(31-05-12) The Top 10 Autism-causing Chemicals in Your Home

by Victor Marchione, MD

Important to all of us is the health of children. Our own children, our
grandchildren, nieces, nephews, godchildren. When it comes to environmental
toxins affecting our most susceptible, innocent members of society, we must all
stop and take notice. That's why we are reporting today on a paper published
that presents the top-10 chemicals highly likely to contribute to autism and
neurodevelopmental disorders.

This important health news was published in the journal "Environmental Health
Perspectives." This issue is particularly vital, as four other studies in the
journal suggest a link between toxic chemicals and autism. And the end result
is a call for more research to uncover all possible environmental causes of
this life-changing condition.

RECOMMENDED: Remove the Toxins in Your Body That Could Be Poisoning Your Vital
Organs

It is estimated that three percent of all neurobehavioral disorders in
children are caused by toxic exposure in the environment. Another 25% are
caused by interactions between environmental factors and genetics. But the
precise environmental causes are not yet known. While genetic links have been
made clear, it is still believed that environmental causes may also play a
role. It is up to scientists to understand the role of these toxins in autism
that now affects approximately 500,000 of the four million U.S. children born
each year.

What's striking is that so many chemicals in wide use have not even gone
through minimal tests about toxic effects. Imagine if one child's autism -- a
life changed -- were preventable? There literally needs no more to be said.

Researchers listed 10 chemicals found in consumer products that are suspected
to contribute to autism and learning disabilities. Here they are:

1. Lead: Contained in ,many products, including chalk, crayons, toys, candles,
incense and pacifiers 2. Methylmercury: Contained in fresh water, salt water
and the fish we eat from there 3. PCBs: Found in florescent lighting,
electrical wires, meat, and fish 4. Organophosphate pesticides: Insecticides 5.
Organochlorine pesticides: Pesticides like DDT 6. Endocrine disruptors: Found
in a range of places, including insecticides, herbicides, fumigants and
fungicides 7. Automotive exhaust: Found on all of our roads 8. Polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons: An airborne pollutant, also found in meat cooked at
certain temperatures and smoked fish 9. Brominated flame retardants: Added to
products to reduce fire-related injury and property damage 10. Perfluorinated
compounds: Contained in "Teflon" and grease-resistant food packaging

We have long known that toxic elements in our society contribute significantly
to health problems. We've come a long way in reducing our collective exposure,
but we still have a long way to go.

Source; Landrigan, P., et al., "A Research Strategy to Discover the
Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental
Disabilities," Environmental Health Perspectives, 2012;
DOI:10.1289/ehp.1104285.

News

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In evidenza

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Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.