title: Environmental evaluation of a child with developmental disability.
abstract: Children's health can be affected adversely by the environment in which they live. It is well recognized that some environmental chemicals are harmful to the brain, but the role these chemicals play in the development of specific disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism is not certain. Parents of children who have developmental disabilities often ask the primary care physician whether certain environmental toxicants might be the cause of the illness. A detailed environmental history and physical examination may help clarify whether there is a plausible relationship between an environmental toxicant and a child's disability.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Environmental Health Center, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. javed.hussain@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Woolf
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandel
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Shannon
mesh_terms: D015913:Chelation Therapy; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010575:Pesticides; D000431:Ethanol; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls