Autism spectrum disorders are an ever increasing problem in the developed world, being the most prevalent developmental disorders by far. Currently more than 1 in 200 children are believed to be afflicted, and this could mean as many as 1 in 100 boys, as they are more widely affected than girls. The numbers continue to rise and actual figures for those affected may be much higher than what is reported as there is a general feeling that many pediatricians continue to miss telltale signs of autism spectrum disorders.

For a long time, research efforts have concentrated on finding genetic clues to the origins of autism. The general view within the medical community has been that the condition is entirely predetermined by a child’s genes and there is nothing that can currently be done about it medically with regards to treatment. Over recent years however, a considerable amount of evidence has started to pile up suggesting that environmental triggers probably play a major role in autistic spectrum disorders.

An increasing number of people, including individuals and families affected by the conditions and many medical professionals, feel that the correlation between increases in autism and the increasing presence of chemicals and other pollutants in the environment is too strong to ignore. Babies and young children are exposed to a terrifying array of chemicals including ingredients in household cleaning products and personal care products, soft plastics in toys that are known to end up in children’s body’s, as well as such controversial substances as thimerosal, the mercury containing preservative used in some vaccinations. A child’s vulnerable body also has to deal with an added assault from vaccinations themselves, as well as many pharmaceutical drugs such as antibiotics that tend to be given too freely.

Perhaps even more frightening is the fact that a child in the 21st century is exposed to a wide variety of synthetic chemical toxins before it is even born through contamination of its mother’s body. Organizations such as National Geographic, Environmental Defence in Canada, and The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the UK have all funded investigations that have revealed that everybody in the developed world is carrying a cocktail of the chemicals around with them in their bodies. Environmental Defence recently tested four prominent Canadian politicians for the presence of residues from 103 different chemical pollutants. The group included Health Minister Tony Clement. The results showed that around 50 pollutants were present in each of the politicians. Amongst the chemicals detected was arsenic, the toxic heavy metal, organophosphate pesticides whose residues persist on our food and in the water supply, as well as various flame retardant chemicals used in a multitude of products from computers to soft furnishings. Many of the chemicals detected are known neurotoxins that likely pose a risk to a child’s delicate developing brain. Environmental Defence had previous tested a much larger number of ordinary Canadians and detected a large number of chemical pollutants in everybody involved. It seems nobody can escape in the modern world.

Thankfully things are starting to change and the link between environmental triggers and autism is beginning to get the attention it needs. There is a growing consensus that autism spectrum disorders are likely to result from interplay between genetic susceptibilities and exposures to environmental triggers such as those we’ve discussed. This new realization is being helped in no small part by advocate groups such as the Autism Society of America (ASA) who are doing much to raise awareness of the issue. The ASA recently launched a major initiative aimed at raising awareness of the role environmental triggers play in the development of autistic disorders. The campaign includes a special issue of their magazine, the Autism Advocate, as well as a new website section devoted to the subject.

Let’s take a closer look at specific environmental triggers that may play a role in autistic spectrum disorders:

Heavy Metals
These highly toxic heavy metals include mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. A number of researchers have found that autistic children tend to have more of these substances in their body than healthy children. The most common of these tends to be mercury. This metal is a known neurotoxin and could be especially damaging to the sensitive brains of young children. Mercury can also disrupt the function of various enzyme systems and damage cell membranes and many proteins involved in all bodily functions. Recent research studies have concluded that the exposure of children to low levels of mercury during critical stages of development is associated with neurological disorders, including ADHD, learning difficulties, and speech delays. Mercury is a by-product of many industries and often ends up in rivers, lakes and oceans. The mercury then accumulates in the food chain so that large predatory fish such as tuna often contain high concentrations. Contamination of water and food supplies is now a major source of mercury and may pose a risk to the health of children. Equally, or perhaps more, frightening is the fact that mercury has been routinely added to childhood vaccinations in the form of the preservative thimerosal. This substance is approximately 50% mercury. An article published in the journal Neurotoxicology by The Coalition for Safe Minds in 2001 reported on the finding that a child given a regular vaccination schedule in the US, using thimerosal containing vaccines, would have a blood level of mercury that is higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) own safe upper limit. Other studies have found that low concentrations of thimerosal trigger an immune response and the production of antibodies in autistic children. This sets the scene for autoimmune reactions if thimerosal is bound to the body’s tissues. Some research and anecdotal reports suggest that therapies to remove heavy metals from the body, known as chelation therapies, are effective in treating the symptoms of autism.

Chemical Exposure
Over the past few decades a number of hazardous chemicals such as lead, asbestos, and organochlorine based insecticides have all disappeared from common use in developed nations. In contrast other supposedly safer alternatives, such as organophosphate pesticides, have become more widespread in the environment. The Autism Research Unit at the University of Sunderland in the UK has published extensively on a potential connection between these organophosphate pesticides and autism. They note that autistic individuals show increased levels of IAG, a chemical which is only produced as a result of the incorrect metabolism of the amino acid tryptophan. This amino acid is the starting point for the production of the important neurotransmitter serotonin which is essential for regulating mood and other brain functions. The researchers believe that organophosphate pesticides may be causing the elevated IAG and the resulting serotonin dysfunction. Organophosphates had their birth as chemical warfare agents, so called ‘nerve gases’. They fulfilled this function because of their ability to cause paralysis by inhibiting certain enzyme systems. Even modern organophosphate pesticides tend to be fairly unspecific in their action so have the unfortunate ability to compromise various other enzyme systems as well, including those that metabolize tryptophan to produce serotonin. This could account for the symptoms of autism and other developmental disorders. Additionally, high levels of organophosphate compounds in the environment could reportedly result in increased permeability of the intestines, so called ‘leaky gut syndrome’ as well as blood-brain barrier. This could result in partially digested food molecules passing into the bloodstream and causing the production of antibodies. This would lead to allergic and autoimmune reactions which are a common feature of autism. These molecules would also play havoc with brain function directly as they could more easily pass through the weakened blood-brain barrier. Organophosphate pesticides are by no means the only potential chemical triggers of autism, but they are certainly a leading candidate. As mentioned previously, everyday items such as consumer electronic products are also a major worry due to their content of chemicals such as flame retardants.

Vaccinations
Probably the most controversial subject regarding environmental triggers and autism is the role of vaccinations. Aside from the thimerosal issue it has been suggested that multiple vaccinations early in life may cause unhealthy changes in the immune systems of susceptible children. A high prevalence of allergies, autoimmune disease, and gut infections in autistic children would seem to lend weight to this idea. It’s worth noting that in the natural order of things, infectious agents must enter the body through the mucous membranes of the intestines or lungs which have a high concentration of specialized immune cells designed to be the body’s first line of defense. Injecting people with infectious agents in vaccines bypasses this vital first step of the immune response. Some highly qualified individuals have postulated that vaccines inherently cause a shift to a Th2 immune response in susceptible individuals of any age. The Th2 response is associated with allergies and autoimmunity. The most controversial aspect of the already controversial subject of vaccinations is undoubtedly the combined Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine. In 1998 research published by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in the UK sent the media into a frenzy. Dr. Wakefield was studying the connection between gut disorders and autism in a group of children that presented with both. He unexpectedly found traces of viruses from the MMR vaccine in the children’s intestinal tissue in areas of inflammation. The parents also reported that problems had started around the time the children had received the MMR vaccine. This led to the assertion that the MMR vaccine had caused the autism and gut problems. The debate has raged ever since over whether MMR vaccines do actually play a role in autism and opinions have become polarized. Since the publishing of Dr. Wakefield’s paper researchers have attempted to validate or refute the connection. Whilst some have said there is no connection at all, some researchers have noted that autistic children with gut problems that became ill after receiving the MMR vaccine show unique biochemical abnormalities. They suggest that these children may represent a subset of autism that differs from the classical diagnosis.

Intestinal Yeast/Candida
In health, the human intestines contain many billions of bacteria, yeasts, and other micro-organisms. These micro-organisms perform many important functions such as regulating immune-function and preventing infection. They live symbiotically with the human host and the competition for space ensures that no single type of organism becomes dominant. Unfortunately, factors such as antibiotic use and lack of breastfeeding can compromise the gut flora and allow organisms such as Candida Albicans to become the predominant species. This yeast can become parasitic when it is allowed to increase in numbers. It produces many toxic substances as a result of its metabolism, the main ones being ethanol (drinking alcohol) and acetaldehyde, an even more toxic chemical formed when ethanol is broken down in the human body. We all know the effects of drinking alcoholic beverages, imagine how a baby or small child would be affected if constantly exposed to ethanol and acetaldehyde being produced in its intestines by yeast such as Candida. This is not the end of the story either as Candida species produce dozens of other potentially toxic substances in addition to these two. In relation to autism, a number of researchers report detecting high levels of yeast metabolites in the blood and urine of autistic children. Dr. Shaw of The Great Plains Laboratory, formerly a medical director at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), reports that he routinely finds high levels of tartaric acid in the urine of children with autism and that the most likely source is intestinal yeast overgrowth. He states that when treated with Nystatin, an antifungal drug that is not absorbed from the intestines, the children show remarkable improvements in their condition. Critics suggest that tartaric acid is not a reliable marker for yeast infection. This issue may be resolved in future when autistic children are tested for an accepted definitive marker such as the ’sugar alcohol’, D- arabinitol.

Gluten and Casein
There is a theory for the causation of autism known as the ‘opioid excess theory’. What this says is that various peptides (chains of amino acids) from incompletely digested foods, particularly gluten from wheat and other grains, and casein from milk products, are able to enter the bloodstream as a result of poor digestion and leaky gut syndrome. Once in the bloodstream a proportion of these peptides are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain. If the barrier has been weakened by organophosphate pesticides or other chemical agents then a higher proportion of peptides will be able to penetrate. In the brain these peptides are able to interfere with normal brain function. The name of the theory comes from the startling fact that gluten, casein, and other peptides actually mimic the opioids(morphine-like chemicals). These peptides act likes the bodies own natural opioids (such as the enkephalins or endorphins) and cause various behavioral changes. Gluten and casein don’t usually directly act as neurotransmitters, such as serotonin or dopamine, but their opioid activity often causes changes in the function of these important neurotransmitters, usually in a negative fashion.

Conclusion
As you can see there is ample evidence that environmental triggers play a central role in the autistic spectrum disorders. A lot more research is needed and the new awareness initiatives discussed should help with reaching this goal.

On a final note, although the information presented here may be worrying, it should be seen as good news for those affected by autism. The involvement of environmental triggers in the condition provides a great opportunity for effective therapies to be used to correct the biological dysfunction they cause. With such treatments, hopes of leading a normal life are much improved.

by Matthew Hogg
About the Author:

Matthew has suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS and environmental illness for 15 years after being diagnosed at age 11. Having learned much about these illnesses through personal experience and research, he decided to share this knowledge by setting up The Environmental Illness Resource - www.ei-resource.org

© Matthew Hogg. This article may be freely used so long as author bio remains.

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/dramaqueennorma/285043192/

SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Hearing those four little words or the one little acronym can strike fear in the heart of any new parent. SIDS is real, random, quick and totally unexpected. Parents will naturally do anything in their power to prevent the unthinkable from happening to their perfectly healthy newborn.

What is SIDS? Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is exactly what it sounds like. A perfectly healthy newborn baby, usually less than 6 months old, simply stops breathing in their sleep. The unsuspecting parents go to wake their child up from his or her nap and find their worst nightmare has come true.

While many theories are flying around about the cause of SIDS, most focus on the deepness of sleep and how it affects the child’s breathing. Babies do not sleep as soundly when they are on their backs and many attribute this fact to the success of the “back to sleep” campaign.

Another theory which you may not be familiar with is that the crib mattress itself is to blame for SIDS cases. It is actually the chemicals and toxins emitted from the mattress that is actually to blame. Arsenic, phosphorus and antimony are intentionally added to crib mattresses by the manufacturers as fire retardants. SIDS was very rare prior to the 1950s when these additives became standard. Click here to review scientific studies, articles and publications supporting this theory.

“As crib mattresses start to age, these fire retardant chemicals react with ordinary household fungi (harmless fungi, at that) to create a very, very dangerous chemical reaction. The toxins emitted, as these compounds interact, are actually a thousand times more toxic than carbon monoxide.”

According to the article found at bestinbedding.com
“As crib mattresses start to age, these fire retardant chemicals react with ordinary household fungi (harmless fungi, at that) to create a very, very dangerous chemical reaction. The toxins emitted, as these compounds interact, are actually a thousand times more toxic than carbon monoxide. While other factors like nutrition, smoking around the baby, and sleep position are still potentially factors in SIDS, given the research relating non-organic crib mattresses to fatal toxin release should be enough for new mothers to take a look at their portable and non-portable crib mattress purchases.”

In addition, the toxins emitted become greater as time goes on. This may explain why SIDS rates are higher for second children…..and higher yet for third children and so on. Many parents will only purchase a crib mattress one time and re-use it for all of their children. In addition, the fungi left by the first baby is already in place to start interacting with the chemicals more quickly when the following children use the mattress.

The toxic mattress theory also explains why the “Back to sleep” campaign has been so successful. If a baby is not lying face down in a pool of neuro-toxins then they at least have a bit of fresh air in the mix and a better shot at survival. The toxic gases released by the mattress when it interacts with the fungi is very dense and heavier than air so it lies in a very thin film on the mattress which the baby is face-first in when sleeping in a prone position.

If you think the toxic mattress theory has merit or if you just want to err on the side of caution then there are three options you have to minimize your newborn’s exposure to these potentially lethal toxins (which some also theorize are connected to the rise in autism in the United States):

1. Purchase an organic crib mattress
2. Mattress wrapping
3. Co-sleeping

Let’s quickly explore these three options.

Organic Crib Mattress
Organic crib mattresses are free of synthetic fabrics, plastics, formaldehyde, chemicals, dyes and the hazardous chemicals that are linked to SIDS. The mattresses are commonly made with wool which acts as a natural fire retardant. Even if SIDS does not concern you, do you want your child spending 70% of their early life laying on a toxic, synthetic mattress? Don’t forget to make sure baby’s mattress pad, crib bedding and sleepwear are also organic.

You can buy organic crib mattresses at Amazon, TheNaturalSleepStore, Non-toxic.com, or Nature’sCrib.com

Mattress Wrapping
Mattress wrapping is simply wrapping your existing crib mattress in a particular way with an impermeable cover (plastic) to minimize the toxic fumes that your baby comes in contact with. The cover keeps moisture from the baby out and toxic fumes in. It is certainly much less expensive that buying an organic mattress for up to $1000. Parents have been wrapping crib mattresses in New Zealand for the last twelve years thanks to aggressive public awareness campaigns and in that time their SIDS rate has dropped to one of the lowest in the world and there has never been a reported SIDS case on a properly wrapped mattress. Please read that again.

There has never been a single reported SIDS case on a properly wrapped mattress.

Why isn’t this common knowledge? Can you imagine the lawsuit if mattress manufacturers ever have to admit responsibility? Well, now you know and you should probably make a point of telling all of your pregnant friends. If you are going to use a crib with a non-organic mattress, then wrap it. You will probably have to import your mattress cover from overseas but its a small price to pay for not gambling on your baby’s life.

Learn more about mattress wrapping at:
http://www.cotlife2000.com/
http://www.babysake.com/Howtowrap.htm
http://www.healthychild.com/cribdeathcause.htm
http://www.preventcribdeath.com/

Cosleeping
The last option (and the least expensive) if you are interested in keeping your baby safe from SIDS is cosleeping. Odds are that your adult mattress is not organic either, but it contains more springs and frame than pure foam which is what contains the PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) used as flame retardants. (Please never cosleep with your baby if you are using a tempurpedic or memory foam mattress.)

Other than reduced gases, cosleeping offers further protection against SIDS. Breastfeeding babies are a substantially reduced risk for SIDS, and cosleeping facilitates breastfeeding more than any other lifestyle choice. Breastfeeding newborns will also not assume a prone (tummy lying) position while sleeping next to their lactating mothers. Babies generally sleep on their sides or back for easy access to mom. Cosleeping mothers are also in a higher alert state during sleep so they are much more likely to respond to a baby in any sort of silent distress. Lastly, since a fear of fire seems to be the rationale for loading up crib mattresses with chemicals (by federal law mind you), then doesn’t it make sense to keep the batteries in your smoke alarms fresh and sleep next to your child so you can carry them out of your home in the event of an emergency?

If you are concerned about the myths surrounding cosleeping safety, then first keep in mind that there is a reason they call it “cot death” or “crib death” and not “sleeping next to mom death”. One well publicized study which attempted to portray cosleeping as unsafe found 515 cosleeping deaths in an eight year period. While that may sound like a large number, it pales in comparison to the approximately 34,000 crib deaths that occurred in the US in the same time period.

There are other SIDS risk factors such as having smoking parents (smokers exhale toxins when they breathe) and recent vaccinations. Knowing the risk factors and causes of SIDS, particularly the ones that are exceptionally easy to eliminate, is the first step parents can take to sleeping easy knowing your baby is safe.

Learn more about cosleeping and SIDS at:
http://www.babyreference.com/Cosleeping&SIDSFactSheet.htm
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t102200.asp

Other SIDS death factors:
http://www.healthychild.com/SIDS-crib-death-factors.htm

Author: Sheryl Lyon
Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/peasap/2561252071/

How can anyone vaccinate their child after watching this video?

Many childhood diseases are preventable through proper hygiene. Even if your child were to contract one of these diseases in modern times the odds that it would be deadly are minuscule for most diseases and even slimmer in modern day United States where the vast majority of children receive more than adequate nutrition.

Some vaccines are so totally absurd that I think they need to inject the baby on their birthday to avoid giving the parents the opportunity to give the vaccine some thought. Is your newborn really going to catch Hepatitis before their first birthday (I don’t know of any sexually active newborns).

Autism is for life. You are sentencing your child to a lifetime of being trapped by their own neurological disorder caused by the greed of pharmaceutical companies and your pediatrician.

Do not let your pediatrician intimidate you. Do your own research, trust your instincts and protect your child.

Interestingly, there has been ongoing controversy in the anti-vaccine community about the connection between vaccines and increased seratonin levels in children. This controversy has primarily centered around the vaccine/autism connection because autistic children also have high levels of seratonin just like SIDS victims. SomeStudies have shown vaccines to cause a spike in seratonin levels within 12 hours after receiving certain vaccines.

This information should be enough for reasonable doubt as to the safety of infant vaccines and is an excellent argument for simply delaying vaccines until a child is between 2-5 years old or foregoing them altogether as many parents are beginning to do. If you do choose to vaccinate your children, then by all means breastfeed, don’t allow cigarette smoke anywhere near your child and don’t let your child sleep face down or on a non-organic crib mattress for 3 weeks following any vaccine.
Learn more at vaccinetruth.org

Public health officials are in a tizzy about this because apparently non-vaccinated children are “carriers” for disease. Vaccinated children cannot pick up a disease overseas, only non-vaccinated children. But once these non-vaccinated “carrier” children bring the disease back, then all the vaccinated children are suddenly at risk and can catch the very disease they were vaccinated against!

The argument that non-vaccinated children can “cause” an outbreak among vaccinated children is absurd. I think they just do not want people to realize that vaccinated children can still get the very disease they were vaccinated against. Period.

Parents use religion to avoid vaccines - Yahoo! News