Chemical Pollution Harms Kids’ Brains
Photo by Ebby May/Getty Images
From The Independent: “Chemical pollution may have harmed the brains of millions of children around the world in what scientists are calling a ’silent pandemic’.”
The world is bathed in a soup of industrial chemicals which are damaging the intellectual potential of the next generation and may increase the incidence of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, they say.
One in every six children has a developmental disability, such as autism, attention deficit disorder or cerebral palsy, the effects of which may be life-long.
The role of low-level pollutants, such as lead and mercury, on the growing brain has been recognised for decades and measures taken to reduce exposure to a minimum. But scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, say at least 202 chemicals are known to have the capacity to damage the brain and their effects at low levels of exposure are unknown. They say limits for exposure to chemicals should be set for pregnant women and young children, recognising the unique sensitivity of the developing brain, which is much more susceptible to the toxic effects of chemicals.
A selection of the 202 chemicals listed by the authors, including chemicals in household products that can cause serious accidents when ingested or have been used in suicide attempts:
Acrylamide
Used in adhesives, printing ink and agricultural sprays. Can cause drowsiness and hallucinations.Cyclohexane
Used to make nylon, paint and resin removers, and fungicides. Can cause headaches and convulsions.Acetone
Used in nail-polish remover and to make plastics, fibres and drugs. Breathing it over long periods can cause light-headedness and confusion.Methanol
Used as a petrol additive and in spray paints. Can cause an effect similar to drunkenness followed by severe stomach, leg and back pain.Trichloroethylene
Used in dry cleaning. Breathing it for long periods may cause dizziness, poor co-ordination and difficulty concentrating.Aniline
Used to make pesticides, dyes and rubber. Breathing in small amounts over several years may cause cancer.Styrene
Used in making plastics. Breathing small amounts over long periods causes alterations in vision, hearing loss and slower reaction times
[via the Organic Consumers Association]
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juanita said,
November 13, 2006 at 9:10 pm
Scary!
Melissa R. Garrett said,
November 14, 2006 at 8:54 am
This hits especially close to home now that we are in the process of having my son evaluated for developmental/behavioral/emotional disorders - Asperger’s Syndrome being a concern. While other people will poo-poo my fears that eating canned tuna early in my pregnancy doomed my son, you never know . . .
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December 21, 2006 at 4:48 pm
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