Kangaroos being poisoned by fluoride

(NaturalNews) Hundreds of kangaroos have been euthanized due to acute fluoride poisoning in the Australian state of Victoria, the country's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has announced.

The poisonings appear to be occurring due to emissions of fluoride from the Alcoa aluminum smelter at Portland and the Austral Bricks factory at Craigieburn, the state's first and second biggest emitters of fluoride dust, respectively. According to Bruce Dawson of the EPA, the toxic chemical is being absorbed by nearby plants that kangaroos and other animals forage on. The animals may also be breathing in the chemical directly.

The levels of fluoride being emitted by Alcoa and Austral are fully legal under Australian law. The smelter emits 120 tons of the dust per year, while the factory emits 66 tons.

Fluoride can produce discoloration and deformity of teeth and bones, a problem known as "fluorosis" that has been well documented in cattle and humans. According to the Sunday Age, more than 200 kangaroos in Victoria have been euthanized after suffering from lameness caused by fluorosis.

The EPA was first alerted to the problem in 2005, although wildlife workers had noticed lameness in kangaroos in the area as early as 2001. According to Jenny Charles of Melbourne University, 90 percent of 130 kangaroos living near the Alcoa smelter showed signs of dental fluorosis, and 25 percent had visible lumps in their legs or arms.

Forty-eight of 49 kangaroos autopsied after being culled from the smelter area in a single day were suffering from excessive bone growth and lesions on their ankles, calves and paws.

''They were in real pain,'' said wildlife shelter operator Manfred Zabinskas, recounting his horror at seeing so many sick kangaroos.

Although the kangaroos at the brick factory site had lower levels of fluoride in their bodies, their fluorosis symptoms were even worse than those seen near the smelter.

Sources for this story include: www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02... www.theage.com.au/victoria/roos-vic....

ADHD symptoms caused by lead exposure, new study claims

(NaturalNews) What causes the frequently diagnosed behavioral problem in children known as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that leads to countless youngsters being given side-effect laden stimulant drugs? Research has focused on genes and, more recently, on the idea that multiple environmental triggers could be the cause. For example, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a recent British study indicates that certain food additives like artificial colors or preservatives could cause ADHD symptoms in some children.

Now two studies -- one published in the January issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and the other published in the February issue of the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science -- provide the best evidence yet that lead could be one of the biggest culprits behind ADHD.

At very high levels, lead poisoning can cause seizures, coma, and even kill. But it is chronic, long term exposure that is the more common health threat, especially for children. Researchers have previously linked elevated blood levels of lead in kids to problems ranging from mental retardation to learning disabilities. In a statement the media, Oregon Health and Science University researcher Joel Nigg, who co-authored both of the new studies, pointed out that almost all Americans have a low-level exposure to lead, a well-known neurotoxin, making the metal an ideal candidate for causing ADHD.

Although government regulations drastically reduced environmental exposure to lead a generation ago by regulating automobile fuel and paint ingredients, lead is still found in everything from children's costume jewelry and toys to soil and some imported candies. In fact, Dr. Nigg stated that virtually all U.S. children have measurable levels of lead in their bodies.

Research shows link between lead exposure and ADHD diagnoses

The first of Dr. Nigg's recent studies looked at lead levels found in 236 children between the ages of six and 17 diagnosed with ADHD. When these measurements were compared to those of a control group of children without ADHD symptoms, the researchers found that the children diagnosed with hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms (not inattention) had slightly higher levels of lead in their blood. In a second study, the research team concluded there was a much stronger link between blood lead levels and whether children were reported by parents and teachers to have ADHD symptoms.

According to the press statement, Dr. Nigg has an explanation for how lead could cause ADHD. Bottom line: he thinks lead attaches to sites in the brain's striatum and frontal cortex where the metal causes specific genes to turn on or remain inactive. This disrupts brain activity and alters psychological processes supported by these neurons, he theorizes, and contributes to hyperactivity and lack of vigilance.

What can parents do if they are concerned over their youngsters' exposure to lead? First, be aware that more than 80 percent of American homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint in them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- so avoid old paint flakes and paint dust if you remodel. Older homes also frequently have lead in the water pipes or plumbing. That makes tap water a potentially dangerous source of lead.

Although it takes chelation with drugs to remove very high levels of lead from the body, the Minnesota Department of Health's Lead Poisoning Prevention web site offers these additional tips to keep lead levels in children as low as possible through good nutrition:

• Because it is easier to absorb lead on an empty stomach, kids should eat four to six small meals a day.

• Normal levels of iron can protect against lead's harmful effects. So make sure children eat iron-rich foods including raisins, prunes, and other dried fruits.

• Calcium also reduces lead exposure. Serve youngsters calcium-rich foods including yogurt, cheese, spinach, kale, collard greens, and other green leafy vegetables.

For more information:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publ...
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/...