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Biomonitoring Project

The Learning and Developmental Disability Initiative (LDDI) is partnering with AAIDD's EHI and other organizatoins to do an important biomonitoring project.

The Learning and Developmental Disability Initiative (LDDI) is a national working group whose aim is to foster collaboration among learning and developmental disability (LDD) organizations, researchers, health professionals and environmental health and justice groups to address concerns about the impact environmental pollutants may have on healthy brain development. LDDI currently has over 400 organizational and individual members engaged in research, educational and policy efforts.

LDDI is well under way with a new national initiative known as the LDDI Biomonitoring Project. In this IRB approved project, 12 notable individuals concerned about learning and developmental disabilities (LDD’s) will be tested for a set of environmental chemicals considered to be neurodevelopmental toxicants. We see this effort as part of our ongoing interest in raising public awareness about the growing scientific evidence that toxic chemicals can contribute to neurological problems expressed in LDD’s. Over half of our participants have a learning or developmental disability, and each participant has a unique story to share about LDD’s and environmental health.

Background

§ Over 80,000 synthetic chemicals are registered for use today in the United States, with an additional 1,000 new chemicals added each year, yet less than 10 percent of these chemicals have been tested for their effects on human health. Large numbers of these chemicals are found in products we come into contact with every day. Many of these chemicals persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body.

§ Many toxic chemicals are now credibly linked to serious chronic diseases. Furthermore, new science demonstrates that even very small amounts of some chemicals can have adverse health effects, particularly in pregnant mothers, infants and small children.

§ An estimated 125 million Americans, have at least one chronic illness. Cancer, asthma, birth defects, endometriosis, and infertility are increasingly common. Nearly 12 million school-age American children are affected by developmental and learning disabilities. Mounting evidence links both the incidence and severity of these diseases to exposure to environmental toxicants.

Why biomonitoring?

Biomonitoring or “body burden” studies are scientific tools that detect the presence of chemicals in the body. The federal government has been conducting biomonitoring studies since 2001 and has encouraged states to develop their own programs. The data produced through biomonitoring can:

· Support efforts to improve public health by indicating trends in chemical exposures.

· Identify highly exposed communities.

· Assess the effectiveness of current regulations and set priorities for legislative and regulatory action.

FACT: Biomonitoring is an established scientific tool which has been used for many years in many countries around the world for public health surveillance and disease control. This type of research helps identify and reduce exposures that are toxic to human health. For example, biomonitoring studies examining lead levels in blood resulted in changes that have dramatically reduced those levels in today’s children, benefiting all of society. Biomonitoring of breast milk in Germany and Sweden led to policy changes that reduced levels of toxic chemicals, protecting the health of the youngest, most vulnerable population. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts national biomonitoring surveys, saying that this type of research will “provide unique exposure information to scientists, public health officials, and physicians to help prevent disease that results from exposure to environmental chemicals.”

90% Nigerian kids exposed to lead

11/03/2008

An architect and lecturer at University of Ibadan has said that 90 per cent of Nigerian children are "excessively exposed" to lead, citing high levels found in 25 samples of paints from different manufacturers in the country.

http://www.champion-newspapers.com/news/article13_031108.html

ADHD tied to more severe nicotine dependence

10/31/2008

Young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be particularly vulnerable to serious nicotine addiction if they start smoking, a new study suggests.

http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/10/30/eline/links/20081030elin005.html

Breastfeeding tied to fewer kid behavior problems.

10/30/2008

Breastfeeding may have a positive influence on behavior in early childhood.

http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/10/29/eline/links/20081029elin001.html

When allergies attack

10/28/2008

Here's food for thought: what if the key to solving your child's behaviour problems was as simple as modifying her diet?

http://www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/story.html?id=805ca7b8-714a-4655-9913-1ec623e04fd3

The toxic assault on our children

10/2008

Poisoned Profits: The Toxic Assault on our Children: the toxification of the environment is as grave a threat to the future as global climate change, by Philip and Alice Shabecoff.