Children may be more vulnerable than adults to cancer-causing chemicals found in drinking water, processed foods, and some medicines.
A new study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology focused on N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, a chemical long considered potentially cancer-causing.
Researchers found that younger individuals may suffer greater harm from NDMA exposure than adults. In experiments conducted on mice, younger animals exposed to the chemical showed significantly higher levels of DNA damage and cancer compared to adult mice given the same exposure.
The findings suggest that even low levels of exposure considered relatively safe for adults could pose greater long-term risks for children.
MIT professor of biological engineering Bevin Engelward said the research should encourage safety testing groups to study the effects of chemicals on young animals as well as adults.
One reason children may be more vulnerable is that their bodies are still developing. Rapid cell division during growth can turn small amounts of DNA damage into permanent mutations that may later lead to cancer. Researchers also noted that children’s bodies are less efficient at breaking down and removing toxic chemicals.
NDMA can enter daily life through polluted drinking water, processed foods, environmental exposure, and certain medications. Researchers also pointed to pharmaceutical pollution, where residues from medicines enter water systems through wastewater and improper disposal.
The study referred to earlier research linking NDMA-contaminated water in Wilmington, Massachusetts, to increased childhood cancer cases during the 1990s.
Researchers said the findings add to growing concerns about children’s exposure to chemicals such as plastics, pesticides, and household products, some of which have been linked to hormone disruption, immune problems, and cancer risks.
The study called for stronger water monitoring systems, stricter medicine testing standards for children, reduced industrial pollution, and safer disposal of unused medications.