A/HRC/43/30 as they transmit lead to the fetus. Acute lead poisoning continues to occur due to poor or no regulation. 31. Mercury is a highly hazardous chemical strictly regulated and managed in many countries. It is released through coal-fired power stations, residential coal-burning, industrial processes, waste incinerators and mining, thereby affecting children in surrounding communities through air, water and soil pollution. The continued release of mercury into the environment and its presence in the food chain severely affects children’s health. It causes serious or fatal damage to the nervous, digestive and immune systems, as well as to the lungs, kidneys and other organs.49 Its organic form bioaccumulates through the food chain, particularly in seafood, causing neurological damage and impaired development in fetuses, infants and young children.50 Infant toys and foods 32. Children’s toys often contain high levels of toxic substances such as lead, mercury, arsenic, antimony, cadmium and chromium. 51 A study of children’s products in six countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia measured toxic metals in 569 children’s products, approximately 27 per cent of which contained at least one of the six metals and 13 per cent of which contained more than two. 52 Children are vulnerable because they frequently put toys in their mouths. 33. Children have died and experienced serious health effects from toxic chemicals in infant cereals. High arsenic levels have been found in infant rice cereals and children have been poisoned by ingesting toxic chemicals incorrectly packaged as food.53 C. Toxic exposure resulting from business activities 34. Industrial activities may cause significant environmental damage affecting children through exposure to air, soil and water pollution, among others. Chemicals from pesticides, plastics and other manufactured goods enter water supplies and the food chain. Endocrinedisrupting chemicals, which may contaminate food through packaging, have been linked to liver, thyroid and neurodevelopmental effects. 35. The toxicity of many chemicals in common use by industries is still not fully understood and the requirements regulating chemicals are often limited, even for potentially hazardous chemicals. Governments often fail to sufficiently monitor the situation and regulate companies. 36. Children worldwide are exposed to agricultural toxicants and pesticides in nearby communities or through working. Weak or no health, safety and environmental regulations and information of the risks and impacts are factors in such exposure. 37. Children are exposed to toxic substances and pollutants from nearby small- and large-scale mining activities or by working in mines (see child labour below). Pollution from small- and large-scale mining has exposed children in nearby communities to mercury, cyanide, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, lead and dust, all of which have contributed to air pollution and severely affect their health.54 49 50 51 52 53 54 www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mercury-and-health. www.epa.gov/mercury/health-effects-exposures-mercury. WHO, Inheriting a Sustainable World?, p. 66. International Pollutants Elimination Network and GRID-Arendal, “Toxic metals in children’s products: an insight into the market in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia” (2013). A/HRC/33/41, para. 88. WHO, “Artisanal and small-scale gold mining and health”, technical paper (2016); submission from Human Rights Watch. 7