New Epidemiological Evidence Demonstrates the Medical World has Underestimated the Risk of Brain Damage Associated with Methylmercury

November 7, 2008

Exposure to certain chemicals such as methylmercury during early fetal development can cause permanent brain injury at doses much lower than those that affect the adult brain, say researchers from Harvard University and the University of Southern Denmark in Odense. Recent epidemiological evidence on methylmercury has shown adverse effects at exposure levels previously thought to be safe.

The research findings are published in an article titled, "Development neurotoxicity: implications of methylmercury research" in the International Journal of Environment and Health (Vol. 2, No.3/4). To read an abstract, click here.

In other environmental health news, on December 9, 2008, the AAIDD Environmental Health Initiative is hosting a teleconference titled, "Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units-A Resource for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Community". Featured speaker, Jerome A. Paulson, MD, will talk about the role of the 12 pediatric environmental health specialty units (PEHSUs) established in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in the context of developmental disabilities. To learn more, click here.