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ADHD

If you need another reason to quit smoking, here’s a good one: Children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are more than twice as likely to develop ADHD.

New research reveals that up to one-third of children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) developed the problem as a result of maternal smoking before they were born or exposure to lead in the early years of life.

The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, builds upon a National Academy of Science report published six years ago, which found that 3 percent of developmental and neurological disorders in American children resulted from environmental exposures; up to 25 percent are believed to result from a combination of environmental exposures and genetics.

The new study found that even exposure to extremely low levels of lead – within the range deemed “acceptable” by the U.S. government – was enough to cause ADHD. Researchers believe this study bolsters the argument for lowering the so-called “safe” threshold for exposure to lead. Many scientists believe there is no safe exposure level for lead.

ADHD is a neurological disorder characterized by difficulty focusing and impulsive behavior. About 3.8 million American children have been diagnosed with it. The study found that children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy were 2.5 times as likely to develop ADHD.

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org