Re: More connected to Lancet article

[Guest guest]

Precautionary Approach Suggested To Protect Pregnant Women And Children

Against Industrial Chemicals

Article Date: 11 Nov 2006

Exposure limits for chemicals should be set at values that recognise the

unique sensitivity of pregnant women and young children, and they should aim

to protect brain development, according to a Review this week.

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, attention deficit disorder, and

cerebral palsy are common, costly and can cause lifelong disability. One in

every six children has a developmental disability and in most cases these

disabilities affect the nervous system. The two main obstacles to preventing

neurodevelopmental disabilities caused by chemicals are the great gaps in

testing chemicals for developmental neurotoxicity and the high level of

proof required for regulation.

A few industrial chemicals such as lead are recognised causes of

neurodevelopmental disorders. Exposure to these chemicals during early fetal

development can cause brain injury at doses much lower than those affecting

adults. Recognition of these risks has given rise to evidence-based

programmes of prevention, such as elimination of lead additives in petrol.

Although, these campaigns are highly successful, most were initiated only

after substantial delays, state Dr Philippe Grandjean (Department of

Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark) and

Dr. Philip Landrigan (Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School

of Medicine, New York, NY, USA).

In the EU, 100 000 chemicals were registered for commercial use in 1981 and

in the USA 80 000 are registered. Of the chemicals most commonly used in

commerce, fewer than half have been subjected to even token laboratory

testing. The few substances proven to be toxic to human neurodevelopment

should therefore be viewed as the tip of a very large iceberg.

Dr Grandjean concludes: " The vulnerability of the human nervous system and

its special susceptibility during early development suggest that protection

of the developing brain should be a paramount goal of public health

protection.

A precautionary approach, which is now beginning to be used in the EU, would

mean that early indications of a potential for a serious toxic effect, such

as developmental neurotoxicity, should lead to strict regulation, which

could be relaxed, should subsequent documentation show less harm than

anticipated " .

###

This article was found on...

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=56167

Contact: Dr Philippe Grandjean, Department of Environmental Medicine,

University of Southern Denmark, Winslowparken 17, 5000 Odense C, Denmark .