New Report Lists Brain-Damaging Substances
Dec 8 , 2006
A report lists neurotoxic chemicals that are likely to be contributing to the long-noted rise in brain damage and other neurological dysfunctions occurring in children. Manganese, fluoride, and perchlorate were “three obvious candidate substances” for regulation.
The report, published in The Lancet, called for a change in the regulation of all the listed substances – more than 200.
The report began with documents from the U.S. National Library of Medicine from which they began to compile their list. From these documents, they created a list of compounds known to affect humans.
The researchers say their list likely underrepresents hazardous chemicals because their criteria precluded them from including materials that have only been demonstrated to cause harm to animals.
The researchers said that the list is particularly likely to be underrepresentative of toxins that cause long-term, or chronic effects.
The final list catalogs more than 200 metals, organic solvents, pesticides, and other materials shown to cause neurological damage to children, and in some cases adults.
Only five of these substances – lead, methyl mercury, solvents, pesticides, and PCB’s – are well known and have their effects documented. However, even they continue to be poorly regulated, the report’s authors said.
The authors wrote that there are thousands of chemicals that should be tested for neurotoxicity to children. The authors went further and said that they should be tested with more rigor than is used in other testing such as that used in the EU’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals).
To learn more about manganese exposure and its various side effects, contact a manganese attorney.
