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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
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Integrated Field Lysimetry and Porewater Sampling for Evaluation of Chemical Mobility in Soils and Established Vegetation
Published on: July 4, 2014
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Soil toxicants that potentially affect children's health
Sara P Egendorf1, Andrew D Gailey2, Aubrey E Schachter3
1The Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center and Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, United States.
Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care
|January 29, 2020
Summary
Children face unique risks from soil pollution due to their behaviors and developing bodies. Understanding these risks from various soil toxicants is crucial for protecting child health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Soil pollution is a global issue affecting human health, particularly children.
- Children's physiological and behavioral factors increase their susceptibility to soil toxicants.
- Topsoil contains a wide range of inorganic and organic contaminants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To increase awareness of the risks and health impacts of contaminated soil on children.
- To describe the sources and toxicological profiles of common soil contaminants.
- To encourage further research and mitigation strategies for children's exposure.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on soil contaminants and their toxicological profiles.
- Identification of agricultural and domestic sources of soil pollution.
- Analysis of children's exposure pathways and susceptibility factors.
Main Results:
- Detailed profiles of inorganic contaminants (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) and organic contaminants (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, dioxins, PCBs, PAHs, PFAS).
- Discussion of various pollution sources, including agricultural and domestic activities.
- Highlighting children's unique exposure routes (mouthing, inhalation, dermal) and immature systems.
Conclusions:
- Contaminated soil poses significant health risks to children globally.
- Comprehensive understanding of contaminant profiles and exposure mechanisms is vital.
- Urgent need for increased research and effective strategies to mitigate children's exposure to soil toxicants.
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