AAIDD Webinar with Autism NOW Center February 10, 2011

8/7/2019 AAIDD Webinar with Autism NOW Center February 10, 2011

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AAIDDs Environmental

Health Initiative

Begun 2003

Priorities:

Education, Outreach, Training

Policy Research and Science


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Summit at Wingspread

Retreat at Airlie

National Agenda for Health Promotion &Disability Prevention

Funded by The John Merck Fund


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IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

Disability PREVENTION has been anissue for decades

A Timely Issue as more people arefocusing on good health for

everyone

Growing national/international interest

in disability and the environment


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We know a great deal but many

causes are still unknown We are able identify many genetic,

chromosomal, biologic and organic

causes of disability that occur before,during or after birth.

In 60% of cases of intellectualdisabilities the causes are unknown


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Autism: A Developmental

Disorder Social reciprocity

Communication

Repetitive behaviors orrestricted interests


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Autism CausationMultifaceted:

One cause rare

Possible: 2 causes

Most common: 3 or more causes


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Concerns about Chemicals

Exposure to neurotoxins can cause

intellectual and developmental disabilities

Toxic exposures may affect the health ofpersons living with a developmental disability

Chemical rarely act in a simple cause/effectfashion: mixtures, aggregate exposure


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Solvents and

other neurotoxic

chemicals

Small exposures can

have a big effect on

the developing brain


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WE Live In a Sea of Chemicals26,746,543 Chemicals

were commercially available

in 2009

200,000+ are commonly used in

commerce

700 new commercial chemicals are

added each year


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WE Live In a Sea of Chemicals

U.S. Industries discharged

26.7 billion lbs. of

toxic waste in 2001

More than 75% of these chemicals have not had

any toxicological screening


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CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

EXPOSURE IS CHANGING

Old paradigm.Old paradigm.

Chemical exposuresChemical exposures

happen at the factory, onhappen at the factory, on

the farmthe farmNew New

Homes/schools are aHomes/schools are a

source of exposuresource of exposure

Courtesy: J. Peterson Myers, Environmental Health SciencesCourtesy: J. Peterson Myers, Environmental Health Sciences


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The average American

carries BODY BURDEN

of hundreds of chemicals

in their blood, urine, fat,

and breast milk


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BODY BURDEN

LOW LEVELS OF CHEMICALS BUIILD UPOVER TIME Body Burden

CDC/LDDI Biomonitoring Projects

American Red Cross (n=10) Project Found287 industrial chemicals in newborn cord

blood. 217 were animal or humanneurotoxicants.


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The Precautionary Principle"When an activity raises threats of

harm to human health or the

environment, precautionarymeasures should be taken even ifsome cause-and-effect relationshipsare not fully established

scientifically." from the January 1998Wingspread Statement on the PrecautionaryPrinciple


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Are Developmental Disabilities on

the Rise?

Researchers estimate that between 3

and 8 percent of the 4 m babies born

in the US each year will be affected by

developmental disabilities


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Is environment involved in this

rise?

National Academy of Science experts

estimate that 3% of DD are directly

caused by environmental toxicants.

Another 25% are due to interactions

between environmental factors and

individual genetic susceptibility


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Rise in autism


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Permanent Address: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=autism-rise-driven-by-environment

New Study: Autism Linked to EnvironmentResearch links soaring incidence of the mysterious neurological disorder to

fetal and infant exposure to pesticides, viruses, household chemicals

AUTISM AND ENVIRONMENT: The astonishing rise in autism in California cannot be explained by better diagnosis or changes in reporting, according to a


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THERE IS A SERIOUS LACK

OF RESEARCH ABOUT THEIMPACT OF TOXICANTS ON

PREGNANT WOMEN AND

CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHOARE LIVING WITH AUTISM

INTELLECTUAL AND

DEVELOPMENTALDISABILITIES


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HIGH RISK POPULATIONS

AND CHILDREN AND ADULTS

WHO ARE LIVING WITH

THESE CONDITIONS SHOULD

BE INCLUDED IN ALL

RELEVANT RESEARCH

STUDIES


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National Childrens Study

GOAL: Improve the health and well-being

of children

Examine the effects of environmental

influences on health and development of

100,000 children who will be followed

prenatally until 21 years of age


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NCS will examine:

Natural & Man-made environmental factors

Biological & chemical factors

Physical surroundings Social factors

Behavioral influences and outcomes

Genetic factors

Cultural & family influences and differences

Geographic locations


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Led by Federal Agencies: NIH, CDC, ED, EPA

Currently geared-up to collect data on 30,000

children through seven Vanguard sites.

Funding is a major issue our voices need to beheard. This is a critically important researchstudy that will help our children lead healthier

lives.


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Why Chemicals Impact Children

More: Behavioral Influences

Pica

Hand to mouthactivity

Mouth or chew on

objects

Mouth breathing


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Why Chemicals Impact Children

More: Behavioral Influences

Use special cups, bottles, or eating

utensils that are usually plastic rather

than glass or metal

Sit for long periods in a car seat,

special adaptive equipment, orwheelchair seat


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Why Chemicals Impact Children More:

Mobility Influences

Require assistance when washing

hands

Spend long periods of time indoors

year round

Crawl, sit, lie on the floor whenindoors


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Why Chemicals Impact

Children More: Physical

Influences

Predisposed to respiratory illness

such as asthma or reactive airway

disease

Unable to remove oneself from

irritating fumes or other exposure need help to move.


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Why Chemicals Impact Children More:

Health Influences

Compromised body systems

Pharmaceuticals

Preventive health behaviors/lifestyle factors


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INCREASED VULNERABILITY

DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL

STRESSORS

MINORITY STATUS

URBAN

ENVIRONMENT

HAZARDOUS

OCCUPATIONS

POVERTY

HIGH

UNEMPLOYMENT

HEALTHDISPARITIES


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WHAT CAN WE

DO?


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TAKING ACTION At Work

At Home At School - Anyplace

REDUCE PESTICIDE USAGE

IPM Prevent/Monitor/Control Pests

USE GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTSREDUCE PCB EXPOSURE IN DIET

Cut fat vegetables fruits grains

EAT ORGANIC FOODSAVOID IRRADIATED FOODS


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REDUCE MERCURY EXPOSURE

Follow Fish Advisories

Properly Dispose Mercury Thermometers &

Alkaline Batteries

REDUCE INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANTS

Open the windows

Damp mopVacuum with Hepa Filters


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GET THE LEAD OUT

Eliminate lead based paint in old

buildingsRent or buy lead free homes

Test drinking water


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Action and Advocacy

In order tominimize healthdisparities forpeople with

developmentaldisabilities andautism thereneeds to be anincreased focus

on the effect ofenvironmentalexposures onhealth.

Through educationand teaching on theindividual level

Program

development andprimary preventionstrategies at thecommunity level

Advocacy,

empowerment andpolicy developmentat the regulatorylevel.


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TAKE ACTION

GET INFORMED and know the

specific sources of risks

PRIORITIZE which problem posesthe greatest threat

START SMALL

DO THE DOABLE


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AAIDD Environmental Health

Initiative www.aaidd.org

For additional information visit an associated

website atwww.ehinitiative.org

Thank You!


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Resources

National Library of Medicine Household ProductDatabase (http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/)

National Library of Medicine Tox Town(http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/)

Coalition to End Lead Poisoning(http://www.leadsafe.org/)

EPA Carbon Monoxide(http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html )

Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org )

Citizens Guide to Radon(http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html )

Beyond Pesticides(http://www.beyondpesticides.org)

AAIDD Webinar with Autism NOW Center February 10, 2011

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