Chemicals Blog Posts

Amanda_Bryant's picture

Autism and Toxic Chemicals: Is There a Link?

by Amanda_Bryant
July 21, 2011

1 in 110:  These are the staggering odds that a child born in the United States will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

$3.2 Million:  This is the average cost to care for a child diagnosed with autism over the course of his or her lifetime.

Have you noticed that children across the country are being diagnosed with any one of the various autism spectrum disorders at unprecedented rates?  It’s, frankly, rather scary.  Twenty years ago, the word Autism wasn’t a regular part of our vocabulary.  Today it is a real and present concern which begs the question, what has changed?

Recently, CNN Health published an article titled, “Scientists Warn of Chemical – Autism Link.”  There is widespread belief amongst the scientific community that autism is triggered by a genetic component.  Scientists now question whether there could be a link between susceptible genes and chemical exposure. Read more...

annie's picture

President's Cancer Panel: Chemicals Threaten Our Bodies

by annie
June 06, 2011

Renowned columnist, Nicholas Kristof has recently written an op-ed piece for the NY Times, titled, "New Alarm Bells about Chemicals and Cancer". Kristof reported that the President's Cancer Panel, a group of three Cancer experts who "review America’s cancer program and report directly to the president", have made a call for America to take a more rigorous approach to regulating chemicals.

In addition to regular doctor visits and conventional screenings, the President's Cancer Panel suggests eating organic food, checking radon levels in our homes and microwaving food in glass containers rather than plastic!

It's interesting that Kristof notes that the President's Cancer Panel, the "Mount Everest of the medical mainstream", has made recommendations that we regularly talk about here at MightyNest.  Read more...

Katy Farber's picture

Steingraber: Industrial Chemicals Causing Learning Disorders, Creating Pandemic

by Katy Farber
February 28, 2011

Sandra Steingraber, mother, scientist, and author of several books about the impacts of industrial chemicals on children and the environment, warns us that we are facing a silent pandemic—which is increasing learning disorders, developmental delays, and special education and medical costs at alarming rates.

In this important article from Orion, Sandra takes us through some of her parenting decisions, starting with selecting a preschool for their daughter. One of the factors was the play structure behind the school. Pressure treated wood like that used in decks and play sets, before 2004, were made with arsenic. Children who played with them frequently over their lifetimes had elevated cancer risks. So she and her husband selected another school. I’m left wondering about all the kids in the first preschool, and all the kids nation wide still playing on old, arsenic containing play sets. Read more...

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