Time magazine indicates that a medical journal called Pediatrics may have found an interesting link between pesticide exposure and ADHD in children. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total numbers of ADHD diagnoses within the U.S. amount to about 4.5 million children between the ages of 5 and 17. In addition, the Centers have tracked an annual growth rate in ADHD diagnosis of 3 percent each year from 1997 to 2006. Chemicals used on the food we eat like pesticides are often felt to be key contributors to this trend. In fact, the instance of pesticides causing ADHD could be strong than other environmental forces like short-attention span electronics and short term loans advertisements.
Pesticides and ADHD – Watch the organophosphates, please
Toxic pesticides with an ADHD link are identified as organophosphates in the joint University of Montreal/Harvard University study. By observing the levels of pesticide residue in the urine samples of a lot more than 1,100 children aged 8 to 15, researchers found that those subjects with ADHD had the highest levels of dialkyl phosphates present. That strain of phosphate comes directly from metabolized organophosphate pesticides, as outlined by scientists. With each and every tenfold increase in residue detected, the scientists found a 35 percent increase in the odds of pesticide exposure causing ADHD. However, even low levels of exposure seemed to increase the odds of pesticide-induced ADHD.
Think in terms of close connection, but not a definite cause as yet
The intercollegiate study does raise more questions that need to be answered concerning pesticides and ADHD. Organophosphates work on the brain to damage nerve connections within the intended pests. It blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholinesterase, which maybe not coincidentally is the very same issue going on in the brains of ADHD kids. This disruption may cause hyperactive behavior and other cognitive disruptions.
So try to buy organic and stay away from home pest sprays
The Montreal/Harvard study didn’t focus on the specific method through which kids were exposed to the pesticide, but probably the most clear connection is through diet – fruits and vegetables sprayed while growing, indicates the National Academy of Sciences. Whether such studies will eventually lead to a national threshold for safe exposure levels remains to be seen. The safety standard must be set and not allowed to be pushed under the rug. In the meantime, if families can purchase organic fruits and vegetables (or grown their own) and avoid using buy spray in the home, the long-term health benefits could very easily outweigh the short-term costs.
Raw Foods SOS blog has some helpful ideas about the best methods to go organic. Don’t go for the myths and learn how to eat healthy on a daily basis. While you’re at it, learn about how mercury appears much of the food we eat if you are looking for a good scare.
Resources
Time magazine
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1989564,00.html?xid=rss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20time/topstories%20(TIME:%20Top%20Stories)&utm_content=Google%20Reader
Raw Foods SOS
http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/04/30/the-lowdown-on-organic-foo/
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