The Acreage Cancer Study

Hi Everyone,

There will be no Blog entries next week: July 26th - July 30th. For updates, please visit the Forums.

We have posted the soil results for the Dunsford home on the Forum under the topic: Soil Results. If you would like to review the report yourself, click here.

The report does show different types of contaminants in the soil, however none were listed (at this home) as exceeding acceptable limits.

After reviewing the water and soil results, we have several questions. For example: Is any contamination ok? Is it possible that even contamination below state/federal limitations can cause illness/cancer, especially in children?

We look forward to reading your thoughts and ideas on this matter.

Have a great weekend!

Children's Environmental Health

Chemicals of Special Concern to Children's Health

Numerous chemical substances are present in our environment; theymay be found in the air we breathe, the water we use for drinking andbathing, in our food, and in consumer products. Children as a group are considered to be more sensitive to chemicals in the environment than the general population due to a variety of factors, including differences in physiology and a higher rate of food and water intake per pound of body weight. For more information about why children represent a key area of concern in the field of environmental health,see MDH's Children's Environmental Health Background Page.

Certain classes of chemicals have attracted attention from the scientific community, as well as from the media and the general public, for their potential impact on the health of children. These include pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals such as arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium, and endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A. The chemicals described on this page are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but include chemicals that have attracted increased public attention recently due to concerns about children's exposure.The term "special concern," therefore, is intended to indicate chemicals that have attracted public and media interest, and not necessarily higher toxicity, greater hazard to public health, or priority for regulation by the state.

How can pesticides affect children's health?

Pesticides are a diverse group of chemicals, and exposure can cause a variety of harmful effects. Whether there will be any effect and, if so, the type of effect, depends not only on the particular pesticide and the amount taken into the body, but also on the frequency and duration of the contact. Other factors that may play a role in determining the outcome of an exposure are the age and general health of the person exposed and whether the pesticide is ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.

Insecticides primarily affect the nervous system. Some symptoms associated with high, short-term exposures to insecticides include headaches, blurred vision, salivation, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, slow pulse, diarrhea, confusion, and weakness. Very high exposures can cause paralysis, tremors or convulsions, loss of consciousness, and death. Effects of lower but longer lasting exposures are more subtle. Pesticides may also affect other organs, such as the liver and the kidneys, or they may affect development or cause cancer.

How can VOCs affect children's health?

The ability of VOCs to cause health effects varies greatly depending on the chemical. As with other pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect also depends on other factors, including the level of exposure and the length of time exposed.

Some symptoms associated with high VOC exposures are eye and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, and impaired memory. These symptoms usually pass a short time after the exposure has ended and have no long-term effects. Long-term exposures to high levels of some VOCs, such as benzene, have been shown to cause cancer. Other effects from long-term exposures to high levels of VOCs include damage to the nervous system, the kidney, and the liver. Health effects from low-level exposures to VOCs are generally unknown.

How can PAHs affect children's health?

Of the more than 100 chemicals classified as PAHs, only a few have been subject to intensive scientific study. While it is difficult to generalize about this broad range of chemicals, it is certain that some PAHs, either individually or in mixtures with others, can cause adverse health effects. Whether other PAHs may have any impact on health and, if so, the nature of that impact, is largely unknown.

Some PAHs have the ability to cause cellular mutations and are considered carcinogenic. Inhalation of high levels of PAHs in occupational settings has been shown to cause respiratory effects and immune system depression in humans. Mixtures of PAHs can cause skin disorders in humans. In laboratory studies, some PAHs have also been shown to cause developmental effects and changes in kidney and liver functioning. While these effects have not been reported for humans, it is safest to assume that some adverse effects may be possible and to try to reduce exposures. As with exposure to any chemical, health effects resulting from exposure to PAHs will depend on the duration and frequency of exposure, as well as the quantity of the PAH present, and whether exposure occurs by inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact.

Benzo(a)pyrene is one PAH which has been studied extensively. This PAH is considered a potent carcinogen, meaning low doses may cause cancer. The toxicities of other, less potent, PAHs are commonly evaluated relative to benzo(a)pyrene.

For more information, Click Here.