, including the Scientific Centre of Monaco, highlights how pediatric cancers, neurodevelopmental disorders, reproductive system malformations, asthma, and obesity have become the leading causes of illness and death among children in industrialised countries.
The study, published on 8th January, points to an alarming reality: children today are surrounded by approximately 350,000 manufactured chemicals, many of which have never been adequately tested for their long-term health effects. “The manufacture of synthetic chemicals and plastics is subject to few legal or policy constraints,” the researchers warn, highlighting that unlike pharmaceuticals, which undergo rigorous pre-market testing, synthetic chemicals are often introduced to the public with minimal oversight.
A growing health crisis
The findings show a troubling rise in childhood diseases over the past several decades. Pediatric cancer rates have surged by 35%, while male reproductive birth defects have doubled. Neurodevelopmental disorders now affect one in six children, and autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed in one in 36. Pediatric asthma has tripled in prevalence, and childhood obesity has nearly quadrupled, leading to a sharp rise in type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents.
At the same time, the global production of synthetic chemicals has expanded dramatically, increasing 50-fold since 1950 and continuing to grow at a rate of 3% per year. It is projected to triple by 2050. Many of these chemicals, derived from fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal, persist in the environment, leading to widespread human exposure through air, water, food, and consumer products.
“The associations between widely used chemicals and disease in children continue to be discovered with distressing frequency,” the study states. Yet, the authors argue, current regulatory frameworks have failed to address the scale of the problem, leaving children exposed to potentially harmful substances on a daily basis.
Calls for urgent reform
The study strongly advocates for legislative action to overhaul the way synthetic chemicals are regulated. Current policies, particularly in the United States and Europe, allow chemicals to be marketed without sufficient testing for toxicity, and only a fraction of the most widely used substances have been examined for their potential effects on children.
“Protecting children from the dangers of synthetic chemicals will require fundamental revamping of current law and restructuring of the chemical industry to prioritise children’s health,” the authors argue. They call for a precautionary approach, similar to the regulations governing pharmaceuticals, where chemicals would need to be proven safe before being introduced into consumer products.
The researchers also suggest the creation of a global treaty on chemical safety, similar to international agreements on climate change and plastic pollution. They argue that stronger chemical regulations are essential to prevent further harm to children’s health and reduce the economic burden of treating diseases linked to chemical exposure.
A public health imperative
The study serves as a stark warning about the impact of unregulated chemical exposure on future generations. Without urgent policy changes, researchers fear that the burden of childhood diseases will continue to rise, leading to long-term health consequences and significant societal costs.
As awareness of environmental health risks grows, the authors hope their findings will spur governments and industry leaders to take decisive action. “Inaction on chemicals is no longer an option,” they conclude, adding that protecting children’s health must be a global priority.
See also:
Podcast interview: Prof. Philip Landrigan on childhood cancer and the “chemical crisis”
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Photo credit: National Cancer Institute, Unsplash