Task Force - preliminary findings re increased autism rate - NJ teachers births
By Mel Fabrikant Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 02:07 PM EDT
The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology held a press briefing today at Hackensack University Medical Center regarding the reported high incidence of autism and other learning disorders among children born to teachers working at St. Anthony’s School, located in Northvale, NJ.
Findings of the initial investigation of children with professionally diagnosed developmental disorders, born to teachers working at St. Anthony’s School have confirmed a statistically significantly higher rate of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in comparison to a control group of children born to teachers at another Northvale public elementary school. In addition, the Phase I data found the rate to be higher than state and national prevalence statistics.
The St. Anthony’s Task Force, initiated by the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®, at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation, was established following a series of June news reports. The Environmental Center represents one of the first hospital-based programs, whose specific mission is to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children.
“Our first priority in the first phase of this investigation was to determine if the number of affected children born to the St. Anthony’s staff truly represented a significant increase above what would be expected,” said Lawrence D. Rosen, M.D., Medical Advisor, The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology; Chief, Pediatric Integrative Medicine; Hackensack University Medical Center, and lead investigator. “The results indicate that this is, in fact, the case. While we cannot yet determine the cause of these findings, we can say for certain today, that the prevalence of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in this cohort is statistically significantly higher.”
“There is initial evidence of a cluster of autism cases at Northvale School,” said Michael Brimacombe, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Vice Chairman, Biostatistics, Director Biostatistics Core Facility, NJMS, Department of Preventative Medicine, New Jersey Medical School and School of Public Health – University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “Further study, both to investigate potential causes of autism and prevent future cases at the school would seem warranted.”
“We are concerned about these children, their families, and our community,” said children’s health advocate Deirdre Imus. “New Jersey has the highest autism rates in the country affecting 1 in 94 children. Having concluded the St. Anthony’s “cluster” to be legitimate, the center will now enter Phase II of the project, which will include environmental testing, with the objective of attempting to identify what factors may have contributed to the increase of developmental disorders in this small population. This is in keeping with the center’s mission.”
Joining the investigative research team will be Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., MS.c, Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Center for Children's Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Landrigan is a nationally recognized environmental health expert who will assume the responsibilities of Chairman of the St. Anthony’s Project Advisory Board. “There is no question these initial findings represent an important first step. We must now begin the difficult work of investigating what these results mean,” said Dr. Landrigan.
Questions about the ongoing investigation can be directed to Dr. Landrigan at 212-241-4804.
Deirdre Imus is the founder and President of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®, (www.dienviro.com) part of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in New Jersey, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. The Environmental Center represents one of the first hospital-based programs whose specific mission is to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children.
Ms. Imus is also co-founder and co-director with husband, Don Imus, of The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, an authentic 4,000 acre working cattle ranch in northern New Mexico, which provides the experience of the American cowboy to children suffering from cancer and various blood diseases, as well as to children who have lost a brother or sister to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Findings of the initial investigation of children with professionally diagnosed developmental disorders, born to teachers working at St. Anthony’s School have confirmed a statistically significantly higher rate of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in comparison to a control group of children born to teachers at another Northvale public elementary school. In addition, the Phase I data found the rate to be higher than state and national prevalence statistics.
The St. Anthony’s Task Force, initiated by the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®, at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation, was established following a series of June news reports. The Environmental Center represents one of the first hospital-based programs, whose specific mission is to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children.
“Our first priority in the first phase of this investigation was to determine if the number of affected children born to the St. Anthony’s staff truly represented a significant increase above what would be expected,” said Lawrence D. Rosen, M.D., Medical Advisor, The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology; Chief, Pediatric Integrative Medicine; Hackensack University Medical Center, and lead investigator. “The results indicate that this is, in fact, the case. While we cannot yet determine the cause of these findings, we can say for certain today, that the prevalence of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in this cohort is statistically significantly higher.”
“There is initial evidence of a cluster of autism cases at Northvale School,” said Michael Brimacombe, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Vice Chairman, Biostatistics, Director Biostatistics Core Facility, NJMS, Department of Preventative Medicine, New Jersey Medical School and School of Public Health – University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “Further study, both to investigate potential causes of autism and prevent future cases at the school would seem warranted.”
“We are concerned about these children, their families, and our community,” said children’s health advocate Deirdre Imus. “New Jersey has the highest autism rates in the country affecting 1 in 94 children. Having concluded the St. Anthony’s “cluster” to be legitimate, the center will now enter Phase II of the project, which will include environmental testing, with the objective of attempting to identify what factors may have contributed to the increase of developmental disorders in this small population. This is in keeping with the center’s mission.”
Joining the investigative research team will be Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., MS.c, Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Center for Children's Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Landrigan is a nationally recognized environmental health expert who will assume the responsibilities of Chairman of the St. Anthony’s Project Advisory Board. “There is no question these initial findings represent an important first step. We must now begin the difficult work of investigating what these results mean,” said Dr. Landrigan.
Questions about the ongoing investigation can be directed to Dr. Landrigan at 212-241-4804.
Deirdre Imus is the founder and President of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology®, (www.dienviro.com) part of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in New Jersey, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. The Environmental Center represents one of the first hospital-based programs whose specific mission is to identify, control, and ultimately prevent exposures to environmental factors that may cause adult, and especially pediatric cancer, as well as other health problems with our children.
Ms. Imus is also co-founder and co-director with husband, Don Imus, of The Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer, an authentic 4,000 acre working cattle ranch in northern New Mexico, which provides the experience of the American cowboy to children suffering from cancer and various blood diseases, as well as to children who have lost a brother or sister to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
What's Related