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ADHD and the Environment
Can exposing the developing brain to environmental toxins lead to ADHD? An upcoming study in the NIH journal Environmental Health Perspectives examined the effects of two substances known to affect the developing brain - cigarette smoke and lead. In their analysis, the authors calculated that 4.2% of kids in the United States between the ages of 4 and 15 are both diagnosed with ADHD and treated with prescription medications. This would represent about 1.8 million children. If a child's mother smoked during pregnancy, the odds of a child's developing ADHD were 2.5-fold higher, after controlling for other factors. If a child had a blood lead level higher than 2 mcg/dL, the odds of developing ADHD were increased more than 4-fold. (By comparison, the lead level at which the CDC recommends taking action to lower a child's exposure is 10 mcg/dL.) These exposures are so common that this would mean that about one out of three cases of ADHD in the US could be attributed to cigarette smoke or lead! But ADHD has continued to rise while these exposures have fallen. Might there be other environmental exposures contributing to the problem? I would love to see a similar study looking at two other known neurotoxins: mercury and organophosphate pesticides used on our foods.
Alan Greene MD FAAP
October 3, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
I also wonder that myself. My 10 year old has been diagnosed with ADHD by the time he was 5 years old. I did not smoke when I was pregnant with him nor do I smoke now. But I Strongly feel that it is the chemicals in our everyday food, that has a huge affect on our kids and are selfs.
Posted by: Jacquie Peters | Aug 7, 2009 6:24:49 PM
I agree totally, and suggest another toxin - fluoride. Several studies have shown that blood lead levels are much higher in fluoridated areas. There was subsequently one study discounting the lead/fluoride link but when I actually analysed the stats they were grouped rather bizarrely and in fact did show much higher blood lead levels in fluoridated areas. I'm confident that if the data was regrouped in a more logical manner, the study would have confirmed a 200-500% increase in children's lead levels when the water fluoridation method was hydro-fluorosilic acid or related fluoride, and a 50% or higher increase when sodium fluoride was used.
Posted by: Julia | Jan 21, 2009 1:28:08 PM
