Environmental Toxicants and Developmental Disabilities: A Challenge for Psychologists.

Abstract

Developmental, learning, and behavioral disabilities are a significant public health problem. Environmental chemicals can interfere with brain development during critical periods, thereby impacting sensory, motor, and cognitive function. Because regulation in the United States is based on limited testing protocols and essentially requires proof of harm rather than proof of lack of harm, some undefined fraction of these disabilities may reflect adverse impacts of this "vast toxicological experiment" (H. L. Needleman, as quoted in B. Weiss & P. J. Landrigan, 2000, p. 373). Yet the hazards of environmental pollutants are inherently preventable. Psychologists can help prevent developmental disabilities by mobilizing and affecting public policy, educating and informing consumers, contributing to interdisciplinary research efforts, and taking action within their own homes and communities to reduce the toxic threat to children.

Assessment of Heavy Metals in Waste-Water Irrigated Lettuce in Ghana: The Case of Tamale Municipality

“…Living organisms require some level of heavy metals in the right concentrations as micronutrients for proper development, but with concentration above acceptable quantities may produce serious health consequences. The continuous consumption of vegetables contaminated with heavy metals such as Pb and Cd can be neurotoxic, carcinogenic and their occurrence could affect the central nervous system, the endocrine system of humans and the occurrence of cognitive impairments in children (Weiss, 2000;Koger et al, 2005). …”

Toxicity of Anticholinesterase Pesticides in Neonates and Children

“…impact of chemicals on neurodevelopment (Koger et al, 2005;Landrigan et al, 2004;NRC, 2000). Children from all cultures and backgrounds are at risk.…”

“…Children from all cultures and backgrounds are at risk. However, minority groups and children from low-income families are often at greater risk because of poor nutrition, an impoverished environment, and limited access to medical care (Frumkin et al, 1999;Koger et al, 2005;Mott, 1995;Rhodes et al, 2000). Children have greater exposure to toxicants than adults due to both behavior (e.g., increased time spent crawling on the floor and increased hand-to-mouth behavior) and their increased food to body mass ratio (they consume a greater amount of food and drink compared to their body ratio than adults; CDC, 2002;Cohen Hubal et al, 2000;Reed et al, 1999).…”

Environmental health and behavior analysis: Contributions and interactions.

“…(When gasoline was leaded, this number would have been much higher.) The costs of these effects are difficult to estimate, but they are certainly large (Koger, Schettler, & Weiss, 2005). The economic benefits of…”