How Environmental Toxins Contribute to ADHD and Autism

We face an epidemic of neurological and learning disorders that cannot be explained away by simple genetics. The Centers for Disease Control report that one out of six children has a neurological disorder. In the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), 82,326 students receive special-education services. Students with symptoms of ADHD fall under the “Other Health Impairment” category where a total of 6,022 were enrolled in 2008.

The increase of autistic students enrolled in LAUSD between 2003 and 2008 is truly alarming, especially since the overall student population decreased during those years.

	Year                Number of autistic students 2003                3,497 2004                5,155 2005                6,250 2006                6,769 2007                7,542 2008                8,516

In other words, in 2003, one out of 211 children was autistic; in 2008 the number of autistic students increased to one out of 81. If this trend continues, in eight years there could be one out of ten students on the autistic spectrum.

Autism was one of the main health topics discussed during the presidential debates. Autism has increased twelve-fold in California, and many others states are experiencing similar increases. This is an urgent crisis, and we must immediately address the root causes of these neurological disorders.

Environmental toxicity — particularly heavy-metal toxicity — causes a range of serious neurological and degenerative disorders. Heavy metals and other environmental toxins saturate our world. Our children come into frequent contact with mercury, lead, aluminum, pesticides and other toxins like the fire retardants found in cars and electronic equipment.

These toxins accumulate in the body’s vital organs and tissues, including the brain, liver, kidneys, spleen, and pancreas. They disrupt normal function, giving way to learning disabilities, hyperactivity, impaired IQ, poor concentration, depression, anxiety, violent behavior, headaches, and other obstacles to a child’s education and general well-being.

How prevalent is environmental toxicity? We don’t have the answers — yet. But, as the Environmental Protection Agency reports, we do know that one out of six women carries unsafe levels of mercury in her blood, putting 630,000 American infants per year at risk for cognitive and developmental damage. Fetuses in particular have the odds stacked against them if they mature in a cesspool of toxins

No level of lead exposure can be considered safe. The U.S. Public Health Service guidelines for “acceptable” blood level exposures (in micrograms per deciliter) have dropped dramatically over the years: Until 1969, 60 micrograms had been deemed safe; now, any exposure over 3 micrograms is considered a contributing factor to lower IQ and various behavior problems.

What can be done? All men and women should get tested for heavy metal toxicity before they start having children. But that aside, with such a large population of children struggling against learning disabilities, why not evaluate all children for environmental toxins before they enter the school system? A simple hair clipping, for instance, can be inexpensively tested for heavy metals. If test results indicate toxicity, there are several safe, scientifically-proven ways to remove toxins from the body; many families find success with chelation therapy.

Another inconvenient truth regards the food our children consume. Two characteristics of toxins in our food are artificial food coloring and aspartame. Most artificial food coloring contains mercury, lead and arsenic at microdose levels, but there is no safe level of these destructive toxins. Aspartame is a known neurotoxin. These additives have no business in children’s cereal or commercial vitamins such as Centrum Kids or Flintstones. Regrettably, not one school district in the United States has established a policy to measure environmental toxicity in students with learning disabilities or behavior disorders.

Systematic testing and detoxification of heavy metals and other environmental toxins could help reverse neurological disorders and over time, help reign in school district budgets by spending less money on special education services and better serve students. And the potential value for your child’s education and well-being — well, who could put a dollar figure on that?

There must be a strong campaign to educate young people about diet and testing for heavy metal toxicity and other environmental toxins. If you would like to get on board to start raising awareness about the causes and solutions for addressing the epidemic of neurological disorders please contact me at victoryoveradhd.com.
Mother/author
www.victoryoveradhd.com

           References:

• Wolcott William and Trish Fahey. The Metabolic Diet. New York: Broadway Books, 2000.
• “Twice as Many Newborns Are at Risk for Developmental, Learning Problems — EPA ,” Greenwire, February 5, 2004, viewed at http://www.ewg.org/news/story.php?id=2234
• Marla Cone, “Cause for Alarm Over Chemicals,” Los Angeles Times, April 20, 2004.

Thomas H. Maugh II, “Safe Lead Levels Lowers IQ in Children, study finds,” Los      Angeles Times, April 17, 2003.
Los Angeles Unified School District Planning, Assessment and Research Student   Information Systems Branch Special Education Support Services, CASEMIS Reports Special Education by Category, 2003,2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

• Dr. Joseph Mercola “The Dangers of Electro Magnetic Radiation” www.mercola.com

Janet Starr Hull, PhD www.sweetpoison.com

•  Page Remick  Food to dye for www.purezing.com

              Debbie Lindgren www.Bluedominoes.com 

Deborah Merlin, mother and author of Victory Over ADHD www.victoryoveradhd.com deborahmerlin@pacbell.net

• Dr. Joseph Mercola “The Dangers of Electro Magnetic Radiation” www.mercola.com

Disclaimer: The entire contents of the editorial are based upon opinions of Deborah Merlin, unless otherwise noted. The information in this editorial is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research conducted by Deborah Merlin. Deborah Merlin encourages you to make your own health care decisions upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.