Alliance for Healthy Tomorrow

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In recognizing the growing amount of research linking developmental and intellectual disabilities to hazardous environmental toxins, The Arc has joined the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT), a coalition of citizens, scientists, health professionals, workers, and educators seeking preventive action on toxic hazards. Our decision to join with AHT, both as an organizational and governing board member, is the result of our belief that current environment and health policies are inadequate.

The result of these current policies is that toxic substances end up in our bodies without our knowledge or consent. The tragic histories of lead and mercury, for example, demonstrate the harm caused when government and industry do not take action to protect public health. We have also seen that acting on early warnings can prevent widespread harm, as in the case of the drug thalidomide. AHT has established itself as a strong grassroots advocacy organization in large part because its agenda is driven by core values that involve:

• Choice, Progress & Innovation

• Rigorous Science

• Individual & Corporate Responsibility

• Democracy

• Precautionary Action & Foresight

AHT is NOT a fringe special interest group. Its diverse membership provides a solid foundation that allows for the careful and deliberate process of creating proactive policies to prevent harm before the damage is done, and to choose the safest alternatives.

Some may question why The Arc has chosen to become involved in environmental policy, given the uncertain link between some environmental toxins and disabilities. We appreciate that this is the subject of debate and that many questions about the role toxins play in contributing to disability remain unanswered. However, there are many firm conclusions that have been established. For example:

Did you know that children whose mothers ate fish contaminated with PCBs were more than three times likely to perform poorly in IQ and attention span tests than those with lower exposures to this chemical? These children were also more than twice as likely to be at least two years behind in a word comprehension in reading.¹

Did you know that the U.S. National Academy of Sciences estimates that at least 25% of learning and behavioral disabilities are due to either known toxic substances or the interactions between environmental factors and genetic predispositions?²

Did you know that children exposed to pesticides present in their mother's blood and breast milk reveal persistent, measurable intellectual impairment, which can not be overcome by environment or education?³

Did you know that Perchloroethylene, a common drycleaning agent, causes neurological effects like headaches, impaired memory, and reduced concentration and intellectual function?⁴

Did you know that PBDE, used as a flame retardant, has been found in the breastmilk of women across the country?⁵

PBDE has been linked to decreased thyroid hormone.⁶

Thyroid hormones are critical to successful brain development for babies in the womb.⁷

¹ Joseph L. Jacobson and Sandra W. Jacobson, "Intellectual Impairment in Children Exposed to Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Utero," NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Vol. 335 No. 11 (September 12, 1996), pgs. 783-789.

²http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/NewScience/human/2000-09netreport.htm

³ http://www.calhealthyschools.org/healthyschools.asp?id2=13255

⁴www.epa.gov/ttn/uatw/hlthef/tet-ethy.html

⁵ Smith C. “Study shows toxin in breast milk.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 29 September 2004, seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/ 192899_toxins29.html, viewed 2 February 2005.

⁶ Siddiqi MA, Laessig RH, Reed KD. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): new pollutants-old diseases. Clinical Medical Research. 2003 Oct;1(4):281-90.

⁷ Mazdai A, Dodder NG, Abernathy MP, Hites RA, Bigsby RM. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in maternal and fetal blood samples. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2003 Jul;111(9):1249-5