Journal
BRAIN
Volume 126, Issue -, Pages 5-19Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awg014
Keywords
lead poisoning; neurotoxicity; children; toxic mechanisms; toxic threshold
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Lead has been recognized as a poison for millennia and has been the focus of public health regulation in much of the developed world for the better part of the past century. The nature of regulation has evolved in response to increasing information provided by vigorous scientific investigation of lead's effects. In recognition of the particular sensitivity of the developing brain to lead's pernicious effects, much of this legislation has been addressed to the prevention of childhood lead poisoning. The present review discusses the current state of knowledge concerning the effects of lead on the cognitive development of children. Addressed are the reasons for the child's exquisite sensitivity, the behavioural effects of lead, how these effects are best measured, and the long-term outlook for the poisoned child. Of particular importance are the accumulating data suggesting that there are toxicological effects with behavioural concomitants at exceedingly low levels of exposure. In addition, there is also evidence that certain genetic and environmental factors can increase the detrimental effects of lead on neural development, thereby rendering certain children more vulnerable to lead neurotoxicity. The public health implications of these findings are discussed.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available