Scientists urgently call for an overhaul of existing chemical laws.

Very little today stirs up more fear and worry in parents like the steadily-increasing rate of autism disorder in this country. Just last month, the CDC reported that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) now affects 1 of every 88 American children. This represents a 23% increase from 2006, 78% increase from 2002 and a 20-fold increase from the 1980′s. Although autism is the result of a neurologic abnormality, the cause of these problems with the nervous system is unknown in most cases. 

An editorial published today in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives listing the top ten toxic chemicals considered most likely to contribute to these conditions. The editorial was written by a world-renowned leader in children’s environmental health, Dr. Philip Landrigan, along with co-author Dr. Luca Lambertini.  Both are professors at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. 

The National Academy of Sciences reports that 3 percent of all neurobehavioral disorders in children – such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – are caused by toxic exposures. Another 25% are caused by interactions between environmental factors and genetics. But the precise environmental causes are not yet known.

“A large number of the chemicals in widest use have not undergone even minimal assessment of potential toxicity and this is of great concern,” says Dr. Landrigan. “Knowledge of environmental causes of neurodevelopmental disorders is critically important because they are potentially preventable.” Mount Sinai recently developed a list of chemicals (below) found in consumer products and suspected to contribute to autism and learning disabilities. 

Top 10 Chemicals Highly Suspected in Autism

1. Lead 
2. Methylmercury 
3. PCBs 
4. Organophosphate pesticides 
5. Organochlorine pesticides 
6. Endocrine disruptors 
7. Automotive exhaust 
8. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 
9. Brominated flame retardants 
10. Perfluorinated compounds

According to a recent article from CNN, the EPA has tested only 200 of the 80,000 chemicals currently on the market and has regulated only 5 of those 200. The research team at Mount Sinai urgently has called for an overhaul of existing U.S. chemical laws. 

In addition to the journal’s editorial ,  other papers published also called for increased research to identify the possible environmental causes of autism – including smoking,  PCB’s and pesticides – in America’s children. 

April 25, 2011
The Healthy Mind Network

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The above story contains original content and/or information reprinted and editorially adapted by The Healthy Mind. Material is provided by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and EurekAlerts. 

Image Credit: Alain Elorza 

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