The Holistic Health Warrior

Posts Tagged ‘Chemicals’

Is there a connection between chemical exposure and ADHD?

A growing body of evidence links chemical exposure to the development of ADD/ADHD in children. Some chemicals are more strongly implicated than others and some of the studies are inconclusive. However, the possible connection between toxic chemicals and ADD/ADHD cannot be ignored.

Following is a list of common chemicals implicated in the development of ADD/ADHD.

Phthalates

These ubiquitous chemicals are most often used to soften plastics and in cosmetics, lotions and also present in scented products as “fragrance stabilizers”. Studies have shown that pregnant women who used phthalate-containing cosmetics while pregnant were more likely to report behavioral problems with their children over the course of several years. They have also found that male children can tend to have more feminine behavior patterns. Korean studies have also shown a probable link between phthalate exposure and the development of ADHD. Read the rest of this entry »

Phthalates are chemicals which are used in everything from vinyl floors to plastic tubing and soaps and lotions. They are pervasive in the environment and have increasingly become associated with changes in the development of the male brain as well as with genital defects, metabolic abnormalities and reduced testosterone in babies and adults.

According to a study published in the International Journal of Andrology, elevated levels of phthalates in pregnant women’s urine are linked to less masculine play behavior by their sons several years later. 

A team of U.S. and British researchers posed a standard play questionnaire to the parents of 145 preschool-age children. Then they ranked the types of play on a scale from most masculine (such as play fighting or using trucks) to most feminine.

An effect was identified among the sons of women with higher concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in their prenatal urine. On average, those boys scored 8 percent further away from the masculine end of the scale than other boys.

Some would argue that less masculine play behavior is not and should not be considered a problem. Perhaps not, but the following more serious birth defects should be of concern:

• Infertility
• Decreased sperm count
• Undescended testes
• Malformation of the male genitals

So the important thing to remember, especially when pregnant, many things can affect the baby. Even the things that come in contact with our skin. 

Sources:

http://saferchemicals.org/chemicals/phthalates/

http://mercola.com

To Your Great Health!