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Human health problems on the rise
Over the past 50 years, as infectious childhood diseases like polio, smallpox, rheumatic fever, and diphtheria have largely been controlled, chronic conditions of less obvious origins have taken their place. Asthma, autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders (ADD and ADHD), childhood brain cancer and acute lymphocytic leukemia have all increased over the past 30 years. Five to ten percent of American couples are infertile. Up to half of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Three to five percent of babies are born with birth defects (CDC 2004, Jahnke et al. 2005, Trasande and Landrigan 2004). Scientists cannot fully explain these increases, but early life exposure to environmental pollutants is a leading suspect.
|
Autism
|
10X
|
increase
early 80's -1996
|
|
Male Birth Defects
|
2X
|
increase
hypospadias,
1970-1993
|
|
Childhood Asthma
|
2X
|
increase
1982-1993
|
|
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
|
62%
|
increase
in children,
1973-1999
|
|
Childhood Brain Cancer
|
40%
|
increase
1973-1994
|
|
Preterm Birth
|
23%
|
increase
mid 80's-2002
|
|
Infertility
|
5-10%
|
of couples
|
|
Birth Defects
|
3-5%
|
of all babies
|
|
Sperm Counts
|
1%
|
decrease yearly
1934-1996
|
Landrigan 2004, Jahnke et al. 2005
More From Body Burden — The Pollution in Newborns
Executive Summary
Babies are Vulnerable
Human Health Problems on the Rise
Guide to testing.
Adult Blood Test Results.
Why are babies born polluted?
Guest Commentary
Peer Statement
