Dr. Chaney asks the question, "Should we be concerned about the effects of toxic chemicals in our environment on our health--or, more importantly the health of our children?"  Dr. Chaney has written before about the evidence suggesting that toxic chemicals in the home could cause childhood asthma.  He states, "that is alarming because asthma can predispose individuals to other diseases and affects quality of life."
     In a recent study reviewing clinical studies, the authors identified 11 chemicals (2014) commonly found in the environment as developmental neurotoxins (toxins that interfere with normal brain development).  This study compares with 6 developmental neurotoxins that they were able to identify in 2006.  Even more worrisome, the authors suggested that many more environmental neurotoxins remain undiscovered, and these environmental neurotoxins come from many sources: 1. Industrial pollutants. 2. Persistent groundwater contaminants. 3. Insecticides and herbicides used in agriculture. 4. Common household products and furnishings.

Autism has increased by 78% since 2007 and now affects 1 of 88 eight-year-old children.  ADHD has increased by 43% since 2003 and now affects 11% of children aged 4-17.  It is noted that some of this increase could be due to better diagnosis of these conditions, but nobody believes that all of it is due to improved diagnosis.  The authors claim that much of this increase is likely due to environmental exposure to the kinds od developmental neurotoxins they identified.  
     Dr. Chaney writes, "we don't need to panic.  The science isn't that strong. We do need to ask ourselves, "What if it were true?"  The consequences of lowered IQ and developmental behavioral problems are so significant that it may not make sense to wait until we have unassailable scientific evidence before we act. So, we should take sensible precautions." Here are the sources and sensible precautions we can take: 1. Some are industrial pollutants. For these, we need to lobby for better environmental regulation.
2. Some are persistent groundwater contaminants. For these we need to drink purified water whenever possible.  3. Some are insecticides and herbicides used in agriculture. For these we need to buy organic, locally grown produce whenever possible.  4. Some are found in common household products and furnishings.  For these we need to become educated label readers and use non-toxic products in our home whenever possible.

~  Mary Ann

Next week: Hip to Knee Pain Causes and Relief.