Protecting Children From Toxins - All You Need to Know

Introduction

Accidental poisoning is a common issue among young children below three years. Children have a natural tendency to explore the environment around them. They mostly try to mimic the things their siblings and parents do. Consuming a poisonous substance, inhaling it, spraying it, or spilling it on the skin can lead to poisoning. The poisoning mostly happens at home, but it can also occur during family visits, friends, or even on a holiday. Accidentally administering kids with the wrong medication or incorrect dose of a medication can lead to poisoning. Therefore, double-check the dosage and age instructions before administering medication to children. Young children cannot differentiate between safe and poisonous substances, so the elders are responsible for safeguarding their children.

What Are Some of the Common Household Chemicals?

Some household products containing hazardous substances are:

Bathroom Chemical Products:

• Toilet cleaner.

• Shower, tile, and bathroom cleaner.

• Soaps, shampoo, and conditioners.

• Mouthwash, hand sanitizers, perfumes, and after-shave.

• Gels and moisturizers.

Kitchen and Laundry Area:

• Hand sanitizers.

• Liquid petroleum gas.

• Drain cleaners.

• Floor polish.

• Dishwashing detergents.

• Laundry detergents.

• Oven cleaners.

• Kerosene.

• Matches.

• Insect poison.

• Window spray.

• Disinfectant.

Bedroom and Family Area:

• Alcohol.

• Paints.

• Essential oils.

• Medicines.

• Air fresheners.

• Bubble-blowing solutions.

• Incense.

Garage Poison:

• Herbicides.

• Weed killer.

• Pesticides.

• Petrol.

• Fertilizers.

• Paint.

• Turpentine.

Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms:

• Poisonous plants include datura, foxglove, oleander, etc.

What Are the Steps to Be Taken in the Case of Poisoning?

If a child has been exposed to a poison, the symptoms that develop depend on various factors like the quantity of exposure, the chemical to which the kid is exposed, etc. The symptoms of poisoning include:

• Vomiting.

• Abdominal pain.

• Confusion.

• Drowsiness.

• Falling over.

In cases where the child has been poisoned or given the wrong dose of medication, or wrong medication, then do not wait until the symptoms develop; contact the poison information center immediately. Avoid inducing vomiting in the child in case of poisoning, as it can turn dangerous. The poison information center will provide the right guidelines to be followed once a brief history of the poisoning is given. Most cases of poisoning are mild and may be managed at home with proper guidelines.

Till medical care is received, the following measures can be taken:

• If the poison was inhaled, shift the child to a fresh air region.

• If the eye is exposed to poison, flush with copious amounts of water.

• If the skin is exposed to poison, first wear gloves and then remove the child’s clothing and wash the body with water.

• If the exposed chemical poison is a household product, look for the label’s information on accidental poisoning.

• If the poison is solid, clean the child’s mouth using fingers.

• If the poison is liquid, ask the child to spit it out and rinse with water or use a washcloth.

Hospital treatment of poisoning includes:

• Monitoring of vital signs.

• Medications for managing symptoms.

• Administration of intravenous fluid by an intravenous drip line.

• Breathing support is provided if needed.

• An antidote to counteract the effect of the poison.

How to Protect Children From Toxins?

Children are more susceptible to chemical poisoning for several reasons. Children drink and eat more than adults compared to their body size. Therefore, they are at more risk of developing health issues due to toxins. Adults should also be cautious about these toxins, especially pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Certain toxins can get stored in the body and accumulate over time. Pregnant women may pass on these toxins to the developing fetus, which can, in turn, affect its brain development.

Steps that can be taken for protection from toxins are:

Maintaining a Healthy Indoor Air:

• Older wood stoves should be replaced with cleaner gas or EPA-certified wood stoves.

• Avoid smoking around children. Secondhand smoke can increase the chance of lung cancer, asthma, and heart disease. It is also linked to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). SIDS is an otherwise healthy baby's sudden, unexplained, and unexpected death.

• Molds can develop in dry areas. So, to keep molds away, wet areas should be dried, and water leaks should be repaired immediately.

• The house should be aired out regularly. This reduces the concentration of contaminants.

• Avoid burning charcoal inside the house to reduce carbon monoxide poisoning, and do not use gasoline-powered equipment.

Managing Food and Water Toxin:

• Vegetables and fruits should be properly washed to remove dirt and chemical residues.

• Prefer consuming fishes with a comparatively low mercury content like cod, trout, salmon, canned light tuna, and tilapia.

• In those homes with private wells, the drinking water should be tested yearly for nitrate, arsenic, and coliform bacteria.

• Prefer using cold water for cooking and making baby formula as hot water may contain high lead levels.

• Water that stays in the water pipes for a long may pick up lead or other metals. Flush the water pipes until the water becomes colder before using it.

Maintaining Household Chemical Safety:

• Store the product out of reach of pets and children. Even those with child-resistant packaging may not be childproof.

• Avoid storing huge amounts of flammable products like petrol near or inside the house.

• Avoid transferring chemicals into drink or food containers as there is a chance that children may mistakenly consume these.

• Store the product in the original container itself. Avoid storing chemicals in an unlabeled container, in a container with which the chemical may react, or in unsealed containers.

• Properly seal the containers before putting them away.

• Dispose of expired or unused medications.

• Buy medicines with child-resistant caps.

• Store the product in a cabinet or cupboard and a well-ventilated area.

• Go thoroughly through the label before using the product; the label contains all safety information, including what to do in an emergency.

Safe Use of Plastics:

Certain plastic toys, cups, containers, and pacifiers are composed of chemicals called phthalates and bisphenol-A (BPA). These hazardous chemicals are released on heat exposure or scratching the product. Studies suggest that BPA can affect a child’s brain development, cognition, and prostate gland. Exposure can be reduced by taking the following steps:

• Switch to alternatives like porcelain or glass containers, especially while handling hot food items.

• Reduce consumption of canned food; instead, choose fresh food.

• Avoid washing plastic containers with harsh detergents.

• Avoid using a microwave to heat food in a polycarbonate (a hard, clear plastic made from BPA) container.

• Use BPA-free products (toys, baby bottles, and pacifiers).

• Replace scratch or old plastic containers.

• Avoid pouring hot water or other liquid into polycarbonate bottles or containers.

Conclusion

Accidental toxin poisoning is more common in children, especially the younger ones. Therefore, it is important to know the basic household poisons and other substances that can turn poisonous if not used cautiously.