Protecting our children. (Advice and dissent: letters from our readers).I agree with your September/October 2001 cover story "Children at Risk": Chemical exposure really needs to be monitored. Children are very susceptible to asthma and cancer. That was a frightening photograph depicting children eating lunch and having DDT DDT or 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1,-trichloroethane, chlorinated hydrocarbon compound used as an insecticide. First introduced during the 1940s, it killed insects that spread disease and feed on crops. sprayed on them. Is it a coincidence that my friend with asthma lives two blocks away from a chemical plant? Paul Dale Roberts Elk Grove, CA Thank you for your great coverage of children's health Children's Health Definition Children's health encompasses the physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being of children from infancy through adolescence. . However, you forgot to mention the need to avoid synthetic shampoos and detergents. I am chemically sensitive, and I can't be around people who use these harsh chemicals. Steen Hviid Dallas, TX Your article concerning the risks of chemical exposure to children was excellent, although I was surprised that you didn't include any information on thimerosal thimerosal /thi·mero·sal/ (thi-mer´o-sal) an organomercurial antiseptic that is antifungal and bacteriostatic for many nonsporulating bacteria, used as a topical antiinfective and as a pharmaceutical preservative. , a mercury preservative commonly used in vaccines. Since the early 1990s, with the addition of Hepatitis B and HiB vaccine to the early infant vaccine schedule, many thousands of children exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency's safe guidelines for mercury exposure. My son exceeded his allowable exposure by 125 times! During this same time period, an epidemic of children diagnosed with learning disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders Pervasive Developmental Disorders Definition Pervasive developmental disorders include five different conditions: Asperger's syndrome, autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. has occurred. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. used the Vaccine Safety Datalink The Vaccine Safety Datalink Project (VSD) was established in 1990 by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study the adverse side effects of vaccines. Program to investigate thimerosal, it found statistically significant associations between vaccine exposure and tics and speech, language and neurodevelopmental delays in children. Although there is now a thimerosal-free alternative for every early infant vaccine, remaining thimerosal-preserved vaccines are only slowly being phased out. Parents need to know to ask for "mercury free" vaccines for their children. To learn more, go to www.safeminds.org or www.vaccinesafety.edu. Lyn Redwood, RN, MSN Atlanta, GA Your recent story recited many issues involving childhood exposures o chemicals. While these are important and legitimate issues, your readers should know that there is much more to children's health than a litany of alleged risks related to chemistry and much more to chemistry than risks. The business of chemistry is about developing products and technologies that make life better, healthier and safer for children around the world--from lifesaving pharmaceuticals, vaccines and medical supplies to pure drinking water, fire-retardant fabrics and safety glass. Frank Rathbun, American Chemistry Council The American Chemistry Council (ACC), formerly known as the Chemical Manufacturers' Association, is an industry trade association for American chemical companies. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is in charge of improving the public image of the chemical industry. |
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