PEHSU Factsheet: Heavy Metals in Baby Foods and Fruit Juices > How can heavy metals affect brain development in children?
posted on Mar 21, 2022
- Brain development and IQ depend on many factors, including genetics, nutrition, the child’s social and economic environment, education, and chemicals in the environment. Heavy metal exposure is just one of these factors.
- Infants and young children are very sensitive to the effects of heavy metals because their brains are rapidly developing. Heavy metal exposure (from eating something with heavy metals in it) can affect a child’s learning, attention, development, and behavior.
- The levels of metals found in food are likely a small part of a child’s overall exposure to heavy metals; however, a child’s total heavy metal exposure from all sources can pose a risk to health.