DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXICOLOGY OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS AND PESTICIDES - IDENTIFICATION OF INFORMATION GAPS AND RESEARCH NEEDS

There is increasing evidence that some environmental chemicals can int errupt neurodevelopmental processes during critical periods of develop ment, resulting in effects on sensory, motor, and cognitive function. It is now generally accepted that developing organisms are differentia lly sensitive to chemical exposure because of toxicokinetic and/or tox icodynamic factors. Regulatory mechanisms have been implemented to pro tect humans from over- or inappropriate exposures to environmental che micals. Current regulatory practices, however, may be insufficient bec ause of the possibility that some environmental chemicals interfere wi th endocrine function at key periods of neurodevelopment. In addition, a recent National Research Council (NRC) report on pesticide contamin ation in the diets of infants and children concluded that current regu latory practices may not sufficiently protect infants and children fro m the risk of pesticide exposure. The NRC report indicates that regula tory agencies might underestimate the actual exposure of infants and c hildren to pesticides and rely too heavily on data from adults in the risk assessment of pesticides. Consideration of endocrine-disrupting c hemicals and the differential susceptibility of infants and children h as led to identification of a number of information gaps and research needs that should be addressed in order to improve future risk assessm ents for these chemicals.