Out of the Frying Pan ... and into our Brains?

My father was a chemical engineer. He didn't talk much about his work, but I do remember him once working very hard with a colleague to get FDA approval for a plastic lining that would keep rust from forming on the inside of tin cans and ruining the food.

Those were the days when General Electric could boast that progress was its most important product, and chemical companies promised "a better world through chemistry."

We solved the rust problem, but now we face the "chemical" problem; chemicals have become so much a part of our world—in our toys, household goods, furniture, and even food—that we need a more comprehensive approach to finding out what's in these products and a more coordinated, robust approach to regulating those that can cause us harm.

Researchers at the Environmental Defense Fund say "newborn infants come into the world with hundreds of synthetic chemicals in their bodies because of exposure of their mothers before or during pregnancy." They report that 93 percent of American's bodies test positive for BPA (bisphenol-A), a neurotoxin found in many plastic bottles and freezer containers.

Why does it matter? Evidence is mounting that lead and man-made chemicals can cause neurological and other problems for children.

In the first human study, researchers publishing in Environmental Health News have found a link between the level of phthalate chemicals—which make plastics pliable—in children's urine and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition, researchers have reported that children with ADHD had average levels of lead in their blood that were 20 to 30 percent higher than those of children who did not have ADHD, as covered in this February 4, 2010 article in The Economist.

The Society for Research in Child Development says that in the United States, at least 7 million children under age 6 (a quarter of all preschoolers) could have lead levels high enough to damage their development.

A recent study on the effects of BPA in mice has found a link between BPA exposure and asthma.

Moving Beyond Fear to Action

It can be overwhelming to hear about the risks—and frustrating to know that a loose patchwork of regulatory agencies bears the burden of proving that these substances are harmful, instead of requiring producers to prove they are safe—but take heart in the fact that there are sane responses that can be effective.

First, get the facts (without the hype). In an interview about his new book, Slow Death by Rubber Duck, Rick Smith acknowledged that the chemicals in shampoo and platic bottles and other everyday things appear to become part of our bodies quite easily. But with a little attention to ingredients and small changes to our habits, we can reduce their presence in our bodies.

If you want to make sure the toy your toddler is sucking on is safe, the nonprofit website Healthy Stuff can tell you about cadmium and other harmful ingredients. http://www.healthystuff.org/

Meanwhile, Public Radio International has compiled a myth and reality fact sheet after a researcher retracted his study that claimed a link between vaccines and autism.

What We Can All Do

Beyond our personal lives, we can also take steps to protect ourselves and our children from everyday chemicals.

A better system. The Environmental Defense Fund, HealthyStuff.org and others are calling for a more uniform system that requires companies to disclose which chemicals are in their products, and a system of federal policies and regulations to ensure that chemicals in products and in widespread use are safe, a system envisioned in a comprehensive revision of the Toxic Substances Control Act, originally enacted in 1976.

Last year (2009), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) drafted legislation that would ban BPA from baby bottles, sports water bottles, reusable food containers, infant formula liners and food can liners.

In New York state, a long-ignored law is being used to force companies that make household cleaning products disclose the chemicals in their products.

A growing movement. The environmental Defense Fund's Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition has information and action alerts for strengthening consumer and family protections from harmful chemicals.

Earthjustice also has action alerts and information in its Action Center.

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Jan Richter a clinical social worker and a "retired" child advocate, is editor emeritus of our e-newsletter, the Update.