Developmental disabilities result from complex interactions of genetic, toxicologic (chemical), and social factors. Among these various causes, toxicologic exposures deserve special scrutiny because they are readily preventable. This article provides an introduction to some of the literature addressing the effects of these toxicologic exposures on the developing brain. This body of research dem...

The number of clandestine drug laboratories in the United States and Europe has increased as a result of the rising popularity of methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate among young people and drug abusers, and a shift from complex production procedures for these drugs to simpler "cold cook" methods involving household chemicals. Fires, explosions, corrosive chemicals, and toxic sub...

Although we know that certain types of childhood cancers are increasing, we do not know why. With few exceptions, we know little about the role of environmental carcinogens in childhood cancer. Generally, we have adequate information to screen chemicals for potential hazard for only certain categories of chemicals--drugs, food additives, and pesticides. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ...

The GREAT-ER (Geo-referenced Regional Exposure Assessment Tool for European Rivers) system was developed and validated by ECETOC (European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals), as an accurate aquatic chemical exposure prediction tool for use within environmental risk assessment schemes. The GREAT-ER 1.0 software calculates the distribution of predicted environmental concentrati...

The word POISON too often creates fear when it should suggest a warning. Many chemicals or common household substances used incorrectly, usually in the wrong quantity, can cause illness or even death; this is also true with certain plants. Left alone they are harmless. Bruised, crushed, or eaten in varying quantities, they may provoke effects which are upsetting, painful, or even fatal to man.

Household hazardous waste (HHW) includes waste from a number of household products such as paint, garden pesticides, pharmaceuticals, photographic chemicals, certain detergents, personal care products, fluorescent tubes, waste oil, heavy metal-containing batteries, wood treated with dangerous substances, waste electronic and electrical equipment and discarded CFC-containing equipment. Data on t...

Pregnant women are exposed to various chemical products at home and at work. Some of these products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as cosmetics, pesticides, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, plastics or medications that could alter sexual differentiation and increase the risk of hypospadias. We evaluated maternal occupational and household exposures that could constitute r...