Children can be exposed to many hazardous metals in the environment, including fluoride and manganese. Sources of exposure may include drinking water, foods and dietary supplements, and metal-containing particles released into the air from industrial and vehicular sources. Exposures may be especially intense near active and abandoned industrial "hotspots." Children's routes of absorption include ingestion and inhalation. Adherence of metal-contaminated particles to the skin of small children contributes to the inadvertent ingestion of contaminated dust and soil. The effects of metals on children's health include toxicity to the nervous system, lungs, kidneys, liver, and, in the case of excessive fluorides, the teeth and bones. Prevention of children's exposure to metals is multifaceted. Primary prevention that reduces unnecessary uses of metals and prevents environmental contamination at its source is the most effective strategy. Children should not be allowed to come into contact with metallic particles transported home on working parents' contaminated shoes and work clothing. Well water, especially from unregulated private wells, needs to be tested for metal content.
