Top Child Health Agencies Urge Testing to
Protect Early Brain Development From Toxins:
One Out of Six Affected

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

FROM:   Learning Disability Association of America

NEW YORK, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ One out of six children are suffering from behavioral disorder according to the Learning Disabilities Association and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS–NIU). Both are calling for research testing to recognize, reduce and eliminate the environmental toxins scientifically linked to learning disabilities.

Specifically, the two groups want all regulatory agencies and Congress to institute neurotoxicity testing for food additives, pesticides and drugs to find out how these young systems are being affected, says Audrey McMahon of the Learning Disabilities Research Committee.

"We're concerned that the pervasive damage isn't visible until years later, when it's reflected in a current endemic increase of learning disabilities," says McMahon. Those affected total an estimated 12 million children (17%) in the United States under the age 18."

There is a release into the environment of developmental and neurological toxins of about 24 billion tons a year, according to a publication, "Polluting Our Future," that the Learning Disabilities Association released in February with the National Environmental Trust and the Physicians for Social Responsibility. But it found that U.S. industries reported only five percent to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The report said that only a few chemicals have been tested and only 3% of federal research expenditures have been spent on early child development.

The Learning Disabilities Association has invited Ken Olden, the NIEHS' Director to speak at their Annual conference in New York, February 7-9th, about his "mission to reduce disease and dysfunction from environmental causes" through scientific research programs working tightly with communities to involve lay and professional cooperation.

"This marriage between brain sciences research with advances in environmental neurotoxicology and community participation is the only model that can guide us to a new appreciation of needs and solutions," according to McMahon.

CO: Learning Disability Association of America; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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