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Emerging Chemicals and Human Health pp 79–97Cite as

Heavy Metal Exposure and Children’s Health

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Abstract

Due to the unique physiological and behavioral characteristics, children are easier to be exposed to environmental pollutants than general population. Children are more sensitive to chemical exposure as their organs are still developing and not yet mature. With the globalization of environmental pollution and the rapid economic growth, the exposure of low concentrations of heavy metals in children is increasingly a global health concern. In this chapter, we systematically review the exposure levels of heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, etc.) and their adverse effects on children’s nerve system, kidney, and bone development. As a result, clarifying the major health effects of heavy metals on children will be beneficial for controlling the body burden of heavy metals.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Yuhan Zhou

  2. Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Yuhan Zhou

  3. MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

    Wenjuan Ma

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  1. Yuhan Zhou
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  2. Wenjuan Ma
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Correspondence to Wenjuan Ma .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Yunhui Zhang

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Zhou, Y., Ma, W. (2019). Heavy Metal Exposure and Children’s Health. In: Zhang, Y. (eds) Emerging Chemicals and Human Health. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9535-3_6

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