The Declaration of Brescia on Prevention of the Neurotoxicity of Metals

Details

• Personal Author:
  Alessio L ; Grandjean P ; Iregren A ; Landrigan, Philip J. ; Lucchini R ; Nordberg G ; Nordberg M
• Description:
  On 17-18 June, 2006, the Scientific Committee on Neurotoxicology and Psychophysiology and the Scientific Committee on the Toxicology of Metals of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) convened an International Workshop on Neurotoxic Metals: Lead, Mercury, and Manganese-From Research to Prevention (NTOXMET) at the University of Brescia. Scientists and physicians from 27 nations participated. Data were presented for each of the three metals on environmental sources, fate and distribution; human exposure; clinical, subclinical, and developmental neurotoxicity; epidemiology; risk assessment; and prospects for prevention. Ongoing and future studies were described and discussed. For each of the metals, initial recognition of neurotoxicity occurred in the context of high-dose exposure. For example, lead poisoning was first recognized in miners, smelters, and type setters, methylmercury poisoning in inhabitants of the fishing community of Minamata, and manganese poisoning in miners and ferroalloy workers. Subsequent development of more sensitive and sophisticated analytical instruments led to the recognition of subclinical toxicity and developmental neurotoxicity at progressively lower levels of exposure. In each case, the extent of toxicity was much greater than initially appreciated and the size of the affected population much larger. Many decades typically elapsed between the initial recognition of neurotoxicity and the initiation of programs for prevention. Early warnings were frequently ignored and even actively resisted. The historical observation that long delays had typically elapsed before the initiation of prevention prompted extensive discussion at the Workshop about the need to develop more effective strategies. From this discussion, a series of recommendations emerged on future directions for research and prevention of the neurotoxicity of metals. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Epidemiology Lead Manganese Metals Nervous System Occupational Health Preventive Medicine Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

  More +
• Keywords:
  Exposure Levels Neurotoxicity Preventive Medicine Psychophysiology Risk Assessment Risk Factors
• ISSN:
  0271-3586
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  50
• Issue:
  10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057361
• Citation:
  Am J Ind Med 2007 Oct; 50(10):709-711
• Contact Point Address:
  Philip Landrigan, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, NewYork 10029-6574
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1) ; Manganese (CAS RN 7439-96-5) ; Methylmercury(1+) (CAS RN 22967-92-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Industrial Medicine
• End Date:
  20280630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:46be3a16801fef47d487ba29240d240e507fd9f18ce4226ffdf7ce940054fb5f5f3b48917dc27f875f453dda19dd9ad794270a05afc1041166d1f046d02daaf8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214743/cdc_214743_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 59.36 KB ]