Effects of Low-Level Lead Exposure on Paediatric Neurobehavioural Development: Current Findings and Future Directions

The topic addressed at this Edinburgh Workshop, i.e., relationships between lead (Pb) exposure and neurobehavioural development effects in children, has been one of widespread interest and debate for many years. It has been of especially keen interest and importance in nations where extensive exposure of the general population (including paediatric segments) occurs as the result of mining, smelting, manufacturing processes, and/or consumer uses of lead or lead products. Toxic effects arising from exposures to lead of either adult or paediatric populations, whether directly or indirectly (secondarily) associated with occupational/workplace contamination or via various environmental pathways (e.g., air, water, soil, dust, food, etc.) have been a public health matter of longstanding concern to governmental bodies at the Federal, State, and local levels in the United States and at analogous governmental levels in many other nations as well.