Exploring the Effects of Environmental Chemicals in the Development of Developmental and Cognitive Impairments in Children
Аннотация
One of the crucial environmental health issues of the time is exposure of the environment to chemicals in sensitive neurodevelopmental periods, which leads to various developmental and cognitive delays in children. It is a systematic review that summarizes existing epidemiological research, examining the relationship between common environmental toxicants (e.g., heavy metals, e.g., lead, mercury), persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (e.g., PCBs), and pesticides and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The period of exposure, especially in prenatal development, is emphasized, with the immature nervous system being at a unique position because the detoxification systems are not yet fully developed and thus exposed. These toxicants are able to easily penetrate the placental and blood-brain barrier, affecting such fundamental processes as neurotransmission, synaptogenesis, and hormonal signaling. Our results prove that prenatal and early-life exposures are associated with quantitatively significant IQ, attention, motor, and greater susceptibility to developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The evidence synthesis of both the exposure-dose and mechanistic understanding presented in the review gives a holistic perspective on the worldwide chemical burden on child cognitive health. The exploration is directly related to the sphere of ecotoxicology, where environmental pollutants represent the same threat to wildlife. Comparative studies in animals and in ecology reveal that the developmental neurotoxicity in a variety of vertebrate species has common mechanistic pathways (e.g., endocrine disruption and oxidative stress). Thus, the results highlight the significance of an integrated Health response to the reduction of chemical exposures in the human and animal population at the global level. This study provides a theoretical basis for informed policy, clinical intervention, and community-wide health initiatives to prevent diseases through primary prevention by demonstrating the necessity of changing the paradigm by which chemical safety is controlled and observed in children's environments.