Page 11

guest editorial

Protecting Against Adverse Effects of Environment, Diet

By Barbara A. Ellicott, EdD, CCC-SLP

A profound increase in problems related to speech-language learning in the physical, cognitive and behavioral areas has been noted in the medical, psychological, behavioral and educational literature during the last 10 to 20 years; and the incidence of such problems continues to increase at an alarming rate. These conditions include structural birth defects, cancer, language-learning disabilities, memory problems, pervasive developmental disorders, attention deficit disorders (with or without hyperactivity), mental retardation, autism, aggression, and developmental neurological deficits, including those related to juvenile delinquency.

A report titled "In Harm's Way" (www.igc.org/ihw.htm), by Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, examines the contribution of toxic chemicals to neurodevelopmental, learning and behavioral disabilities in children. It cites increases in the following conditions: learning and behavioral disabilities (nearly 12 million children in the United States under age 18), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (as high as 17 percent), mental retardation (approximately 1 percent of all children), and autism (rates doubled between 1966 and 1997). In the state of California alone, the number of children with autism increased by 210 percent from 1987 to 1998.

Pollutants in our environment are contaminating our air, water and food. Components of food "create changes in the function of every organ and in the balance of every body system," according to Michael Klapper, MD (Pregnancy, Children and the Vegan Diet, 1998).

Numerous medical journals contain reports of illnesses caused by improper diet, i.e., concentrated animal fats; proteins found in meat, eggs and dairy products; and refined sugars. Additionally, contaminating chemicals, cancer viruses and saturated fats in these foods present a hazard, especially for pregnant women and growing children.

Dairy products frequently have contaminants that have been found to cause babies to be born with infected nervous systems. Cancer and mutation-producing substances have been found in fish living in contaminated waters. Hydrocarbon pesticides can produce severe cell mutation, as can radioactivity from nuclear waste (Eisenberg et al. in Klapper, 1998).

Heavy metals like mercury and lead can cause babies to be born blind and mentally retarded. Pesticides appear in significant amounts in mother's breast milk (Valciukas in Klapper, 1998).

A report on "Toxic Threats to Child Development" by the physicians group indicates how the following chemicals may be directly toxic to cells or interfere with hormones (endocrine disrupters), neurotransmitters or other growth factors: lead, mercury, manganese, nicotine, pesticides, solvents and alcohol.

There are many ways you can protect yourself and your offspring. First and foremost, seek the truth regarding the amount of contaminants in the environment. Next, protect yourself by resorting to organically grown foods. During the last 20 to 30 years, the vegan diet, together with the limiting or avoidance of fats, has proved to prevent, reverse and even cure many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, osteoarthritis, etc.

Finally, let your voice by heard. Contact Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture, 200-A Whitten Bldg., 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250, (202) 720-2791, e-mail: agsec@usda.gov, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at 888-INFO-FDA. Barbara A. Ellicott

Madison, NJ