Health and development impacts
Diseases and disabilities are clearly the result of complex interactions among genetic, environmental and social factors. Toxic exposures deserve special scrutiny because they are preventable causes of harm.
The following resources and reports are just a small sampling of the growing body of research linking toxins in our environment with negative health and developmental impacts.
Mercury and Learning Disabilities: A Parent’s Guide - The Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), the National Education Association (NEA), and The Arc of the United States have released a new report that identifies mercury pollution as one of the greatest threats facing developing fetuses, infants and young children. The report, designed for parents, explains where mercury comes from, provides food consumption advice, offers ways to help stop mercury air pollution at its source, and helps parents identify clues to learning disabilities.
Mercury and the Developing Brain – Clear the Air White Paper
Polluting Our Future: Chemical Pollution in the US that Affects Child Development and Learning – National Environmental Trust
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - (919) 541-3345 - Human health and human disease result from three interactive elements: environmental factors, individual susceptibility and age. The mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is to reduce the burden of human illness and dysfunction from environmental causes by understanding each of these elements and how they interrelate.
Center for Children’s Health and the Environment - (212) 241-7840 - CCHE examines a range of diseases that include asthma, cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders, and also makes scientifically-based policy recommendations for protecting children.
Environmental Health Perspectives(EHP) is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health. EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and its content is free online. Print issues are available by paid subscription.
In Harm’s Way - Many chemicals widely used by industry and commonly found at home are toxic to the developing brain and can cause developmental disabilities including behavioral and learning disabilities, hyperactivity, attention deficit, lower IQ and motor skill impairment. This report examines this growing body of research and offers recommendations for future action to prevent harm.
Preventing Harm also has an extensive list of resources and organizations related to chemicals and their impact on the developing brain.