A new study suggests that children who have high levels of cadmium found in their urine may be more likely to develop a learning disability.
According to WebMD, researchers examined about 2,200 children between the ages of 6 and 15 and asked their parents about any learning issues their children had. They found that kids who had the highest levels of cadmium in their urine were more prone to have learning disabilities or need special education, compared to those who had the lowest levels of the heavy metal in their urine.
Cadmium occurs naturally in some soils. Children are more likely to be exposed to it through tobacco smoke and food such as root vegetables and grains. The metal has also been found in jewelry and some children’s toys.
Cadmium exposure can damage the lungs and kidneys and has been associated with cancer.
“We don’t yet know where the exposures are coming from,” says Helen Binns, professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and director of the Lead Evaluation Clinic and the Nutrition Evaluation Clinic at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “We need more research related to what it is doing and where it is coming from.”
If your child has been exposed to a dangerous substance, contact Sokolove Law to learn about your options and receive a free legal consultation.