Child Rights International Network, CRIN, has published a new report uncovering the links between hazardous chemicals and children’s rights violations.

The report, ‘Children’s Rights and Hazardous Chemicals’, sets out how children’s exposure to hazardous chemicals violates their rights, including their rights “to health, life, play, safe water and bodily integrity”. It provides insight into how EU chemical laws currently fail to uphold these rights and sets out how decision-makers can address these violations.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of hazardous chemicals, as they are still developing and have an increased susceptibility to adverse effects. CRIN states that “Exposure to even minimal concentrations of certain substances can cause irreversible harm to children’s health and development”.

CRIN highlights several case studies demonstrating the links between children’s rights violations and hazardous chemicals. For example, it details findings from the European Consumer Organisation, BEUC, which identified hazardous chemicals in various children’s products across Europe, from strollers to sippy cups. A 2023 study by the Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals, also included in the report, found bisphenols – some of which are known or suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals – in 60% of 121 tested children’s products, including in baby teething toys. See pages 34 to 59 of CRIN’s report for the complete list of case studies.

The report emphasises that children’s exposure to multiple sources of the same chemical or to a mixture of different chemicals may have combined effects that impact children’s health. Read more about the mixture effect in our report ‘Chemical Cocktails: The neglected threat of toxic mixtures and how to fix it’.

CRIN also raises concerns about the potential contribution of hazardous chemicals to species population declines, stating that this may lead to ‘ecological harms’ that deplete the ecosystems crucial for sustaining the food sources and livelihoods of children’s families (read more on page 20 of the report).

The EU has committed to protecting children’s rights under both United Nations (UN) and European Union treaties, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, meaning they have a legal duty to uphold these rights.

In August 2023, the UN Child Rights Committee published a guidance document that advises how UN member countries should implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The document highlights that a clean, healthy and sustainable environment underpins essential children’s rights in the Convention, such as the right to life, health and a good standard of living. It also advises that States should consider the impact of early life exposure to toxic substances and pollution. Read more in our related news story.

CRIN concludes that the UN and EU child rights frameworks should be a “key compass” for EU decision-making and recommends that children’s rights are fully recognised under EU chemicals legislation. They also recommend applying the precautionary principle to chemical management, including assessing chemicals of concern in groups and considering children’s exposure to mixtures of hazardous chemicals. See CRIN’s Manifesto for more information on why EU chemical legislation must better protect children’s rights.

CHEM Trust is calling on the EU authorities and the UK government to protect their citizens from harmful chemicals by introducing robust legislation to phase out the most harmful chemicals from consumer products, including children’s products, by 2030.

If you are concerned about hazardous chemicals in children’s products, see our Advice for Parents webpage.

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