Young children’s exposure to chemicals in America is a bigger issue than most parents realize, with the majority of incidents caused by regular household items. In 2023, the 55 U.S.
Poison Control centers provided telephone guidance for nearly 2.1 million human exposures to chemicals, 40% of which were regarding children between the ages of 0 and 5 years old.
This study will draw on research highlighting the chemicals American children are exposed to, the effects of the exposure, the number of children to have suffered different kinds of chemical exposure, and the locations most affected by reported exposures.
To emphasize the grave seriousness of the threat to young children, let’s consider the child fatality numbers due to chemical exposure between 2019 and 2023. And although the number of deaths is down compared to 1972, it rose sharply between 2019 and 2022, and stayed high over 2023.
That’s according to a March 2025 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) study, which also found that deaths classified under ICD-10 code X42 (narcotics and psychodysleptics) doubled from 33 in 2021 to 66 in 2023, with general unintentional chemical child fatality rates between those years at their highest since 1991.
Pediatric Fatalities Due To Chemical Exposure (2019 to 2023)
| Year | Deaths | % Decrease Since 1972 | Death Rate (per million) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 34 | 84% | 1.74 |
| 2020 | 43 | 80% | 2.23 |
| 2021 | 59 | 73% | 3.13 |
| 2022 | 97 | 55% | 5.23 |
| 2023 | 90 | 58% | 4.87 |
Between 2019 and 2024, the main cause of child deaths reported to Poison Control centers was analgesic pain medications, followed by fumes, gases, and vapors such as carbon monoxide and stimulants. The five main causes of child death due to chemicals are as follows.
| Substance | Fatal Cases | % of Fatal Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesics | 81 | 23.9 |
| Fumes/Gases/Vapors | 47 | 13.4 |
| Stimulants and Street Drugs | 24 | 7.1 |
| Batteries | 22 | 6.5 |
| Unknown Drug | 19 | 5.6 |
UC Davis Health Report On Chemicals In Children: Key Findings
As a UC Davis Health reportmakes clear, young children in the United States are routinely exposed to a broad range of potentially harmful chemicals.
The report, featuring 201 children from four states (California, Georgia, New York, and Washington) examined between 2010 and 2021, involved the analysis of urine samples for traces of 111 chemicals. Subsequent tests found:
- 96 chemicals in at least five children.
- 48 chemicals in over half of the children.
- 34 chemicals in more than 90% of children, including nine chemicals not currently tracked in national health surveys like the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
These chemicals, from everyday sources like food, dust, and air, can seriously hamper developing bodies. The study also suggests wide disparities in exposure across socioeconomic and racial groups, highlighting varying, significant chemical risks to children during critical growth periods.
According to 2023 study data, teens and adults tend to suffer significantly more serious immediate effects from exposure to chemicals.
For example, 21% of teens and 17% of adults suffered a moderate, major, or fatal effect following exposure to chemicals, compared to 1.5% of children under 6 years old. Generally, chemical exposure for children in this age was predominantly (95%) nontoxic, minimally toxic, or caused only minor effects, with 85.2% of incidents dealt with at the child’s home (without further medical intervention).
Yet the UC Davis Health report suggests child exposure to pesticides, plasticizers, and flame retardants can lead to developmental delays, hormone disruption, and other related long-term health issues.
These are the eight chemicals most often found in children, according to the report.
- Phthalates and phthalate alternatives
Found in toy and food packaging plastic, personal care products, and household items.
- Parabens
Commonly used in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, and pharmaceutical items.
- Bisphenols
A regular feature in plastic containers, food can linings, and thermal paper receipts.
- Benzophenones
Often found in sunscreens, cosmetics, and plastics.
- Pesticides
Deployed as agricultural and residential pest control.
- Organophosphate esters (OPEs)
Used as flame retardants in furniture and building materials, and as plasticizers in food packaging.
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Combustion byproducts found in vehicle exhaust, grilled foods, and tobacco smoke.
- Bactericides
Often found in antibacterial soaps and personal care products.
Levels of triclosan, parabens, PAHs, and most phthalates decreased during the study period; but plasticizer and emerging pesticide levels, regarding chemicals such as the neonicotinoid acetamiprid, pyrethroid pesticides, and the herbicide 2,4-D, steadily rose.
Additionally, firstborn children had significantly lower chemical levels than their younger siblings, with chemical levels often higher in 2-year-olds than in 3 or 4-year-olds. And urine samples from pregnant mothers allowed researchers to analyze the chemicals in unborn children.
They found that pre-birth children were often subject to higher levels of several chemicals than their mothers, including two phthalates, bisphenol S (often used as a BPA replacement), and the pesticide biomarkers 3-PBA and trans-DCCA.
For young children under five years of age, emergency department visit numbers due to chemical poisoning are significant and consistent.
Emergency Department Data
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data confirms that unintentional pediatric chemical poisoning among children under five years of age resulted in an estimated 67,000 injuries requiring emergency department care in 2023, following 68,600 in 2022.
Both numbers represent a significant increase from the 62,600 injuries reported in 2021. Taken as a whole, the 2021-2023 period recorded an average of 66,100 injuries requiring emergency department treatment.
Of the 67,000 injuries from 2023, an estimated 48,200 (72%) occurred at home, with a further 17,500 (26%) poisonings occurring at an unknown location. (The remaining 2% occurred at locations such as streets, daycares, and parks.)
Most of the injured children (81%) were quickly treated and released from the hospital. 13% were admitted to the hospital or transferred elsewhere, while the remaining 6% were either held for observation or left without medical consultation.
The Age and Gender of Chemically Afflicted Emergency Department Treated Children
In terms of the exact age of each young emergency department treated victim of chemical exposure from the 67,000 recorded in 2023 (NEISS data):
- 6% were under one year of age
- 36% were one year old
- 29% were two years old
- 18% were three years old, and
- 11% were four years old.
54% of the victims were male, 46% female.
And in terms of the specific products involved in emergency department visits for chemically poisoned children, here are the most prevalent ten.
Top 10 Products Involved in Unintentional Pediatric Poisonings (2023)
| Product | Estimate | CV* | 95% CI** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure Medications | 5,800 | 19.13% | 3,600 – 7,900 |
| Dietary Supplements | 5,200 | 17.78% | 3,400 – 7,100 |
| Acetaminophen | 4,900 | 16.46% | 3,300 – 6,400 |
| Bleach | 3,600 | 19.70% | 2,200 – 5,000 |
| Antidepressants | 2,800 | 19.25% | 1,700 – 3,800 |
| Ibuprofen | 2,400 | 17.66% | 1,500 – 3,200 |
| Laundry Packets | N/A | 33.37% | N/A |
| Illegal drugs | 1,900 | 25.48% | 900 – 2,800 |
| Attention Deficit Disorder Meds | 1,800 | 23.51% | 1,000 – 2,600 |
| Unknown | 2,400 | 16.53% | 1,600 – 3,100 |
(Note: Estimates are rounded to the nearest 100 injuries. The figures are adjusted to exclude adverse reactions, therapeutic errors, and exposures beyond the victim’s control. CV* (coefficient of variation) **CI (confidence interval).)
One growing issue regarding the unintentional poisonings of children is their exposure to illicit fentanyl. In 2016, there were just 10 reported cases of young children being exposed to illicit fentanyl.
By 2020, the number was 120, and by 2023, U.S. Poison Centers recorded 539 cases of illicit fentanyl exposure in children under 6 years old. Those numbers represent a 349% increase in 3 years and a staggering 5,290% increase since 2016.
A study conducted by the Oregon Poison Center determined that pediatric fentanyl exposures increased in relation to the number of pills seized, with more than 80% of unintentional fentanyl exposures occurring in the child’s home.
But where in the U.S. is the infant chemical exposure problem worst?
Between 2020 and 2025, children in the U.S. between the ages of 0 and 5 were involved in 436,444 poison control cases. The states subject to the most poison-related calls regarding children were as follows.
| State | Number of calls per 100,000 people |
|---|---|
| Texas | 39,442 |
| California | 34,037 |
| Florida | 18,897 |
| Ohio | 18,466 |
| Pennsylvania | 17,576 |
| New York | 16,830 |
| North Carolina | 15,316 |
| Illinois | 14,592 |
| Michigan | 14,419 |
| Georgia | 13,884 |
Meanwhile, here are the ten states subject to the least number of chemical poisoning calls.
| State | Number of Calls |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 697 |
| Vermont | 977 |
| Rhode Island | 1,098 |
| Delaware | 1,370 |
| Alaska | 1,538 |
| Wyoming | 1,539 |
| North Dakota | 1,595 |
| South Dakota | 1,602 |
| Hawaii | 1,672 |
| Montana | 2,040 |
And, in terms of chemical poisoning, children are exposed to a variety of chemicals via various means, with contamination via the mouth the clear dominant means of exposure.
But there are many other ways for children to become poisoned by chemicals, as the list below illustrates.
The Top 10 Means of Chemical Poisoning Suffered By Children Aged 0-5 (resulting in an ER visit, 2020-2025)
| Means of Poisoning | Incident Count |
|---|---|
| Mouth | 3,485 |
| Mouth & Skin | 138 |
| Eye | 122 |
| Mouth+Eye+Skin | 49 |
| Inhalation | 17 |
| Mouth+Eye+Skin+Inhalation | 16 |
| Mouth+Eye | 14 |
| Mouth+Inhalation | 11 |
| Injection | 9 |
| Skin | 8 |
Managing Chemicals Around Children
Perhaps ironically, a Covid-led mania for cleaning home surfaces has led to more chemical products in the home and a subsequent rise in child chemical poisoning numbers.
During the first three COVID months (January to March 2020), poison centers logged 45,550 cleaner and disinfectant exposure calls — a jump of more than 20% from the previous year.
Aside from that exacerbating factor, children are already exposed to far too many chemicals, both in the home and elsewhere. As a parent or hosting adult, you can make your home safer for children by selecting products featuring ‘phthalate-free’ ‘paraben-free’ and ‘fragrance-free’ labels.
You can also avoid plastics labeled #3, #6, and #7 (which may contain BPA or similar chemicals), frequently wash your hands, ventilate your home (use HEPA filters, when possible), limit pesticide exposure by thoroughly washing produce, and regularly wipe clean all surfaces that may contain chemical residues.
These chemicals, from everyday sources like food, dust, and air, can seriously hamper developing bodies
With nearly a hundred children a year dying due to fatal interactions with chemicals, and child fatalities due to chemical interactions nearly three times higher in 2023 than 2019, it’s vital that guardians limit child exposure to dangerous products in the home.
99% of under-6 chemical exposures are unintentional accidents – but adults could dramatically lower those figures by observing the outlined steps, and save many precious lives.
Anidjar and Levine injury lawyers are here to help families seek accountability and financial recovery after preventable accidents. We take a hands-on approach, helping you access needed care, manage insurance issues, and move forward while protecting your child’s rights.
Our personal injury lawyers have been helping families rebuild and regain control since 2005. You don’t have to face this alone. Call today for a free consultation.
