Chemical Alert A
ccording to a new study from the University of California–San Francisco, the bodies of virtually all U.S. pregnant women carry multiple manmade chemicals. Some of those counted are found in flame retardants now banned in many states; some were used in the DDT pesticide that was banned nationwide in 1972. Other chemi- cals of concern continue to be used in non-stick cookware, packaging of processed foods such as metal cans, and personal care products. Because chemicals can cross from the mother through the placenta and enter the fetus, exposure during fetal development is prob- lematic. The researchers note that prior studies
have shown that such exposure increases the risk of preterm birth, birth defects and childhood morbidity, as well as adult diseases and earlier mortality. The new study marks the first time that the number of chemicals that pregnant women are exposed to has been counted; it analyzed for a total of 163 possible chemicals.
Video Games Boost Daddy-Daughter Bonds R
esearchers from Brigham Young University have found that the time that dads and their adolescent daughters spend playing age-appropriate video games has positive outcomes. Girls who co-played with a parent (it’s usually the dad), felt a stronger connection to their families, exhibited less aggressive behavior and showed signs of stronger mental health, such as less depression and anxiety, compared with female peers. The parents likewise described an enhanced feeling of connectedness.
However, lead study author Sarah Coyne, Ph.D., notes, “When girls played inappropriate games (rated M for Mature), their reported family-connection levels fell.” Popular age-appropriate videos include Wii Sports, Rock Band, Mario Kart, Mario Party and Super Mario Bros.
Surprisingly, the results discerned with girls ages 11 through 16 do not apply to adolescent boys. The researchers surmise that this may be because boys tend to play video games more often than girls, mostly without a parent present, so a few more hours with a parent has less of an impact. Other studies have shown that boys also tend to play more violent games than girls. The American Acad- emy of Pediatrics recom- mends that kids should be allowed no more than two hours of non-school-related screen time a day, and get at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
Source: Rodale News natural awakenings May 2011 21
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