EnvironmentalToxinsandDisabilities:AConcernThroughouttheLifespan

Whatismentalretardation?Whataredevelopmentaldisabilities? Personswithmentalretardationhavelimitationsinintellectualfunctioningandhave troublelearningthepracticalskillsnecessarytoliveindependentlyinsociety.For example,theymayneedassistanceinordertoreadandwrite,tohandlemoney,touse publictransportation,ortofindandkeepajob. Developmentaldisabilitiesincludementalretardation,plusotherconditionsthataffect thenervoussystemandbehavior.Examplesincludecerebralpalsy,epilepsy,attention deficitdisorder,andautism. Howdotoxinsintheenvironmentaffectpersonswithdevelopmentaldisabilities (DD)? Toxinsarechemicalsthatcanharmus.Theymayenterourbodiesthroughwhatweeat ordrink,throughtheairwebreathe,orthroughourskin.Toxinscanbefoundinour homes,ourschools,andourworkplaces. Toxinsintheenvironmentareanimportantconcernforpersonswithdevelopmental disabilities.Sometimesdevelopmentaldisabilitiesarespecificallycausedbyexposureto toxinspriortobirthorduringchildhood.Othersbornwithdisabilitiesmaysuffer additionalhealthproblemsorfurtherdeclineinintellectualfunctioningfromexposureto toxinsthroughouttheirlives. Whatenvironmentaltoxinsdopregnantwomenandtheirfamiliesneedtoknow about? Babiesstilldevelopinginthewombmaybeharmedbysmallamountsoftoxinsthat wouldhavelittleornoimpactonchildrenoradults.Examplesinclude: Alcohol.Evenonealcoholicdrinkperdaycaninjureunbornbabies.Justonenightof bingedrinkingatacriticaltimeofdevelopmentcaninjureafetus(babydevelopinginthe womb) Mercury.Forevery100womenofchildbearingage,8havebloodlevelsofmercurythat couldharmadevelopingfetus.Onecommonsourceofmercuryisbyeatingfish. Womenshouldavoideatingmorethan7ouncesoffattyfishes(tuna,shark,swordfish, tilefish,andmackerel)perweek. Nicotine.Pregnantwomenwhosmokeorwhoarejustexposedtosecondhandsmoke havechildrenwithgreaterrisksforintellectualdisabilities. Whattoxinsarehazardoustochildrenandadultswithdevelopmentaldisabilities?

Personswithdevelopmentaldisabilitiesaremorevulnerabletofurtherinjuryfromtoxins comparedtothegeneralpopulation.Theymayhavelesscontroloverexposuretoand escapefromtoxins.Examplesinclude: Lead.LeadisstillaseriousandcommontoxinintheUnitedStates.Leadisfoundin housepaintmanufacturedbefore1978,somecalciumsupplements,childrenstoys, decayingVenetianblinds,andevenpencils,crayonsandchalkmanufacturedinforeign countries.Homeremodelingcanreleaseleadintotheenvironment. Pesticidesandherbicides.Pesticidesarechemicalsthatkillmice,ants,roachesandother pests.Herbicideskillweeds.Pesticidescanbefoundintheskinsoffruitsandvegetables, onthechemicaltickandfleacollarsofyourdogorcat, andintheinsecticidesprays peopleuseintheirhomesandapartments. Cleaningproducts.Thesemaycontaintoxinsthatcanbebreathedinorenterthebody throughtheskin. Flameretardantsandplastics.Theseallmaycontainchemicalsthatmayinjurethe developingbraininthewombandafterbirth.Cleaningpracticessuchaswashingplastic babybottlesinbleachmayleachdangerouschemicalsoutofplastic. HowcanIlowerthechanceoftoxinsinjuringmyfamilymemberwith developmentaldisabilities? Knowwhattoxinsyoumaybeexposedtoatwork,throughgardeningandotherhobbies, andthroughhouseholdcleaning,homeremodeling,andotherhouseholdactivities. Considerenvironmentalrisksaccordingtothedevelopmentallevelofyourchild,nothis age.Forexample,ifyourolderchildoftenputsnonfooditemsinhismouth,andspends muchofhistimeonthefloor,hisriskforleadpoisoningmaybemorelikethatofa toddler. Rememberthatyourfamilymembermaynotbeabletocommunicatesymptomsfrom environmentalexposures.Shemaynotbeabletoreportshortnessofbreathfrom exposuretoflowersorcleaningproducts,orheadachesfromcarbonmonoxide. Goodnutritionfromahealthydietcanprotectyouandyourfamilyfromsometoxins. Forexample,adiethighiniron,calcium,zincandvitaminDofferssomeprotection againsttheharmfuleffectsoflead. WherecanIlearnmore? Yourlocalhealthdepartment.Lookinthetelephonebookunderthecitygovernment section.

PhysiciansforSocialResponsibility http://www.psr.org/ PediatricEnvironmentalHealthSpecialtyUnit http://www.cehn.org/cehn/resourceguide/pehsu.html AmericanAssociationonIntellectualandDevelopmentalDisabilities http://www.aaidd.org/