Toxic chemicals may be the causes for child's language delays
Children from impoverished homes who frequently used toxic chemicals such as household cleaners demonstrated more pronounced delays in language development at age two, according to a recent research.
Moreover, the children's scores on a standardized test of cognitive development were also lower than expected. Despite factoring in maternal education and income levels - both indicators associated with their child's linguistic proficiency and intelligence growth.
The study uncovered compelling evidence that pediatricians and other health care providers should advise parents to limit their use of toxic household chemicals, according to Hui Jiang, lead author and senior research associate at Ohio State University.
"We found that a significant percentage of mothers with young children may commonly expose their children to toxic household chemicals, possibly because they are unaware that such materials may be harmful,"
-Hui Jiang
The investigators utilized data from the 'Kids in Columbus Study', a Crane Center research project that examined five-year trajectories of children born into low-income families in Columbus.
When exploring the topic of household chemicals during pregnancy, mothers were quizzed on their usage of floor and toilet cleaners and solvents at a certain gestational age - subsequently followed up again at 14 to 23 months. Additionally, they inquired about mold in their homes as well as how often pesticides were utilized; all elements that impact contaminant sources within their immediate neighborhood.
Researchers studied language development in children from 14 to 23 months old, followed by another round of testing at 20–25 months. This time around they employed an established standardized test that evaluates the comprehension and expressive proficiency of young ones - like recognizing objects and people, comprehending instructions and naming objects as well as pictures.
The study's findings indicated that the presence of neighborhood pollution, mold in a household and pesticide application were not significantly correlated with child outcomes. Yet, mothers' frequent use of household chemicals after childbirth was conversely connected with children's language and cognitive outcomes at the age of two.
Despite the lack of connection between chemical use during pregnancy and child outcomes, mothers reported using significantly fewer chemicals while expecting.
During pregnancy, an estimated 20% of mothers were exposed to toxic chemicals; however, this number rose dramatically to 30% when their children were between 1 and 2 years old - include an increase in daily usage of household substances.
"A lot of mothers seem to know to limit exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy, but once their child is born, they may think it is no longer a problem,"
However, studies have demonstrated that the early years of a child's existence are vital in many ways; Laura Justice, co-author of this research and an Ohio State professor of educational psychology emphasized this.
Justice, who is the executive director of The Crane Center, suggested at 2 years of age that children's brains are in peak condition for development. Furthermore, if toxic chemicals are impeding their progress then it might impede language and cognitive growth.
While many mothers may resort to household cleaners and other hazardous chemicals when their children are young, low-income individuals may find themselves at an additional disadvantage. Jiang explained.
For instance, some families may reside in smaller dwellings where the chances of successfully sheltering children from potentially hazardous substances during housekeeping activities can sometimes be challenging.
Jiang observed that this research examined the interplay between mothers' utilization of toxic chemicals and subsequent child development, but could not make an absolute claim as to whether these substances were ultimately responsible for developmental delays.
The studies do point to the need for pediatricians to emphasize that pregnancy is not the only time when mothers should be vigilant about chemical usage. Justice observed that, "Parents need to understand the delicacy of brain development in the first several years of life and their children's susceptibility to chemical exposure,"
Source: ScienceDaily