6 examples of neurodevelopmentally toxic chemicals

The United States manufactures and imports chemicals at voluminous rates. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a chemical inventory of tens of thousands of chemicals; nearly 3,000 of these are produced or imported at > 1 million lb per year and only a scant minority are evaluated for toxic effects on brain development.1-4 To focus efforts on reducing these toxic exposures, a group of expert toxicologists, health professionals, and patient advocates called Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neuro-Developmental Risk) developed consensus on highlighting six prime examples.5These six toxic exposures include chemicals widely used in consumer products, those present in the home setting, and broad public space exposures. They are: organophosphate pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants, combustion-related air pollutants, lead, mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (often used in carbonless copy paper). Each of these has been deemed contributory to neurodevelopmental disorders including learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and behavioral or intellectual impairment.5For more on exposures: Toxic environmental exposures in maternal, fetal, and reproductive health

References:

1. US EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 2006. 2006 Inventory Update Reporting: Data Summary. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/2006_data_summary.pdf Accessed August 15, 2018.2. US EPA. 2012. 2012 Chemical Data Reporting Results. 2018. Available at: http://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-reporting/2012-chemical-data-reporting-results Accessed August 15, 2018.3. Grandjean P, Landrigan PJ. Developmental neurotoxicity of industrial chemicals. Lancet. 2006;368(9553):2167–2178.4. Grandjean P, Landrigan PJ. Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. Lancet Neurol. 2014;13(3):330–338.5. Project TENDR: Targeting Environmental Neuro-Developmental Risks. The TENDR Consensus Statement. Environ Health Perspect. 2016 July 1;124(7):A118-122.