Preface, Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Children and the unborn child

Preface

Concern has been raised that infants and children are at higher risk than adults from exposure to environmental chemicals. In particular, this important discussion has focused on the potential higher exposure of infants and children and increased vulnerability to the detrimental effects of chemicals. In 1998, the Danish government initiated a cross-ministerial overview concerning "protection of children and pregnant women against dangerous substances" and a conference was held in October 1998 in order to pay more attention to this topic and to discuss and identify possible needs for further development. The overall impression from the discussions at the conference was that children and pregnant women should generally be recognised as special risk groups with respect to effects from exposure to chemical substances. As a consequence, the present project was initiated by the Danish EPA. The purpose of the project was to elaborate a detailed review and update the knowledge on the exposure and vulnerability of humans to chemical substances during the embryonic, foetal and postnatal periods. The report is intended to form the scientific basis for future regulatory work of the Danish EPA in the protection of children and the unborn child to environmental chemical substances.

The report has been prepared by the Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration as a contract work for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.

Thomas Lund Sørensen, National Board of Health, has prepared section 4.1. Poul Bo Larsen, Danish Environmental Protection Agency, has prepared section 5.3.

The work has been followed by a Steering Committee who has contributed to the work with professional expertise, proposals and criticism:

Poul Bo Larsen, Chairman, Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
Lars Nørgaard, Danish Environmental Protection Agency (until 30 September 1999).
Annette Orloff, Danish Environmental Protection Agency (from 1 October 1999).
Hanne Thygesen, Danish Environmental Protection Agency.
Christina Ihlemann, Danish Environmental Protection Agency (until 31 May 2000).
Lene Lorenzen, Danish Environmental Protection Agency (from 19 June 2000).
Lea Frimann Hansen, Danish Environmental Protection Agency (until 30 September 1999).
Henriette Seiler Hansen, Danish Environmental Protection Agency (from 1 October 1999).
Elle Laursen, National Board of Health.
Thomas Lund Sørensen, National Board of Health (until 30 April 2000).
Ulla Hass, The National Institute of Occupational Health (from 1 October 1999: Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology).
Mette Kringelbach, Gentofte Hospital.
Peter Jacobsen, Danish Poisons Information Centre, Department of Occupational Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital.
Lisbeth Knudsen, Danish Medicines Agency (from 1 January 2000: Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen).
Ole Ladefoged, Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology.
Elsa Nielsen, Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology.
John Christian Larsen, Institute of Food Safety and Toxicology.

The report reflects the views and opinions of the authors as well as of the members of the Steering Committee although consensus has not been reach on every aspect discussed in the report. It should also be noted that the report does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the involved institutions.

The report was prepared by

Elsa Nielsen
Inger Thorup
Anette Schnipper
Ulla Hass
Otto Meyer
Ole Ladefoged
John Christian Larsen
Grete Østergaard

The Institute on Food Safety and Toxicology, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration