ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION In recent years, the topic of developmental neurotoxicology has garnered increased attention in parallel with the growing realization that the developing nervous system can be very sensitive to a variety of toxic insults. This heightened awareness has been fostered by published reports of relevant toxicity and exposure (1-4). Certainly, the incidences of behavioral abnormalities in children seem to have risen at a rapid rate: the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, to name just two that are widely recognized, serve as primary examples. While it is likely that some of the risk factors for these and other behavioral/functional disorders are genetic, it is almost certain that environmental factors and gene-environment interactions contribute to the expression of these clinical entities (phenotypes). As part of the environmental component, exposure to agents (e.g., drugs, environmental chemicals, allergens, bacteria, viruses) that affect nervous system development are, by definition, expected to impact the trajectory of nervous system maturation. The environmental component, specifically chemical exposure, will be the focus of this chapter.
