Introduction:
Environmental health hazards can include, among others, exposure to heavy metals (lead, cadmium), pesticides, dioxins, impurities in toys, tobacco smoke and indoor air pollution. Children are continually developing, which points to the need to recognize them as a group particularly vulnerable to the adverse health effects of environmental factors on health. The aim of this study is to examine the awareness of parents living in the province of Silesia in the field of health hazards occurring in home and children’s play area and check if awareness depends on the education of the parents.

Material and Methods:
The research method was an initial questionnaire containing questions about the health risks associated with children’s playground, exposure to heavy metals, dangerous or potentially dangerous toys, exposure to tobacco smoke in the living AREA and harmful substances indoors and outdoors. The study included 218 parents from the province of Silesia.

Results:
Regardless of education 75% of those surveyed mistakenly believe that children’s exposure indoors is lower than outdoors. More than half of parents with primary education or/vocational and 1/3 of people with higher education do not see the problem of children's exposure to heavy metals. The main route of exposure of children to heavy metals, according to parents with primary education or vocational training is the skin. About 5% of parents with higher and 25% of respondents with primary/vocational education, smoke cigarettes with a child.

Conclusions:
The results indicate that the higher the level of education of the parents, the greater awareness of children's environmental health hazards, but knowledge in this area is still fragmented and needs to be completed.