Información adicional

• Num_publicacion 64(10)
• Resumen_ingles

  Objectives: 1) To make pediatricians aware of the neurotoxicity of: a) tobacco smoke, b) alcohol and other solvents, c) fluoride, and d) certain food additives; and 2) to recommend preventive measures to minimize/eliminate fetal and postnatal exposure.

  Materials and methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to explore the toxic effects of these substances on the fetal and postnatal nervous system. The authors carried out a search for the observational studies on low-dose exposure in humans and laboratory animals indexed over the past 10 years in Medline, the Science Citation Index and Embase.

  Results: 1) The exposure of women to firsthand and secondhand cigarette smoke during pregnancy leads to learning disa¬bilities, persistent attention deficits and a low intelligence quotient (IQ) in their children, resulting in poorer academic performance. 2) Fetal exposure to low doses of alcohol is associated with hyperactivity, attention and learning deficits, and poor memory in the child. 3) Exposure to solvents employed in hobbies and pastimes in the home can be a considerable risk factor, especially in poorly ventilated areas. 4) Animal and human studies suggest that exposure to fluoride, at levels similar to those found in fluoridated drinking water, and to other supplements can have adverse effects on neuronal development. 6) In animal studies, the adverse effects of aspartame and glutamate are produced at much higher doses than those found in the human diet.

  Conclusions: 1) The fetal and postnatal central nervous system is especially vulnerable to low-dose exposure to cigarette smoke and alcohol. 2) There are no threshold levels of exposure for cigarette smoke and alcohol. 3) During well-child visits, the recording of pastimes and hobbies that involve the use of solvents enables the detection of families at risk. 4) Fluoride supplements are indicated only in populations at risk. 5) The relationship between diet and the behavior of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is unclear. 6) The Pediatric Environmental History (PEH) is necessary to expand our knowledge of the health hazards related to these exposures in terms of prevention, prognosis and outcome.

• Palabras_clave_ingles Prenatal exposure smoking environmental cigarette smoke nicotine alcohol solvents fluoride food additives neurotoxins neurotoxicity syndromes environmental health
• Todos_autores J.A. Ortega García, J. Ferrís i Tortajada¹, O. Berbel Tornero¹, K.J. Romero², L. Rubalcava², E. Martínez Salcedo³, E. Apolinar Valiente¹, E. Crehuá Gaudiza1, M.D. Hernández Gil
• autores listados J.A. Ortega García, J. Ferrís i Tortajada, O. Berbel Tornero, K.J. Romero, L. Rubalcava, E. Martínez Salcedo, E. Apolinar Valiente, E. Crehuá Gaudiza, M.D. Hernández Gil
• Correspondecia
  J.A. Ortega García. Unidad de Salud Medioambiental Pediátrica. PEHSU-Murcia. Hospital Materno-Infantil Universitario «Virgen de la Arrixaca». Ctra. Madrid-Cartagena, s/n. 30120 Murcia.
  Correo electrónico: ortega@pehsu.org
• Titulo_ingles Environmental neurotoxins (IV). Tobacco, alcohol, solvents, fluoride, food additives: adverse effects on the fetal and postnatal nervous system. Preventive measures
• Centros_trabajo Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU-Murcia). Hospital Materno-Infantil Universitario «Virgen de la Arrixaca». Murcia. ¹Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU-Valencia). Hospital Materno-Infantil Universitario «La Fe». Valencia. ²Mount Sinai International Exchange Program. Department of Community and Preventive Medicine. Nueva York. ³Sección de Neuropediatría. Hospital Materno-Infantil Universitario «Virgen de la Arrixaca». Murcia
• Publicado en Acta Pediatr Esp. 2006; 64(10): 493-502
• copyright ©2006 Ediciones Mayo, S.A.
• Fecha recepcion 01/06/06
• Fecha aceptacion 14/06/06