Toxic Household Products and Developmental Disorders

Psychologists are beginning to question the safety of storing and use of everyday cleaning and maintenance products such as toilet bowl cleaner, pesticides, sealants, paints and varnish. A significant number of these products contain chemicals that are unregulated because chemicals produced in small quantities are exempt from Environmental Protection Agency assessment. Very little is known about the effects of these chemicals on children's developing nervous systems. Many of these household products contain toxic chemicals. A study conducted by National Academy of Sciences in 2000 estimated that 25% of neurological deficits in children are most likely due to the interaction of chemicals and genetic factors and 3% due to chemicals alone. In addition, 78% of the 3000 most highly produced chemicals are generated in the U.S. and lack screening information available on the effects of these products. Scientists are concerned that there may be a link between developing disorders such as Autism, Asperger's and ADHD with the use of these products. In Europe, an organization named REACH, or Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals, created legislation before the European Parliament that would make the sale and use of these chemicals illegal until their safety is empirically demonstrated. In contrast, chemicals in the U.S. are legal unless proven unsafe by the U.S. Toxic Substance Control Act. Luckily, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure, is a treaty that would better regulate the international trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticides--has banned or restricted these chemicals. Sadly, the U.S. signed this treaty in 1998 and has not ratified it. These products continue to circulate throughout our country, households and around our children without the known consequences to our health.