ABSTRACT
Among the metals that warrant consideration for their developmental neurotoxic potential,
lead (Pb) (1) and mercury (Hg) (2) have clearly been the focus of the greatest attention.
Other metals and metalloids, however, also pose at least the potential to cause
developmental neurotoxicity, although developmental neurotoxicity may not be the
most sensitive toxic endpoint in each case. These include manganese (Mn) (3), arsenic
(As) (4), and to a lesser extent cadmium (Cd) (5). Recently, arsenic As has also been
associated with reduced intellectual performance in children (6). As discussed below, the
metals present unique issues for exposure assessment and pharmacokinetic modeling.
Because the exposure assessment and pharmacokinetic considerations for methylmercury
(MeHg) have been fairly well characterized, and because MeHg presents many of the
exposure assessment complexities encountered among the various neurotoxic metals, this
chapter includes a focus on MeHg as a case study from which generalizations applicable to
the other developmental neurotoxic metals can be drawn.
