Neurotoxic Chemicals Found in Learning and Developmental Disabilities Community
First-ever biomonitoring study on health affected community
61 toxic chemicals found in human participants pose the question: What is the relationship between toxic chemicals and rising rates of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other learning and developmental disabilities?
The Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative (LDDI) today released the first-ever biomonitoring report identifying toxic chemical pollution in people from the learning and developmental disability community. Mind, Disrupted: How toxic chemicals may affect how we think and who we are examines 61 toxic chemicals present in study participants in the context of rising rates of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other learning and developmental disabilities.
The Mind, Disrupted Biomonitoring Project tested 12 people for the presence of a set of synthetic chemicals and heavy metals. All 12 participants had detectable levels of BPA, mercury, lead, toxic flame retardant chemicals, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), perchlorate, and organochlorine pesticides in their bodies.
Two participants from Maryland were each found to have mercury, lead, BPA, and flame retardant chemicals present in their bodies. Jeff Sell, who lives in Bethesda, Maryland, and is Vice President of Public Policy at The Autism Society and father of two boys with Autism said “it was a jaw-dropping moment to see my results above the 95th percentile for some of these toxic chemicals.”
Autism, attention defcit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, intellectual disability (formerly termed mental retardation), lowered IQ and other disorders of learning, development, and behavior are highly prevalent among American children. Maryland, like other states, has seen significant increases in these disorders, which affect 1 in 110 Americans. Maryland experienced a 77% average annual growth rate for autism from 1992 to 2003 according to public school reporting.
“The overwhelming evidence shows that certain environmental exposures can contribute to lifelong learning and developmental disorders. We should eliminate children’s exposures to substances that we know can have these impacts by implementing stronger health-based policies requiring safer alternatives. Furthermore, we must urgently examine other environmental contaminants of concern for which safety data are lacking,” explained Ted Schettler, MD, MPH, and Science Director for the Science and Environmental Health Network. On Tuesday, February 2, Dr. Schettler testified before the Health and Government Operation Committee in Annapolis in support of a bill to ban the chemical BPA from children’s products.
Currently federal chemical policy does not provide a chemical safety net that truly safeguards our health and the health of our children. In December of 2009, the Maryland Department of the Environment acknowledged the need to address gaping holes in chemical policy by joining 12 other states in signing a set of principles for reforming federal policy. The principles call for resources to be made available to “identify and prioritize chemicals of concern in order to regulate the most problematic chemicals in commerce.”
“Maryland continues to be a leader in addressing chemicals of concern,” commented Maryland PIRG Environmental Health Advocate Jenny Levin. “We have a real champion in Delegate Hubbard, who this year is working to ban BPA and toxic flame retardants, as well as initiate a program to monitor the amount of chemicals in Maryland citizens so we know what toxins should be addressed most quickly.”
"Biomonitoring is the future in testing for chemical accumulation in the human bloodstream and our environment. There tests will not only save lives, it will give states the relevant information needed to prohibit the manufacture and sale of such chemicals in the future," said Delegate James Hubbard.
Mind-Disrupted-Biomonitoring-Report.pdf