Study Finds New Environmental Factor in Autism Diagnosis
A recently released study shows drastically increased rates of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in children attending schools within a 10 or 20 mile radius of a superfund site compared to those who do not attend school near toxic waste sites. This study, in a growing body of evidence, is a call to action for state and federal decision makers to pass safe school siting policies that protect our nation's children from toxic chemical exposures.
Researchers at the University of Northern Iowa found that rates of ASD were one and a half times higher in school districts within 10 miles of the toxic sites than in school districts not near a Superfund site. Rates of autism in children living up to twenty miles from a Superfund site were similar.
Children are more vulnerable to environmental toxins than adults, breathing more contaminated air per pound of body weight and with bodies and brains still developing. Despite the clear threat Superfund sites pose to children, there are currently no federal laws to prevent schools from being built in close proximity to these sites. The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) has been working with communities to push for federal guidelines that would protect children's health.
Last month a developer in Ft. Lauderdale, FL withdrew a proposal to build a charter school directly next to Wingate Federal Superfund Site due to community pressure. The zip code already has the highest rate of ASD in Broward County, according to a report by the Children's Services Council of Broward County. Life-long resident of the Wingate neighborhood, Claude Marquess was emphatic, "I wouldn't want my child at that school… The field is toxic, the lake is toxic. We think it wasn't right."
"The Wingate community dodged a bullet here, and we are all very relieved that no child will be sent to school at this toxic location. But what about other proposed schools and other Superfund sites? Until we have federal school siting guidelines, there is little guidance for local communities to prevent another school from being sited steps from a known toxic waste site" said Renée Blanchard, Program Director at CHEJ.
About CHEJ The Center for Health, Environment & Justice exists to mentor the movement to build healthier communities by empowering people to prevent harm in as many ways, and for as many people, as possible. We believe this can happen when people and groups have the power to play an integral role in promoting human health and environmental integrity. CHEJ's role is to provide the tools, the direction, and the encouragement to these people and groups, so that they can build strong, healthy communities where they live, work, learn, shop, play and pray. Following her successful effort to prevent further harm for the people living in contaminated Love Canal, Lois Gibbs founded CHEJ in 1981 in order to continue mentoring others seeking to prevent harm. CHEJ provides mentoring assistance to communities, homeowners, families and individuals throughout the country. To date, CHEJ has assisted over 10,000 groups nationwide. Currently, CHEJ is mentoring community groups in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Ohio. Details on CHEJ's efforts to help people and communities prevent harm can be found at http://chej.org/.