Menu
Video: We Are CHD
July 16, 2025

Dr. Bruce Lanphear: Why Are We Poisoning Our Children?

The Hidden Health Crisis We Can’t Ignore

We’ve known for decades that toxic chemicals like lead, PFAS, flame retardants and air pollution harm developing brains, immune systems, and hormones—especially in children. Yet our governments still rely on the myth of “acceptable levels,” tolerating low-dose exposure in the name of economic growth.

Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a Canadian-born researcher, Professor of Health Sciences at British Columbia’s Simon Fraser University, and longtime advocate for children’s environmental health, warns that these policies were never based on solid science. In fact, fewer than 5% of high-use industrial chemicals have ever been properly tested for safety.

Today, children are born “pre-polluted”—carrying measurable levels of toxins from the womb. These exposures contribute to rising rates of ADHD, infertility, asthma, early puberty, and cancer. Globally, one in five deaths is now linked to pollution and toxic chemicals.

But Lanphear reminds us: prevention works. Removing lead from gasoline cut lead poisoning by 95%. Banning smoking in public spaces reduced preterm births and heart attacks. Simple policies can have massive public health benefits.

We don’t need more consumer tips—we need political will. That means rejecting the lie of “safe doses,” funding independent science and regulating toxic chemicals like we would any other public health threat.

 

Read the full article:

Why Are We Poisoning Our Children? by Bruce Lanphear

The Hidden Health Crisis We’ve Chosen to Ignore

Read on Substack


**********************************************************************************************************

If you find value in the work we do at Children’s Health Defense Canada, please consider making a donation.