Growing Number of Chemicals Linked to Brain Disorders in Children

[bananas]

http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/02/16/growing-number-of-chemicals-linked-to-brain-disorders-in-children/65953.html

Growing Number of Chemicals Linked to Brain Disorders in Children
By JANICE WOOD Associate News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on February 15, 2014

A new study finds that toxic chemicals may be triggering the recent increases in neurodevelopmental disabilities among children, including autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and dyslexia.

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai say a new way to control the use of these substances is urgently needed.

“The greatest concern is the large numbers of children who are affected by toxic damage to brain development in the absence of a formal diagnosis,” said Philippe Grandjean, adjunct professor of environmental health at HSPH. “They suffer reduced attention span, delayed development, and poor school performance. Industrial chemicals are now emerging as likely causes.”

<snip>

The researchers say it’s crucial to control the use of these chemicals to protect children’s brain development worldwide. They propose mandatory testing of industrial chemicals and the formation of a new international clearinghouse to evaluate industrial chemicals for potential developmental neurotoxicity.

“The problem is international in scope, and the solution must therefore also be international,” said Grandjean. “We have the methods in place to test industrial chemicals for harmful effects on children’s brain development — now is the time to make that testing mandatory.”

[bananas]

1. Open access at The Lancet

in html or pdf:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422%2813%2970278-3/abstract

The Lancet Neurology, Volume 13, Issue 3, Pages 330 - 338, March 2014
doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70278-3
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity

Dr Philippe Grandjean MD, Philip J Landrigan MD

Summary

Neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and other cognitive impairments, affect millions of children worldwide, and some diagnoses seem to be increasing in frequency. Industrial chemicals that injure the developing brain are among the known causes for this rise in prevalence. In 2006, we did a systematic review and identified five industrial chemicals as developmental neurotoxicants: lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, and toluene. Since 2006, epidemiological studies have documented six additional developmental neurotoxicants—manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, and the polybrominated diphenyl ethers. We postulate that even more neurotoxicants remain undiscovered. To control the pandemic of developmental neurotoxicity, we propose a global prevention strategy. Untested chemicals should not be presumed to be safe to brain development, and chemicals in existing use and all new chemicals must therefore be tested for developmental neurotoxicity. To coordinate these efforts and to accelerate translation of science into prevention, we propose the urgent formation of a new international clearinghouse.

Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

[pnwmom]

2. Oh, no! Looks like more woo!

[TBF]

3. The Harvard School of Public Health

is a little more trustworthy, at least imo, than Natural News so I think you will find folks taking this article seriously.

[kristopher]

4. Google "Failed policy POPs Treaty"

This is a shining example of how globally enacted solutions are able to be undercut by powerful vested interests.

Perhaps the research you are reporting will make a difference, but I doubt it since the problem is appreciated already.

Breaking up concentrated wealth is the solution we must pursue for survival.