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Assessment following Neurotoxic Exposure

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Neuropsychology

Part of the book series: Human Brain Function ((HBFA))

Abstract

In the middle part of this century, toxicity assessment was determined most often by what is known as the LD50—the lethal dose (LD) for 50% of test animals tested with a chemical agent. That is, a group of animals, typically rats, were administered various doses of chemicals and the dose that resulted in 50% dying after 14 days was estimated as the LD50. As an example of the range of toxicity for various chemicals, alcohol has an approximate LD50 of 14,000 mg/kg, compared to DDT which has an LD50 of 100 mg/kg (Kamrin, 1988). However, what applies to rats does not necessarily apply to humans. Toxicity assessment has since expanded its definition of impairment by relying on other measures such as biochemical indices and, more and more, behavioral testing. What constitutes a “safe threshold” today is much different from what was considered safe just a few years ago. The work of Herbert Needleman on the behavioral effects of lead, particularly in young children, was instrumental in lowering permissible lead levels in gasoline and drinking water (Needleman et al., 1979; Needleman, Schell, Bellinger, Leviton, & Allred, 1990). Increasingly, neuropsychology is coming to the forefront as one of the best ways to assess the toxic effects of chemicals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, USA

    Lisa A. Morrow

  2. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, USA

    Lisa A. Morrow

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  1. Lisa A. Morrow
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Gerald Goldstein

  2. Lutheran Affiliated Services, Aging Research and Education Center, Mars, Pennsylvania, USA

    Paul David Nussbaum

  3. School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Sue R. Beers

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Morrow, L.A. (1998). Assessment following Neurotoxic Exposure. In: Goldstein, G., Nussbaum, P.D., Beers, S.R. (eds) Neuropsychology. Human Brain Function. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1950-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1950-2_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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