NADD - An association for persons with developmental disabilities and mental health needs

Environmental Health Project: NADD Environmental Health Position Statement

Scientific evidence indicates environmental contaminants may significantly contribute to learning and developmental disabilities. Toxic agents in the environment, such as lead, mercury, pesticides, carbon monoxide, radon, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants, and solvents can affect brain development and function. In addition, emerging science also suggests that a number of other environmental factors, such as nutrition and socioeconomic status, interact with neurotoxicants in ways that may further undermine neurological development. The role of the environment in the etiology of mental illness is also becoming clearer.

In line with its mission to advance mental wellness for persons with developmental disabilities through the promotion of excellence in mental health care, the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed (NADD) is committed to: 1) working toward the reduction and elimination of neurotoxic exposures and other environmental factors that may lead to intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health problems; and 2) preventing secondary disability or unnecessary harm due to environmental factors by:

Educating the NADD membership, clinicians, clients, the broader developmental disabilities and mental health communities, as well as the general public about the effects toxic environmental agents and other environmental factors may have in contributing to developmental, neurological and mental health problems;

Fostering, encouraging, and disseminating research about impacts of toxic and other harmful environmental factors;

Engaging with other organizations that serve the intellectual and developmental disabilities communities, the mental health community, health organizations, environmental health organizations, and interested individuals to promote policies that reduce and eliminate exposure to environmental hazards on local, state and national levels; and

Increasing awareness of case formulation and treatment models that consider the effect of environmental toxins, the interactive and multiple factors known to impact the metabolism of toxic elements, and other xenobiotic influences on neurodevelopment and other symptoms related to mental health or behavioral challenges.

NADD supports a precautionary approach to reducing environmental exposures and embraces our ethical responsibility to help create and sustain an environment that allows all to reach their fullest potential.

References

Gilbert, S.G. (2007). Scientific consensus statement on environmental agents associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Developed by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment’s Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative. (Available online at: http://www.iceh.org/pdfs/LDDI/LDDIStatement.pdf.)

Schmidt, C.W. (2007). A deeper look into mental illness. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(8) 404-410.

Schettler, T., Stein, J., Reich, F., Valenti, M., & Wallinga, D. (2000). In harm’s way: Toxic threats to child development. Cambridge, MA: Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Weiss, B. & Bellinger, D.C. (2006). Social ecology of children’s vulnerability to environmental pollutants. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(10), 1479-1485.