A new Toxic-free Childcare Guide will deliver trustworthy advice for childcare centres and preschools on where potentially harmful chemicals may be found.
The resource, published by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, will help the industry make changes to keep children safer.
"Children are more sensitive to chemicals than adults, due to their behaviour, the types of products they use, the smaller size of their bodies, and the developmental stage of their organs," ISF researcher Rachael Wakefield-Rann said.
The guide includes advice for government policy makers on how reforms to standards and regulations can help.
It lists harmful chemicals and where they can potentially be found.
For example, PFAS chemicals can be found in carpets, cleaning products, clothing, cookware, food packaging, furnishings, outdoor apparel and paints.
While Australia has strong safety standards to protect children from most significant hazards, some potentially hazardous chemicals still find their way into childcare centres.
Research shows some are toxic and have been found in products such as toys, kitchen utensils, furniture, electronics, clothing and building materials.
