How does methyl isocyanate affect children?
There are no studies on the health effects of children exposed to methyl isocyanate. It is likely that the health effects seen in children exposed to methyl isocyanate will be similar to the effects seen in adults. We do not know whether children differ from adults in their susceptibility to methyl isocyanate. An increased rate of neonatal death was seen in babies whose mothers had been exposed during pregnancy to methyl isocyanate gas when a tank containing the chemical exploded. But it is not known whether these effects were specifically linked to methyl isocyanate exposure. Animal studies indicate that fetal exposure to methyl isocyanate may result in damage to the fetus.
