Targeting Environmental Neurodevelopmental Risks to Protect Children

Pregnant women, infants, and children are continually exposed to chemicals that are toxic to brain development. Yet too little has been done to protect them from the possibility of harm. In 2015, a diverse group of physicians and other health professionals, scientists, and advocates established Project Targeting Environmental Neuro-Developmental Risks (TENDR) to focus awareness and advocate for action against toxic chemicals that contribute to the risk of development of brain-based disorders in children, including intellectual and learning disabilities, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).¹ Ten years ago, this landmark agreement among leading scientists and health professionals would not have been possible, but the accumulated evidence, which illustrates a pattern of toxicity, is credible and convincing. The release of the TENDR consensus statement coincided with the recent signing into law of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. This act is the first update of the Toxic...