| |
Autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mental retardation, dyslexia, and other biologically based disorders of brain development affect between 400,000 and 600,000 of the 4 million children born in the United States each year.
Toxic chemicals likely cause injury to the developing human brain either through direct toxicity or interactions with the genome.
The Severity of Autism Is Associated with Toxic Metal Body Burden and Red Blood Cell Glutathione Levels.
Exploration of the environmental causes of autism and other NDDs has been catalyzed by growing recognition of the exquisite sensitivity of the developing human brain to toxic chemicals
According to the Environmental Health Exports, the top 10 Suspects are listed as below:
Lead. This used to be added to paint and gasoline, and still can be found in soil, water, old paint, toys, and other consumer products.
Methylmercury. Mercury comes out of the smokestacks of coal-fired power plants under lax regulation. This mercury precipitates out over oceans and lakes, and is transformed into methylmercury as it gets into the food web. We are exposed to toxic methylmercury primarily from eating fish.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). A family of chemicals used widely in electrical equipment until their ban in 1979, PCBs persist in the environment and can contaminate fish and other food. They accumulate in animal fats, so are prevalent in farmed salmon (which is fattier than wild salmon), beef, eggs, chicken, cheese, and butter.
Organophosphate pesticides. These include such common insecticides as malathion, parathion, diazinon, and chlorpyrifos.
Organochlorine pesticides. These include lindane, a common lice treatment, and endosulfan. DDT (now banned) is an organochlorine pesticide that Rachel Carson made infamous as a bird-killer.
Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system come in a variety of forms. Some, such as dioxin and PCBs, have been linked to definitive health problems. Others, such as the plasticizer BPA, are suspected of having health effects at low exposure levels.
Automotive exhaust. Well, most of us are turning the key each and every day. Can we find ways to drive less? Even better, can we find ways to use something to fuel our cars that does NOT produce such exhaust? The U.S. is, after all, the land of innovation.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). A byproduct of incomplete combustion, exposure to PAH has been linked to a range of health problems, including anxiety and behavioral issues in children.
Brominated flame retardants. These chemicals are purported to protect consumers from fire dangers. (The effectiveness of that protection is controversial.) They are found in a wide range of consumer products, such as children’s pajamas, mattresses, couches, car seats, strollers, and nursing pillows. Some have been proven harmful and phased out; others are still in use.
Perfluorinated compounds. These are stain and stick resistant chemicals. Think Teflon, Gore-Tex, upholstery treatments, and dental floss. Yup, dental floss. It’s embedded in the fibers of some brands to make it slide more easily through the teeth.
These substances are coming into our bodies from the air we breathe, yes, but also from the products we buy, the food we eat, our grooming products, our electricity supply.
These substances are ubiquitous. It is almost impossible to avoid exposure. It is good to try to avoid these chemicals.
These substances are polluting us, and our children, with potentially severe consequences. Should we wait to find out for sure if these substances cause harm?
This list is not exhaustive and will almost certainly expand in the years ahead as new science emerges. It is intended to focus research in environmental causation of NDDs on a short list of chemicals where concentrated study has high potential to generate actionable findings in the near future. Its ultimate purpose is to catalyze new evidence-based programs for prevention of disease in America’s children.
|
|
