Children can be exposed to chemicals in different ways and sometimes to a greater extent than adults. Their physical and physiological characteristics, patterns of food and beverage intake, and unique behaviours can influence their chemical exposures.

Join this webinar to learn about work of the Children’s Health Subgroup of the OECD Working Party on Exposure Assessment to improve the assessment of chemical exposures for children. The event will provide an overview of OECD methods, tools and case studies to improve regulatory assessment of children’s exposure to chemicals. The webinar will include presentations on considerations unique to children that influence chemical exposures such as mouthing behaviours, as well as exposure to chemicals through crafts and toys and personal care products.

Participants will also learn how findings from a recent survey can help to identify additional information needs and shape future OECD work on children’s health and chemical exposure.

Discover what the event is about.

Introduction by Ester Carregal Romero (OECD) 5 min

Overview of available OECD methods and case studies on Children’s Exposure Assessment by Joop de Knecht (RIVM) 20 min

• Overview of OECD publications, tools and case studies from the Children’s health subgroup, including the outcome of the OECD survey (2021) on gaps / need for further development of children’s exposure assessment tools/methodology

Estimating Mouthing Exposure in Children - Compilation of Case studies by Health Canada (speaker TBD) 20 min

• This presentation will provide an overview on the available information on behaviors unique to children, with a focus on direct object mouthing, to ensure that potential risks for are addressed

Considerations when Estimating Exposure to Crafts and Toys in Children by Angelika Zidek (Health Canada) 20 min

• This presentation will provide a summary of compiled exposure parameters and assessment algorithms for estimating children's exposure to crafts and toys via dermal, inhalation, and oral routes, drawing on published guidance and approaches used by regulatory authorities. The work reviews methodologies across seven categories of craft and toy products, with the aim of supporting consistent and scientifically robust exposure assessments. In addition, it considers emerging craft and toy products, acknowledging that the rapidly evolving market can present new challenges for exposure estimation and may identify areas for future work.

Surveys on children’s exposure via personal care products by Walter Brand (RIVM) 20 min

• This presentation will present ongoing work which aims to improve the understanding of children’s exposure to chemicals in personal care products (PCPs) through an analysis of existing data and generating new data through surveys. The presentation will cover the results of surveys on the use of PCPs in children conducted in the Netherlands and Canada in 2025, and compare the findings across the two countries.

Pathway to the new OECD Children’s Health Subgroup Programme of Work by Ester Carregal Romero (OECD) 20 min

• The final presentation will present results of a survey conducted in 2026 to map existing activities and expertise, identify gaps and emerging needs, and support the planning of future OECD projects, including a Children’s Health Workshop.

Questions & Answers session 15 min