Resources
In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development January 1, 2000
Addressing Toxic Chemical Influences on Developmental Disabilities
Download the report • Facts of Concern • Out of Harm’s Way Fact Sheets • Health Professional Training PowerPoint
Learning, behavioral and developmental disabilities including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism prevent our children from reaching their full human potential. Seventeen percent of children in the United States have been diagnosed with one or more developmental disabilities. These disorders have widespread societal implications, from health and education costs to the repercussions of criminal behavior. Though trends are difficult to establish with certainty, there is a growing consensus that learning and behavioral disorders are increasing in frequency.
These disabilities are clearly the result of complex interactions among genetic, environmental, and social factors that impact children during vulnerable periods of development. Research demonstrates that pervasive toxic substances, such as mercury, lead, PCBs, dioxins, pesticides, solvents, and others, can contribute to neurobehavioral and cognitive disorders. Human exposure to neurotoxic substances is widespread. A review of the top twenty chemicals reported released under the 2000 Toxics Release Inventory reveals that nearly half are known or suspected neurotoxicants. Over 2 billion pounds of these neurotoxic chemicals were released on-site by facilities into the air, land or water. As our knowledge about these neurotoxic chemicals has increased, the “safe” threshold of exposure has been continuously revised downward. Toxic exposures deserve special scrutiny because they are preventable causes of harm.
In 1998 GBPSR launched the project In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development to address this important issue.
A 140 page, fully referenced, peer reviewed report, addressing the links between toxic chemicals in our environment and learning, behavioral and developmental disabilities in children.
Facts of Concern
- FACT: According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17% of children under 18 in the U.S. have one or more developmental disabilities.
- FACT: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered a common syndrome that affects 3-6% of all school children. Ongoing studies suggest the incidence may be much higher.
- FACT: Some commonly used pesticides cause lifelong hyperactivity in rodents exposed to a single small amount on a critical day of brain development.
- FACT: Fetal mercury exposure may impair learning, memory, and attention in children as they grow older.
- FACT: IQ deficits in adolescent children are linked to fetal PCB exposure.
(FACTs are referenced in the report In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development)
Out of Harm’s Way Fact Sheet Series for Health Professionals and Patients
Health Care Provider Fact Sheet
Creating a Healthy Environment for Your Child’s Development
Why Breast-Feeding is Still Best for Baby
English Versions
Spanish Versions
In Harm’s Way Training Programs for Health Professionals PowerPoint Presentations
Download PowerPoint Presentation (2002; 80 slides, notes, and references)
- User needs to go to “notes view” to read/print notes. It is best to click on the notes text boxes to read notes and references, because some slides have text that runs over onto new pages which you will not see if you do not click on the text box. Notes that exceed 1 page will not print out in PowerPoint. You can order the printed notes from GBPSR as we have imported them into a Word file.
- In order to read the notes on-line you need to go to “Edit” and then “Edit Slide” mode and then “View Notes page.”
- The authors of the PowerPoint Presentation “In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats to Child Development” do not authorize changes to any text or graphics and are not responsible for the accuracy of material if changes have been made.