New international research has established a connection with a commonly used chemical and lowered IQ in children.
In the past materials used in chesterfields, carpets, even clothes were impregnated with flame retardant polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). These chemicals were banned in most places a decade ago, but are still commonly found in our daily lives.
Dr Bruce Lanphear is the supervising researcher of the multi year study. He is a professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and clinical scientist at the Child and Family Research Institute, British Columbia Children’s Hospital.
ListenThe study was published in the latest edition of Environmental Health Perspectives
Although since voluntarily withdrawn in the US, PBDE’s persist in the environment, are still commonly found in most homes and offices, and persist as well in human bodies.
The study involved testing of 309 pregnant women at 16 weeks, and then followed the children through age five.
This study confirms previous studies suggesting that PBDE’s may be neurotoxins which can especially affect the development of brains and nervous system in the foetus.
The study suggests that exposure to these chemicals in early foetal brain development can be linked to a lowering of I.Q levels of as much as 4.5 points along with hyperactivity in five-year-olds
Dr Lanphear says the intention of the study is not request immediately throw out older furniture or materials that may be impregnated with PBDE’s, although it may be something to consider especially for pregnant women, or those seeking to soon become pregnant.
He does however suggest that we are continually learning more about the effects of many common chemicals on human health and suggests that governments start to examine long-term effects of chemicals in our environment before they are approved.
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