Tag: mercury

Eating fish fatty acids during pregnancy may shield baby’s brain from mercury damage

Fatty Acids in Fish May Shield Brain from Mercury Damage

fish-market image
The developmental benefits conferred by the mother consuming fish while pregnant may offset the mercury-related risks. The Seychelles study began in the mid-1980s. Image by Bilal Randeree.

Recent findings from research in the Seychelles provide further evidence that the benefits of fish consumption on prenatal development may offset the risks associated with mercury exposure. The study suggests that the nutrients found in fish have properties that protect the brain from the potential toxic effects of the chemical.

“We found no overall adverse association between prenatal MeHg exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, maternal PUFA status as a putative marker of the inflammatory milieu appeared to modify the associations of prenatal MeHg exposure with the PDI. Increasing DHA status was positively associated with language development yet negatively associated with the MDI. These findings may indicate existence of an optimal DHA balance with respect to arachidonic acid for different aspects of neurodevelopment.”

Sources and more information

  • Fatty Acids in Fish May Shield Brain from Mercury Damage, urmc, January 21, 2015.
  • Eating fish during pregnancy may boost baby’s development, not impair it, medicalnewstoday, 26 January 2015.
  • Prenatal exposure to methyl mercury from fish consumption and polyunsaturated fatty acids: associations with child development at 20 mo of age in an observational study in the Republic of Seychelles, American Society for Nutrition, ajcn.114.100503, March 2015.

What are we doing to our children’s brains?

It is very clear we have to set up a different system to better protect the brains of the future

child-and-cart image
Environmental chemicals are wreaking havoc to last a lifetime says @lizzieg1 . Image by Rasmus Fritzon.

“ The numbers are startling. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.8 million more children in the U.S. were diagnosed with developmental disabilities between 2006 and 2008 than a decade earlier. During this time, the prevalence of autism climbed nearly 300 percent, while that of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder increased 33 percent. CDC figures also show that 10 to 15 percent of all babies born in the U.S. have some type of neurobehavorial development disorder. Still more are affected by neurological disorders that don’t rise to the level of clinical diagnosis. “

  • Chemicals and the Brain
  • Precise Choreography
  • Something in the Air
  • Widespread Exposure
  • The Stress Factor
  • What to Do?

Read: What are we doing to our childrens brains,
by Elizabeth Grossman, on ensia, February 16, 2015.
and from the same author: Banned in Europe, safe in the U.S., ensia., June 9, 2014.

More references
  • Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2009, cdc.
  • Children’s Exposure to Mercury Compounds, who, 2010.
  • National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, cdc, 2009 and 2015.

Little Things Matter

The impact of Environmental Toxins on the developing Brain

SFU researcher calls for collective action on limiting cumulative low-level exposures to common toxicants shown to negatively impact the health and development of children.

About

We’ve been studying the impact of toxins on children for the past 30 years and reached the inescapable conclusion: little things matter. We’ve discovered that extremely low levels of toxins can impact brain development. We have also discovered that subtle shifts in the intellectual abilities of individual children have a big impact on the number of children in a population that are challenged or gifted. Steps should be taken to reduce children’s exposure to toxins or suspected toxins.

More information
  • Video published on 11 Nov 2014 by B Lanphear.
  • Video drives home impact of cumulative environmental toxic exposures on children’s brain development, SFU Media Release and SFU News, November 20, 2014.
  • ‘Little Things Matter’ Exposes Big Threat To Children’s Brains, huffingtonpost green, 11/20/2014.
  • Watch more BPA chemicals videos on our YouTube channel.

Dr. Philippe Grandjean on Chemical Brain Drain

By the Collaborative on Health and the Environment

How the Next Generation’s Brain Functions are Endangered by EDCs and Other Environmental Chemicals.

Dr. Philippe Grandjean suggests that new scientific insights reveal that the next generation’s brain functions are endangered by environmental chemicals. The fetus is not protected by the placenta and therefore shares the mother’s cumulated exposures to toxic chemicals. Infants and children are likewise exposed to a cocktail of foreign substances against which the body has no innate defense. Prenatal and early postnatal brain development is an extremely complex process that we now know is uniquely vulnerable. Lead, mercury and a few other substances have long been known to be toxic to brain development. Recent research suggests that many chemicals, perhaps thousands, may cause similar effects because they can gain access to the developing brain and exert their toxicity to brain cells. This new insight needs to be translated into public policy to protect the brain functions of the next generation. On this call Dr. Grandjean discussed what he terms “chemical brain drain” and how we might work to protect the brain health of future generations.

Sources:

Additional resources of interest:

Mercury Pollution Rising Infographic

Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life

Mercury has been well documented to be an endocrine system disrupting chemical in animals and people, disrupting function of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, enzyme production processes, and many hormonal functions at very low levels of exposure. This infographic shows how mercury pollution is rising…

Mercury-Pollution-Rising infographic
Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life – via @ThyroidNation
Sources:

* Edible Fish Infographic: Mercury Is An Endocrine Disruptor, Thyroid Nation.

On Flickr®

Choose the Right Fish to Eat, Infographic

Mercury Pollution is Rising

Mercury has been well documented to be an endocrine system disrupting chemical in animals and people, disrupting function of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, enzyme production processes, and many hormonal functions at very low levels of exposure. Breaking plastics could be leaching harmful chemicals into the ocean ; and regarding mercury, this infographic should help you choose the right fish to eat – and those to avoid…

Choose-the-right-fish-to-eat infographic
Exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the child in utero and early in life – via @ThyroidNation
Sources:

* Edible Fish Infographic: Mercury Is An Endocrine Disruptor, Thyroid Nation.

On Flickr®