The Age of Autism: Snoozeweeklies

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The Age of Autism: Snoozeweeklies

By Dan Olmsted

Feb 14, 2006, 19:25 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC, United States (UPI) -- The nation`s top two newsweeklies

have just weighed in on the problems of boys and the decline in science

literacy. Both abjectly failed to address a crucial part of the picture:

the impact of environmental toxicity on children`s development -- and

America`s future.

Newsweek devoted its cover story to 'The Boy Crisis' and reported some

alarming figures: 'By almost every benchmark, boys across the nation and in

every demographic group are falling behind. In elementary school, boys are

two times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with learning disabilities

and twice as likely to be placed in special-education classes.'

And over the past 30 years men have slipped from 58 percent of college

undergrads to 44 percent, Newsweek noted.

The suspects in Newsweek`s sights: the way boys` brains work, the failure

of schools to teach and test in a way that reflects that difference, the

absence of adult men in their lives ...

Everything, in fact, but the notion that something environmental could be

holding boys back. Is there an existing model for such an idea? Why yes,

there is. It`s called autism, and it affects boys at several times the rate

of girls -- 1 in 80 boys are somewhere on the 'autism spectrum,'

astonishingly. A growing number of experts believe an interaction of

genetic susceptibility and toxic triggers is involved in the soaring rate

of diagnoses over, oddly enough, the past 30 years.

'I think there`s a real concern that there`s been a change in our

environment,' Dr. Carol Berkowitz, president of the American Academy of

Pediatrics, told NBC News last year. Ironically, the network did its autism

series in conjunction with Newsweek.

'An exposure to some toxins, chemicals, environmental factors -- either

when a mother is pregnant or after the delivery of the child -- that has

led to autism,' she summarized the concerns.

Time`s cover was a painting of a boy whose chemistry experiment had blown

up in his face. ('Is America Flunking Science?') Again, here`s a boy who

can`t learn, with consequences not just for him but for our country`s future.

But why?

Time`s explanation for this shortfall: the government cutting back on basic

research; corporations, their eye on short-term profits, doing the same; '

.... the quality of education in math and science in elementary and high

schools has plummeted.'

'The years from `Baby Einstein` to AP physics are an increasing source of

worry for ... colleges and universities, which see a shrinking pipeline of

talented U.S. students pursuing the sciences,' Time said.

Well, if they can`t pay attention, they probably can`t do Advanced

Placement physics, either. And why can`t they pay attention?

An environmental watchdog outfit claims that one in six infants is born

with a blood mercury level above that considered safe by the Environmental

Protection Agency. They go so far as to assert today`s kids have been

exposed to enough mercury to potentially cause learning disabilities.

This 'outfit' is the EPA itself.

There`s really nothing controversial about the idea that toxic exposures

can affect developing brains, whether in utero or in infancy, whether we`re

talking about autism or ADD. That`s why last year the pediatricians joined

other public health groups to challenge the EPA`s own power plant mercury

rule.

'Many young children exposed to mercury before birth will suffer subtle but

irreversible brain damage. Preventing this tragedy, which affects not only

families but entire communities, should be a national priority,' said

Barbara A. Blakeney, president of the American Nurses Association.

What am I not getting here? Autism is increasing; it mostly affects boys;

the nation`s top pediatrician expresses concern about brain damage from a

toxic trigger. Learning disabilities are increasing; they mostly affect

boys; the EPA expresses concern about brain damage from a toxic trigger.

Shouldn`t that loom large in any examination of why ny can`t learn and

we`re in danger of losing our supremacy in the sciences?

Actually, five years ago U.S. News & World Report -- the third newsweekly

and, in this case, the most acute -- did make this point. The cover story

was headlined: 'Kids at Risk: Chemicals in the environment come under

scrutiny as the number of childhood learning problems soars.'

'Experts have advanced a variety of theories for the increase in disorders,

including better diagnostic methods,' the magazine reported. 'But a growing

body of evidence suggests that compounds called neurotoxicants may be

contributing significantly to the problem.'

So for Time and Newsweek to highlight the problems of today`s kids, yet

ignore any link to toxic exposures, shows how far we are from solving the

problem.

What problem?

E-mail: dolmsted@...

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Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

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