Children aren’t simply smaller versions of adults. Their bodies are growing rapidly, their biological systems are still developing, and their smaller body weight means the same amount of a substance can represent a greater exposure relative to their size. Canadian health agencies take these differences into account when assessing the risks environmental contaminants pose to children. [1]
That makes understanding what’s actually in your water an important part of creating a healthy environment for a growing child. Knowing which contaminants may be relevant to your home, where they come from, and how they can affect children gives you a much clearer idea of what deserves attention and what you can do about it. Families often look at water quality for moms, babies, and families in exactly this light.
Here are four contaminants parents should be aware of.
1. Lead
Lead is a toxic metal that occurs naturally in the environment and was historically used in everything from paint and gasoline to household plumbing. While its use has been greatly reduced, older infrastructure means lead can still find its way into drinking water today. [2]
In most municipal systems, lead isn’t coming from the treatment plant itself. It can enter the water later as it travels through lead service lines, older solder, brass fittings, faucets, and other plumbing components on the way to your tap. That makes older homes and neighbourhoods with aging infrastructure especially important to investigate. [3]
For children, lead deserves particular attention because the developing brain is especially sensitive to its effects. Health Canada states that there’s no known safe level of lead exposure and identifies reduced intelligence, including measurable decreases in IQ, as one of the clearest effects in children. Lead exposure has also been associated with poorer academic performance and attention-related behavioural problems, including inattention, hyperactivity, and ADHD symptoms or diagnoses. [2][4]
This is one of those contaminants where knowing your home’s history can make a real difference. If you live in an older neighbourhood, start by checking the available water and infrastructure data for your area. If there’s reason to suspect a lead service line or older plumbing, testing the water directly at your tap can tell you much more about what your child is actually drinking.
2. Nitrate
Nitrate is a naturally occurring form of nitrogen found in soil and water. Its concentration can rise when agricultural fertilizers, manure, and sewage make their way into groundwater, which is why it’s a more common concern for families using private wells or living near agricultural areas. [5]
Young infants are particularly sensitive to nitrate. Inside the body, some nitrate can be converted into nitrite, which reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. At high enough levels, this can cause methemoglobinemia, commonly known as “blue baby syndrome.” Health Canada’s drinking-water guideline for nitrate was specifically designed to protect bottle-fed infants, who may consume a large amount of water relative to their size through formula. [5]
There’s also ongoing research into whether higher nitrate exposure may affect thyroid function. The evidence isn’t as established, but it’s another reason infants receive special consideration when nitrate guidelines are set. [5]
One of the challenges with nitrate is that you can’t see, smell, or taste it. If your family relies on a private well, regular testing is the only reliable way to know how much is present in your water. [6]
3. PFAS
PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are a large family of synthetic chemicals that have been used for decades because they resist water, grease, stains, and heat. They’ve been used in products and industries ranging from firefighting foams and industrial coatings to fabrics, paper products, cosmetics, and adhesives. [7]
Over time, PFAS can make their way into water supplies near industrial sites, landfills, wastewater facilities, and areas where PFAS-containing firefighting foams have been used. Their chemistry makes many of them extremely slow to break down, allowing them to remain in the environment for years. [7]
What makes PFAS especially concerning is how long some of them can stay in the body. Certain PFAS can cross the placenta during pregnancy and pass to infants through breast milk, meaning exposure can begin during some of the earliest and most sensitive stages of development. [8] It’s part of why expecting families are paying more attention to water.
Research has linked certain PFAS exposures to effects on the immune system, liver, thyroid, metabolism, reproduction, and development. Some of the more consistent findings in human studies involve fetal growth and the immune system, including a reduced antibody response following certain vaccinations. [8]
That doesn’t mean every PFAS behaves the same way or that every exposure leads to harm. There are thousands of chemicals in this family, and scientists are still learning about many of them. But the evidence is strong enough that Health Canada recommends keeping PFAS concentrations in drinking water as low as reasonably achievable. [8]
For parents, the important takeaway is simple: these chemicals can persist both in the environment and in the body, making long-term exposure through something as routine as drinking water worth understanding.
4. Manganese
Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in rocks, soil, food, and water. Our bodies need small amounts of it to function properly, but too much manganese in drinking water can become a concern. [9]
It commonly enters groundwater as water moves through surrounding rocks and soil, which means concentrations can be higher in certain groundwater supplies and private wells. Mining, industrial activity, and landfill leaching can also contribute manganese to water sources. [9]
For children, the concern is primarily neurological development. Health Canada has linked elevated manganese exposure in drinking water with effects on memory, attention, motor skills, and behaviour. [9]
Infants can be particularly vulnerable because their brains are developing rapidly, they consume more water relative to their body weight, they absorb more manganese, and their bodies aren’t as efficient at eliminating it. Formula-fed babies may receive even more exposure when formula is prepared several times a day using water with elevated manganese levels. [9]
Health Canada considers infants sensitive enough to manganese that its maximum acceptable concentration of 0.12 mg/L was established with this population specifically in mind. [9]
For families using groundwater or private wells, manganese is another good example of why regular testing matters. Something naturally occurring can still become a problem when the concentration gets too high.
Protecting Your Child Starts With Understanding Your Water
As a parent, the goal isn’t to worry about every possible substance that could be present in water. It’s to understand which concerns are actually relevant to your home so you can make informed decisions about your child’s exposure.
If you’re connected to a municipal system, start by looking at the available water-quality data for your area and learning whether your neighbourhood has older lead service lines. If you live in an older home, property-specific testing can help determine what’s actually reaching your faucet. Families using private wells should test regularly for contaminants such as nitrate, manganese, and others associated with the geology and land use around their property. [3][6]
Once you know what you’re dealing with, the solution becomes much clearer. Different filtration technologies target different contaminants, which is why the right system should always be chosen based on your water rather than a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Health Canada also recommends using appropriately certified treatment devices and maintaining them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. [12]
This is where Purely can help.
Our Canadian Water Quality Database gives families an easier way to understand the available water data in their area and identify what may deserve a closer look. If further testing is needed, our water specialists can help you understand the results and determine what type of treatment—such as an under-sink filter for drinking and cooking water—makes sense for your home.
And if the contaminant you’re dealing with requires a solution we don’t offer, we’ll tell you that too and help point you in the right direction.
Children drink water every day during some of the most important years of their physical and neurological development. Taking the time to understand what’s in that water gives you an opportunity to reduce avoidable exposure and make one more part of your child’s everyday environment healthier.
Sources
1. Health Canada. Chemicals and Children’s Health.
2. Health Canada. Final Human Health State of the Science Report on Lead.
3. Health Canada. Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Lead; Guidance on Sampling and Mitigation Measures for Controlling Corrosion.
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. America’s Children and the Environment: Biomonitoring – Lead.
5. Health Canada. Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Nitrate and Nitrite.
6. Health Canada. Well Water and Health: Test Your Well Water.
7. Health Canada. Water Talk: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Drinking Water.
8. Health Canada. Objective for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.
9. Health Canada. Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Manganese; Water Talk – Manganese in Drinking Water.
10. Health Canada. Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Fluoride; Fluoride and Oral Health.
11. Health Canada. Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants: Recommendations From Birth to Six Months.
12. Health Canada. Treat Your Well Water; Water Talk – Lead in Drinking Water.
