Behavioral Implications of Prenatal and Early Postnatal Exposure to Chemical Pollutants

摘要: Although this Conference focuses on the fetus and child, it should not deflect us from larger issue-effects over total lifespan. Early developmental stages are important less in themselves than what they portend. So that you do conclude, to our immense embarrassment, we about envelop a Freudian mist, let immediately brace these statements with some quantitative perspectives. Assume exposure an environmental contaminant takes place lifetime-a that, like methylmercury, can destroy brain tissue (although don9t know whether threshold for damage exists methylmercury). What implications central nervous system function performance? Figure 1 represents extrapolations postulated by Kety,1 basis of then existing literature, represent aging brain. It shows decline neuronal cell density (paralleled declines oxygen consumption blood circulation) 20% 25% between age 25 75. There is substantial evidence undergoes continuous loss cells throughout postnatal life, large proportion die during morphogenesis, numerous structural chemical changes take both developing An important, fact key, concurrent process advancing wide range behavioral performance measures. Weiss Simon2 calculated additional decrease would be imposed enhancing rate Kety. Even as minute increment 0.1% significant acceleration terms equivalent age.