The Association Of Pyrethroid Pesticides And Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder

When Rachel Carson's Silent Spring was published in 1962, it generated a storm of controversy over the use of chemical pesticides. Miss Carson's intent in writing Silent Spring was to warn the public of the dangers associated with pesticide use. Throughout her book are numerous case studies documenting the harmful effects that chemical pesticides have had on the environment. Along with these facts, she explains how in many instances the pesticides have done more harm than good in eradicating the pests they were designed to destroy. In addition to her reports on pesticide use, Miss Carson points out that many of the long-term effects that

Symptoms of pesticide poisoning are often deceptively misdiagnosed as flu or allergies. Other problems associated with the use of chemicals include headaches, nausea, fever, breathing difficulties, high blood pressure, and temporary paralysis. The National Academy of Sciences reports that at least one out of seven people are significantly harmed by pesticide exposure each year (American Defender Network, 1989). Unfortunately, due to the high costs of inspection, tests for pesticide poisoning are rarely performed.

Methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin was synthesized in 1944 (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002). By 1954, it was being tested on humans to treat: “chronic fatigue, depression, psychosis associated with depression, narcolepsy, and to offset the sedating effects of other medications.” (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002) The interest to use Ritalin to treat the “hyperkinetic syndrome.” (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002) Which later was called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) wasn’t introduced until the 1960s. Many studies have been conducted in order to determine the effects it has on the brain as well as, the tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal with being prescribed Ritalin. Within these studies, the effectiveness of Ritalin on children and youth

Methylphenidate, more commonly known as “Ritalin” was synthesized in 1944 (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002). By 1954, it was being tested on humans to treat “chronic fatigue, depression, psychosis associated with depression, narcolepsy, and to offset the sedating effects of other medications.” (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002) The intent was to use Ritalin to treat the “hyperkinetic syndrome.” (U.S. Pharmacist, 2002) Which was later named Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but wasn’t introduced until the 1960s. Many studies have been conducted in order to determine the effects that it has on the brain, as well as the tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal that may be endured with being prescribed Ritalin. Within the studies, the effectiveness that this medication had on children and youth was considered. This research has shown that Ritalin does in fact have a negative impact on health. It is overprescribed to children, and it is actually unnecessary.

To measure the influence of methamphetamine (METH) administration on behaviour and relation of dopamine receptors in locomotor activity, a total number of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study (n=12 per experiment). Experiment 1, injected METH and vehicle for six rats, Experiment 2 injected either vehicle or SCH23390 before injecting METH. Both tests measured locomotor activity in the chamber and following the day of experimentation groups, switched injection in each experiment. There was a considerable increase in locomotor activity of METH treatment in the first experiment. Pretreatment with SCH23390 significantly reduced locomotor activity produced by METH administration compared to vehicle. This data provides the undeniable evidence that METH administration caused behavioural changes and activated through dopamine receptors

The novel, published in 1962, Silent Spring was the first time people became aware of the danger of pesticides, which pollute streams, affect animal populations, especially birds and fish, and most importantly cause severe medical problems for humans. Yet, pesticides have become a social norm in today’s life routine. They are no longer just found on farmlands, but now find itself in the food and water we consume. In fact, by 2016 toxic pesticides became a widespread practice in the world, making it a huge public concern. So, despite scientist recommending otherwise, this common practice continues because not only is it effective, but inexpensive compared to other methods.

In Silent Spring, Rachel Carson proves that pesticides do more harm than good. She details how ineffective most pesticides are, how toxic they've become, and how they've managed to radically alter entire ecosystems by killing off animals like robins and eagles. Carson begins by noting that attempts to improve the efficiency of pesticides have merely resulted in their becoming even more toxic. As those toxins move up the food chain, they increase in potency to the point of killing many animals, including eagles. Carson also details how pesticides are bad for humans. The toxins are stored in fat, where they linger around in the system, causing many problems, including diseases like cancer.

On the contrary, many may argue that even though organic food at times possess such threats they do not come close to comparing to the threats possessed by chemically treated foods. Researchers such as Joanna Jurewicz, believe that children being exposed to pesticides at any time during foetal life will have some type of health effect. She addressed that each year “almost 50,000 children are poisoned annually by exposure to pesticides” (Jurewicz 71), while emphasizing that the most common health effects are on foetus and young children. She proposed that all acute exposures to pesticides cause “skin irritation, lesions in the respiratory tract, and severe toxic neurologic effects”, in long exposure she blames their constant motive to put everything in their mouth and their immature detoxification systems with how they are the easy target for pesticides and chemical

In a website that goes against the use of Pesticides, Rachel Carson discouraged pesticides to the public in 1962 by saying that there were many harmful effects to not only the environment, but to people as well. Researchers that agreed with Carson found that “In May 2010, scientists from the University of Montreal and Harvard University released a study that found that exposure to pesticide residues on vegetables and fruit may double a child’s risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition that can cause inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in children” (toxicaction.org). The parents of Ponder agreed with this statement because they do not want their children to encounter the harmful effects of pesticides. They stood their ground and argued that using a pesticide for a short amount of time in Ponder was not worth the health effects on people that would last a very long time. They didn’t want the Safeion residue on peaches to enter the human body system because they want to prevent any health hazards to the people, especially the children and future generation, of

Rachel Carson says, “In Florida, two children found an empty bag and used it to repair a swing. Shortly thereafter both of them died and three of their playmates became ill. The bag had once contained an insecticide called parathion, one of the organic phosphates; tests established death by parathion poisoning”(28). In this quote, Rachel Carson shows us that two little kids die from playing with an empty bag lying on a swing set. The pesticides were in the empty bag which killed the two kids. Carson shows us that by just a bag can have the pesticide that can kill a person. The usage of pesticide should be limited because is can harm the health of human

A study was conducted in July of 2007 by the researchers of Public Health Institute, the California Department of Health Services, and the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. The subject of the study was children born from mothers who had been exposed to organochlorine pesticides. It was found that these children are at a much higher risk of developing disorders on the autism spectrum than children of other mothers. The risk was estimated to be at least six times higher (“The Problem”). In addition to this, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published a long term study in 2009 that focused on children living in homes where the average supply of grocery foods were products that were exposed to pesticides. These adolescents were then compared to children who lived in residences without exposure to pesticides.

The mesolimbic dopamine system plays a critical role in psychostimulant-induced locomotor activity (Hall, Powers & Gulley, 2009). Dopamine (DA) is a monoamine that has been long associated with the brain’s reward systems, and more recently, its effects on animal behaviour have been investigated (Barron, Sovik & Cornish, 2010). While becoming the most broadly used illicit drug world wide, Methamphetamine (MA) is an addictive psychostimulant which causes the brain to release excessive amounts of the chemical neurotransmitter DA, controlling pleasure (Carati & Schenk, 2011). It has been used to suppress food intake and most commonly, increase mental alertness and physical endurance (Seiden, 2004). When linking MA to the brain, its primary action is to elevate the levels of extracellular monoamine neurotransmitters, including dopamine, by promoting their release from the nerve endings (Xie & Miller, 2009). Evidence has shown that these drug-induced neuropathological changes might underlie deficits in cognitive behaviours in chronic MA abusers. MA preferentially increases synaptic dopamine concentrations in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system and initiates stimulating behavior (Di Chiara & Imperato, 1988). These ideas are further strengthened by data from animal studies showing that MA neurotoxicity is associated with impairments in motor learning (Daberkow, Kesner & Keefe, 2005) in rodents.

There are four types of exposure, dermal, inhalation, oral, and eyes.Acute toxicity is determined by examining the dermal, inhalation, and oral toxicity of animals, also by eye and skin irritation(“ Potential health effects of Pesticides”).95% of all pesticides come from dermal exposure to toxicity (" Potential health effects").13 out of 16 studies has shown evidence of neurological problems following long-term, low-level exposure to OPs.Some health problems consist of poor memory, reduced reaction time, attention disorders and diminished ability to solve complex problems("Exposure to pesticides").Out of 80,000 pesticides, 10 percent are recognized as carcinogens(Cancer-related deaths).In 1970 there were 331,000 reported problems and by 1992 there was

Most individuals are not aware of the things that are bad for the body until a noticeable reaction occurs. With this in mind, endocrine disrupting chemicals are chemicals that interfere with our endocrine system causing a problem. Therefore, in this paper, I plan to inform you about three endocrine disruptors that are bad for the human body known as flame retardants, phytoestrogens and triclosan. I will contain information about the chemicals found, products that they are located in and the effect they have on animal and human tissue. Next, I will show a relationship between endocrinology and endocrine disrupting chemicals on affecting homeostasis and discuss my reaction to the information I learned and how I feel about it overall.

Chemicals such as weed killer or miracle grow, do we really know what all chemicals are in those containers? The majority of us have no clue, or have never stopped to take into consideration what is being sprayed on our food or in our yards around our families. Pesticides for instance were meant to kill pest, not people and our wildlife. Each year hundreds or thousands of people become ill due to the use or consumption of pesticides and other chemicals. Our young children are the most vulnerable, rather than the adult, children tend to play outside and are closer to the ground where these chemicals are sprayed, which is harmful for their bodies. According to a report by the National Academies in 1993 they stated, “depending on dose, some pesticides can cause a range of adverse effects on human health, including cancer, acute and chronic injury to the nervous system, lung damage, reproductive dysfunction, and possibly dysfunction of the endocrine and immune systems." We as the children of God must take a stand and demand change on these chemicals that are harming each and every one of