Could pesticides be causing your child's ADHD?
As if we needed more evidence that common pesticides in produce could be bad for us. Now a new study suggests that they could be linked to ADHD in children.
The research, published today in the journal Pediatrics, found that children with higher levels of pesticides measured in their urine were more likely to have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Researchers at the University of Montreal and Harvard measured pesticide levels in the urine of more than 1,100 children ages 8 to 15 and found that those with the highest levels of markers for a common class of pesticide known as organophosphates, had the highest incidence of ADHD. In one measure, children with higher than average levels of the marker, had twice the incidence of ADHD. The compound itself was found in nearly all -- 94 percent -- of children.
Of course the study couldn't prove that the insecticides caused ADHD. Researchers note that a limitation of the study is that childrens' urine was only tested once. Measuring any link to ADHD likely would require evidence of long-term exposure and require ongoing testing, the investigators said.
Still, the findings are consistent with previous research that shows links between organophosphates and behavior problems and lower cognitive function, the paper notes. Researchers have been warning for some time about too much exposure to the pesticides, but mostly with farm workers, not the general public.
Comments
I do NOT buy this at all. My son and his son both have ADD. I have ADD. And my father, by the accounts of every story I've ever heard and from knowing him, MOST CERTAINLY had ADD. He was born in 1916 and I sincerely doubt that he was dealing with malathion ingestion in his younger days. Tell THAT to the nuns at two schools who expelled him!
Posted by: Judy | May 17, 2010 2:54 PM
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!!!
Companies are so concerned with profitability that they have made it so our oranges and fruit supply can with stand an early freeze, or weigh so much to bring in more dollars. They need to be held accountable when findings like this come into play as corporate greed takes over common sense! This is an absolute outrage, that needs to be investigated by the government and fines and penalties need to be levied against the culprits! We should not have play Russian Roulette when feeding our children! Moorons!
Posted by: VERYCONCERNED FATHER | May 17, 2010 3:54 PM
could your bad parenting be the cause of your child adhd!? all this hype is so bogus. there are so many parents, teachers and doctors handing out adhd and ausbergers and autism diagnoses these days as a way to pass the blame and make a buck.
learn to be a good parent. raise your kids with some discipline and respect and we'll see a huge drop in these type of "illnesses"
(for all you zealots out there NO i am not saying these conditions dont really exist, merely that they are MUCH over used to explain behavioral problems)
Posted by: hinsel | May 17, 2010 4:14 PM
Did you mean 2008 instead of, "2998?"
Posted by: A | May 17, 2010 4:19 PM
Well this must be great news to the pharmaceutical industry. Never waste a good crisis. Now just get those kids on chronic meds, if you treat them well enough they may even stop fidgting long enough from all the pesticides to become good little wage earners. Why stop the pesticides when it presents such a "win/win" opportunity?
http://healthjournalclub.blogspot.com/
@Judy, If you look at the study, pesticides in this study would account for at most 20% of cases, leaving 80% due to other causes.
Posted by: Paul | May 17, 2010 4:56 PM
Whether they contribute to ADHD, cancer, neurological disorders or whatever other ailments, eating pesticides can't be good. I don't need science. I have logic.
http://non-toxicmom.com
Posted by: thenontoxicmom | May 17, 2010 4:57 PM