ADHD: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
“Risk = Toxicity + Exposure”
Toxicity is the capacity of a chemical to cause harm to health. The amount needed to cause harm depends on the chemical. Like other chemicals, some pesticides are more toxic than others. A small quantity of a highly toxic pesticide can cause great harm..., the longer you are exposed the greater the chance of harm (1). A new analysis of U.S. health data links children's attention-deficit disorder with exposure to common pesticides... (2). The study found that the risk of having ADHD increases in children who have higher concentrations of dialkyl phosphate metabolites. The metabolites indicate exposure to organophosphates, pesticides that affect the nervous system. Those with higher-than-average levels of this metabolite were two times more likely to have ADHD than those whose levels were undetectable (3,4). The new study shows it's possible even tiny, allowable amounts of pesticide may affect brain chemistry (2,4).
1. What Are the Potential Health Effects of Pesticides? - California Department of Pesticide Regulation
http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dept/comguide/effects_excerpt.pdf
2. "Research links pesticide with ADHD in children"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100517/ap_on_he_me/us_med_children_pesticides
3. "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Urinary Metabolites of Organophosphate Pesiticides" - Pediatrics, May 17
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2009-3058v1
4. "Pesticides may increase risk of ADHD in children" - American Medical News
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/05/31/prsb0531.htm
