Too many children are ill, be it is from neurological issues, metabolic issues, cancer, respiratory problems, and/or psychological and social issues. Top scientists believe that environmental toxins are causing widespread brain injury and loss of function across a generation of children.
As a society, we seem to be failing our children. Just look at the explosion of special education classes and clinics in schools across the nation. We do not connect poor health with the products that we are using on a daily basis because we are not experiencing the acute aspects of poisoning. We see no warnings, and most health care providers do not know about them.
Neurodevelopmental disabilities, including autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, dyslexia, and other cognitive impairments, affect millions of children worldwide, and the rates of these illnesses are increasing. A review published in The Lancet Neurology claims the news is so troubling that it calls for a worldwide overhaul of the regulatory process to protect children’s brains. The review states that the most problematic chemicals are lead, methylmercury, arsenic, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), toluene, manganese, fluoride, tetrachloroethylene (a solvent), a class of chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (flame retardants), and the pesticides chlorpyrifos (widely used in agriculture) and DDT.
Let’s look at one class of chemicals that are very prevalent in the United States. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are similar in structure to natural hormones such as the female hormone estrogen, the male hormone androgen, and thyroid hormones. Products that contain EDCs interfere with development, reproduction, neurological function, metabolism, immune system function, and much more. Many scientists believe that there is no safe level of exposure.
Twelve of the worst and most widely used EDCs are BPA, dioxin, atrazine, phthalates, perchlorate, fire retardants, lead, mercury, arsenic, PFCs, organophosphate pesticides, and glycol ethers. The most common routes of exposure are these:
Personal Care Products
Most contain phthalates (which are carriers of fragrances) and BPA. These are found in shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, cosmetics, antibacterial soaps, and other personal care products.
Drinking Water
Drinking water may be contaminated with atrazine, glyphosate, arsenic, and/or fluoride. Arsenic is a potent carcinogen and is also harmful to a child’s developing brain.
Canned and Packaged Foods
These are common sources of BPA and BPS.
Produce
Meat from animals raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) contains antibiotics, hormones and other industrial chemicals that may disrupt your endocrine system. Pesticides, herbicides, and industrial runoff may coat your conventionally grown fruits and vegetables in EDCs.
High Mercury Fish
Most large fish are contaminated with mercury and other heavy metals. Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin, sea bass, and tuna. Farmed fish also tend to have higher amounts of contamination as they are the CAFOs of the sea.
Plastic and Nonstick Kitchenware
Plastic containers may contain BPA or BPS. These endocrine disrupting chemicals can leach into your food, especially if the plastic is heated. Chemicals used to create nonstick, stain resistant, and water repellent surfaces are also toxic and highly persistent in your body and in the environment. They may cause thyroid disease, infertility, and developmental and reproductive problems.
Cleaning Products
The products you use to clean your floors, toilets, oven, windows, etc. typically contain ingredients that can throw your hormones out of whack. Room air fresheners, fabric dryer sheets, and softeners are the worst culprits for EDCs.
Household Dust
Fire retardant chemicals are often found lurking in household dust because they are gradually released from treated furniture such as couches, mattresses, and carpet padding.
Office Products and Cash Register Receipts
These are common sources of EDCs and BPA.
Far from being “little adults,” children are uniquely vulnerable to environmental toxins. The human brain is extremely sensitive to the impact of environmental toxin exposures. Yet, even though the catastrophic state of health and neurodevelopment in United States children is emblazoned across virtually every set of child health statistics, public health and regulatory agencies continue to turn a blind eye.
We need to learn to make better choices to help our children and stop the spread of this epidemic.
