At least 3,000 BC kids are involved in the sex trade, suggest the findings of the first major North American study attempting to quantify the problem. Cherry Kingsley, who works with sexually exploited children in Vancouver, praised the study released yesterday by University of Pennsylvania social work professors Richard Estes and Nell Weiner for their groundbreaking work. From research In Canada, Mexico and 17 U.S. cities, the academics estimated that about 326,000 U.S. children are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. (The Canadian figures are to be released in two weeks but US figures suggest it's about 32,000 children.) "I agree it is an epidemic," said Kingsley, a former teen prostitute who works for Save the Children. "I don't think it is outrageous to say 3,000 throughout BC And I think it's the tip of the iceberg." The authors of the report The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the US. Canada and Mexico found that one in a hundred children is the victim of prostitution, pornography or other forms of commercial sex. Kingsley, who met with Estes as part of his research, said police and medical workers have procedures to deal with abused women but not sexually exploited kids. 'We have to remember each one of these figures is a real child." The report found:

       - 40 percent of girls and 30 per cent of boys in prostitution had been sexually abused at home.

       - Less than a quarter of the children were from poor homes. 95 per cent of the commercial sex involving boys was with men.

       - At least 25 per cent of girls in gangs had sex with other members as part of the gang rites.

       - Married men who have children of their own are one of the most common customers who pay kids for sex.