ASSESSMENT OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGIC AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL-POLLUTANTS IN 5-YEAR-OLD AND 6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

To investigate the effects of environmental pollutants on neuronal fun ctions in residents of different areas in Germany, a mobile laboratory was developed. The equipment permits the assessment of neurophysiolog ic as well as neurobehavioral parameters in epidemiologic studies. In two sets of field experiments in 1991 and 1994, more than 700 children , 5 and 6 years old, were tested in three different towns in East and West Germany. Visual functions were measured neurophysiologically by v isually evoked potentials, using pattern reversal stimulation. By mean s of psychophysical methods, the contrast sensitivity was tested and t he visual acuity assessed. Finger tapping, simple reaction time, vigil ance, pattern comparison, pattern memory, and memory of geometric figu res were measured using the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES1 an d NES2). In a preliminary analysis, the outcomes of the tests were rel ated to the children's blood lead levels. The experiences with the fie ld studies showed that all tests could be successfully performed even in pre-school-age children. The mobile laboratory has proven to be a u seful tool for the detection of neurotoxic effects of environmental po llutants in larger populations, providing the opportunity for flexible operation at different locations. (C) 1997 Academic Press.