Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States according to many professionals. And experts in the field believe that this sharp rise is likely due, in large part, to the jumble of chemicals that pregnant women, fetuses, babies and young children encounter in their daily lives.

Today in the USA, about one in every 110 children has autism … 1 in every 110. That’s a 600% increase in the last twenty years. This spike within a single generation cannot be solely accounted for by genetic causes, refined diagnostic criteria or even increased awareness in the medical community. There just simply must be other underlying reasons.

The Profound Chemical Effect

Donna Ferullo, director of program research at The Autism Society warns that “lead, mercury, and other neurotoxic chemicals have a profound effect on the developing brain at levels that were once thought to be safe. With a complex combination of (toxic chemical) ingestion, developing brains reach a tipping point.”

“Today, to a mother carrying BPA, mercury, phthalates, and brominated flame retardants, is born a baby with 200 containments already in its cord blood,” said Ferullo. “The developing brain is exquisitely sensitive to environmental exposures from conception through childhood.”

Suruchi Chandra, MD, a psychiatrist at the True Health Medical Center, guides families through the special biomedical interventions for autism and related disorders. Chandra believes autism could be due to prolonged exposure … over years … to many toxins. “There is no simple way of measuring this,” she added. “I teach parents to avoid exposure to toxics, to avoid high pesticide foods, (and) to use nontoxic cleaners. These strategies can be beneficial but they place these already overstressed families in the position where they have to be hypervigilant.”

The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011

The reality is that there is only so much parents can do. Even if the home is free of toxins, kids goes to school, or partake in activities where harmful chemicals exist, pointing to the need for improved regulations and policies that manage the use of nasty chemicals in our everyday lives. They are everywhere.

The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, introduced earlier this year, could help alleviate many serious health problems like autism, especially in our next generations.

ecoSTORE USA products are not only free of nasty chemicals … we support and make an effort to spread the word that Congress needs to repair our broken chemical system with legislation like The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, so that chemicals are proven safe before being added to our homes, schools, and workplaces. The 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is out of date and ineffective at protecting the public from chemicals that have been linked to learning disabilities like autism, cancer, asthma, reproductive problems, and other serious diseases. It’s just that important.