Implications

IMPLICATIONS

Recent animal and human health studies have drawn connections to low chronic exposures to organic compounds and effects on behavior. Research psychologists from the State University of New York at Oswego, working in cooperation with environmental chemists and medical staff from a local hospital, determined that babies born to mothers who consumed Lake Ontario fish during their lifetimes were more likely to experience behavioral differences relative to the offspring of mothers who ate little to no Lake fish. Lake Ontario fish are known to contain a wide variety of organic and inorganic contaminants including a variety of chlorinated compounds.

These findings will be strongly and systematically challenged by the chemical manufacturers during the next several years because of the enormous societal and economic implications. Funds are being dedicated to challenge the recent research findings and for lobbying to reduce or eliminate existing state, federal and private funding available to members of the research community involved with this type of research.

As the industrial community rallies to refute the results from recent research focused on the subtle, non-lethal, neurobehavioral effects of low level exposure to contaminants, we need to remember that we are all members of an ecosystem and impacts to a segment of that system ripples throughout the entire population. Even though we have not budgeted funds to pay for subtle environmental impacts to wildlife and humans, we all bare the increased societal and economic costs of learning disabilities and behavioral disorders.

Please forward comments and questions to: Dr. Ronald J. Scrudato, Environmental Research Center, 319 Piez Hall, SUNY College at Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126 Scrudato@Oswego.edu TEL:(315) 341-3639 FAX: (315) 341-5347