From the study:
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.
A previous study implicated lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, and toluene as developmental neurotoxicants. The newer study adds manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, and the polybrominated diphenyl ethers to the list. Instead of the current way to doing things, which is to use millions of people as unsuspecting guinea pigs for testing new chemicals, the study concludes, "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."
The following are common sources for chemicals linked to neurotoxic effects:
- Lead: paints, older plumbing
- Methylmercury: burning fossil fuels (especially coal), seafood
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): electronics, paints, cements, waterproofing compounds among many other applications
- Arsenic: pesticides, herbicides, treated wood, chemotherapy
- Toluene: solvents, gasoline
- Manganese: drinking water in certain places, gasoline, stainless steel
- Fluoride: toothpaste, drinking water in certain places, pesticides, some teas
- Chlorpyrifos: pesticides
- Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT): pesticides (banned in most countries now)
- Tetrachloroethylene: dry cleaning
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): flame retardant found in various household items
Chances are you're breathing in at least one of these chemicals right now, and we say this not to spread fear, but to spread awareness of what needs to change.
