Toxins Developmental Disorders in Children

Brain damage and developmental disorders in children due to toxins

18/02/2014

In children who are exposed to neurotoxins over an extended period of time, brain damage and developmental disorders can occur as a result. About one child in six around the world suffers from an abnormal brain development characterized by autism, ADHD, dyslexia or cerebral palsy. Two researchers now urgently warn against the fact that many environmental toxins have not been sufficiently tested with regard to health risks. As nerve agents, they could cause serious damage to fetuses and children. To date, 214 substances are known to cause brain development disorders in children. That could only be the tip of the iceberg.

Many toxins have not been tested for possible dangers to the brain development of fetuses and children
Philippe Grandjean from the University of Southern Denmark in Odense and Philip Landrigan from the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York speak of one „silent pandemic“ of brain development disorders, in particular infant need to be preserved. In a journal article in the journal „The Lancet Neurology, "the two experts call at least 12 substances that have been proven to cause brain damage in children, but a total of 214 chemicals that have not been adequately tested, including furniture, clothing, and toys, could cause serious damage to the human brain cause.

„In 2006, we conducted a systematic study and identified five industrial chemicals as developmental neurotoxins: lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, and toluene. Since 2006, epidemiological studies have documented six additional developmental neurotoxins: manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, tetrachlorethylene and polybrominated diphenyl ether“, the researchers report in the journal. All this could only be the tip of the iceberg. „We are very sure that there are even more undiscovered neurotoxins.“ Most of the more than 80,000 industrial chemicals used in the US have not yet been tested for a potentially damaging effect on fetuses and children.

Thorough tests should protect fetuses and children from neurotoxins
„The current regulations on chemicals are unfortunate enough to protect children whose developing brains are particularly sensitive to toxic environmental chemicals, "said Grandjean in a statement from the journal. „The only way to reduce toxin contamination is to ensure that existing and new chemicals are tested for neurotoxicity before they are put on the market, "emphasizes Landrigan, who calls for thorough testing by the manufacturers to demonstrate that the substances used are harmless. „In order to coordinate these actions and accelerate the transfer of scientific results into prevention, we propose the urgent establishment of a new international authority“, advise the researchers.„Our great concern is that children worldwide are exposed to unidentified toxic chemicals that silently erode intelligence, interfere with behavior, prevent subsequent success and harm societies, most severely in developing countries. "(Ag)

Picture: S. Hofschlaeger