The Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC) just released a list of the top ten toxic chemicals that are suspected to cause autism and learning disabilities in children.
The CDC reported that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) now affects 1 in 88 American kids. That's a 23% increase from 2006.
Many people feel that it's just more cases are being diagnosed but still, it's a 78% increase if you look back from 2002.
The article from CEHC said:
"[…] the National Academy of Sciences reports that 3% of all neurobehavioral disorders in children are caused directly by toxic exposure in the environment and another 25% disorders are caused by interactions between environmental factors and genetics."
So it seems that household toxins play a bigger role in the disease than previously thought.
The top ten chemicals are:
4. Organophosphate pesticides
5. Organochlorine pesticides
6. Endocrine disruptors
7. Automotive exhaust
8. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
9. Brominated flame retardants
10. Perfluorinated compounds
So make sure to stick to organic foods, open windows in your home regularly to air out any lingering chemicals, take your shoes off as you come inside your house so you don't track pesticides in and look for plastic and cans that are BPA-free.
Follow those easy tips, stay away from that list of chemicals as much as possible (even though they're everywhere) and hopefully your child will grow up happy and healthy.
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