Environmentally Sick Homes and Schools
The pollution in today’s environment is pervasive. Our air, food, water, homes, and schools are polluted with over seventy thousand chemicals. What can be surprising to many people is that the outdoor air is often less polluted than the indoor air of some of our buildings. Many schools are seriously affected by both indoor and outdoor pollution and are no longer environmentally safe for our children.
The numbers of children and teachers who do not feel well during school hours are sadly increasing. Many feel better shortly after arriving home. Parents are puzzled because their children do not seem to remember things as well as they used to, or they may not be able to learn at their natural level of ability. Mood and behavior changes are also common. According to a recent survey, 71 percent of teachers say they are now seeing more children with health problems than ever before. Up to 20 percent of American children have developed chronic illnesses. Asthma and allergic coughing are common complaints. The soaring number of children diagnosed with hyperactivity, ADD, or other behavior and learning difficulties is disturbing. Sometimes these problems are encountered only at home and not at school.
Is our environment triggering these problems? According to Doris J. Rapp, M.D., a leading specialist in Environmental Medicine, our present environment is causing a growing number of children to be sick. It is estimated that more than 40 million people now have some form of environmental illness due to allergic or toxic reactions to various substances in our environment. The intensity of a reaction can range from mild to very severe. Exposures to chemicals and natural allergens (dust, molds, pollen) can trigger serious physical, neurological, and psychological problems. Certain foods can be the cause of an allergic response, as well as many substances in water that can make a child ill. Among the most common toxins in water are chlorine, fluoride, pesticides, copper, lead, plastic and styrene (from the water containers).
We are all exposed to numerous chemicals on a regular basis. Usually, these exposures do not show any immediate adverse effects. Our bodies can handle a certain amount of toxins. Over time, though, if our food, air and water remain polluted, our bodies can become increasingly toxic until, eventually, they are in a state of overload. When a child’s body becomes overloaded, it cannot deal with any more toxins. The child may begin to have adverse reactions to certain exposures such as new carpet, paint, cleaning materials, dust or molds. A minor exposure can make a toxic overloaded child very ill.
Symptoms of Environmental Illness
Environmental illness is difficult to diagnose and most doctors do not even know what to look for. In addition to the typical allergy symptoms of asthma, congestion, intestinal and skin problems, the symptoms of environmental illness may include a long list of other perplexing problems. One or more of the following symptoms may be present: Puffiness under the eyes, sinusitis, food cravings, bad breath, facial tic, twitches, moodiness, depression, irritability, hyperactivity, aggression, withdrawal, memory or learning problems, dark eye circles, nose-rubbing, allergic eye wrinkles, red earlobes or cheeks, spacey 'out of it' look, glassy, glazed eyes, eczema or atopic dermatitis, hives or other rashes, skin scratching, wiggly legs, dramatic change in writing, change in speech, increased pulse, change in breathing, increased fatigue, headaches, asthma, throat clearing, pain in muscles, legs, or joints, abdominal pain, gas, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, bladder problems, chronic ear infections, and hearing problems.
Of course, there can be other reasons for all of the above symptoms, but many doctors do not even consider chemicals, foods or other allergens as a possible cause of a child’s problem. The child could easily be misdiagnosed with ADD/ADHD, a learning disability, or any number of diseases. This could set up a child for endless medications and struggle.
Dr. Rapp, author of Is This Your Child? (a NY Times best seller) has written a fully documented, 600 page book entitled Is This Your Child’s World? How You Can Fix the Schools and Homes That Are Making Your Children Sick. This book is a wake-up call for parents, teachers, school administrators, doctors and other health practitioners, including everyone who cares about the future of our children. Is This Your Child’s World? provides detailed information that explains how to approach certain aspects of Environmental Illness, including diagnostic testing and treatment.
Posts
