From CancerSupportInternational.com
Birth Defects and Developmental Disorders
By Rebecca McKinlay
Aug 6, 2007, 16:39
Maternal residence near areas treated with pesticides increases the rate of Autism Spectrum Disorders in their children 07/2007 Environmental Health Perspectives (Research Article)
The birth records and place of maternal residence during key stages in gestation for 465 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders were compared with 6974 healthy children. Children born to mothers resident within 500m of areas treated with organochlorine pesticides, particularly dicofol and endosulfan, during the first 8 weeks of gestation were 6.1 times more likely to be autistic. The odds decreased as the distance from treated areas increased.
Bisphenol A in the womb disrupts egg formation in female mouse embryos 01/2007 PLOS Genetics (Research Article)
Pregnant mice were exposed to bisphenol A at low doses typical of those encountered by humans in the day to day environment. The eggs in the ovaries of their offspring showed an increased number of chromosomal abnormalities compared with those of unexposed individuals, which lead them to produce a larger number of abnormal eggs and embryos at maturity.
An Anthropological Approach to the Evaluation of Preschool Children Exposed to Pesticides in Mexico 06/1998 Environmental Health Perspectives (Research Article)
Preschool children from the Yaqui community in Mexico who were exposed to low levels of pesticides in their day to day environment were compared with their unexposed peers. Exposed children showed significant deficits in attention, stamina, gross motor coordination, short term memory and ability to draw a person (observational skills).
Hereditary Toxins Spur Scientific Concerns 12/2006 Womensnews (News Article)
Evidence that unborn children are at risk from synthetic compounds present in their mothers' body fat and from epigenetic changes that can last for up to four generations is stimulating research into the effects of these compounds and how they end up in human bodies. Precautions to limit exposure to dangerous compounds are reccommended.
Babies in Womb exposed to "Gender Bending" Chemicals 09/2006 Daily Mail (News Article)
An article reporting the discovery of known endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the placentas of pregnant women. These compounds are linked to various cancers and genital deformities.
Developmental Neurotoxicity of Industrial Chemicals 11/2006 The Lancet (Scientific Review)
Evidence linking certain industrial chemicals to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, attention deficit disorder, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy exists, and where evidence based preventative programmes, such as the removal of lead compounds from petrol, have been initiated they have been successful. The neurological effects of most industrial chemicals on developing children, including 200 chemicals shown to harm adults and many that have been shown to cause neurological harm to lab animals, is largely unknown. The lack of systematic testing of substances for neurological effects combined with the high level of proof needed to spur regulators into action means that unless regulators use the precautionary principle when dealing with these compounds the law will fail to protect the neurological health of developing children