National study links air pollution to children’s problems

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2000 | 11:30 a.m.

For the first time a national environmental study has linked child development, learning and behavior disorders to toxins in air pollution.

The study found that among Nevada's 17 counties, Clark County produces the most environmental pollutants that have the potential for impacting the way children develop.

Neither Clark County nor Nevada state health officials had seen the latest study released last week.

The National Environmental Trust study utilized the results of two National Academy of Sciences studies done in the past year.

The study said that there is no state-by-state estimate of children with such disabilities and called for further investigation, including a regional study of neurological disorders.

A National Academy of Sciences panel concluded that as many as 3 percent of known developmental and neurological problems in children were caused by exposure to known toxic substances.

The academy used data submitted voluntarily by industries to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA said that 1.2 billion pounds reported to have been released nationwide in 1998 is only 5 percent of the actual chemical releases.

The EPA data indicates pollutants from power plants and industries -- including lead, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury -- affect one in every 200 children. Louisiana and Texas lead the nation as the top two emitters of toxins affecting children.

"This is the first time the National Academy of Sciences has linked neurotoxins to environmental pollutants and children," said Dan Geary, Nevada's National Environmental Trust spokesman.

Scientists believe that such toxins could cause low birth weights, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other childhood problems.

In Nevada, 3.4 million pounds of toxins were reported released, primarily to the air, with 928,578 pounds in Clark County.

The two major sources for Southern Nevada's pollution were plastics manufacturer Lasco Bathware Division of Tomkins Inc. in Moapa Valley northeast of Las Vegas and Southern California Edison's Mohave Generating Station in Laughlin.

The heaviest polluter in Northern Nevada was R.R. Donnelley & Sons in Reno, a printing company.

Washoe County's reported emissions amounted to 585,258 pounds, Landers County 569,993 pounds and Humboldt's 508,623 pounds.

More than half of all toxic emissions reported to the EPA are known or suspected toxins causing developmental or neurological disorders.

The Census Bureau estimates that there are 12 million children with developmental, learning or behavioral disorders nationwide.