Young men and boys exposed to a certain kind of pesticide could be at a higher risk for developing ADHD.
According to Tanya Froehlich, local pediatrician and main author of a recent study published in the journal Environmental Health, pyrethroid pesticides may be connected to the hyperactivity disorder. Developed in 2001 as a less toxic alternative to those currently available, pyrethroid pesticides have become increasingly common in pest control for use at home and in commercial agriculture. Many – including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – consider this pesticide to be safe.
In a recent study conducted by Froehlich and her colleagues at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the team found any exposure to the pesticides can lead to a higher risk of developing ADHD in the boys tested. In fact, they were three times as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as boys without exposure to pesticides.
Additional studies are being planned to explore the possible connection.
