Reproductive and Developmental Toxicants. Regulatory Actions Provide Uncertain Protection,

Abstract

The health and educability of American children is a growing concern: our infant death rate is one of the highest in the developed world; a quarter of a million U.S. babies are born with birth defects each year; and a growing number of children have basic learning disabilities. Some of these seemingly diverse problems are caused by preventable exposures to environmental chemicals such as lead or mercury. Concerned about this issue, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs asked GAO to: (1) identify the environmental chemicals that are of high concern as reproductive and developmental toxicants, (2) determine the extent to which these chemicals are regulated by the federal government, (3) assess the degree to which these regulatory actions are based on reproductive and developmental toxicity, and (4) evaluate whether the regulatory protection currently provided to the public against reproductive and developmental disease is sufficient.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA367907

Entities

People

  • Barbara A. Chapman
  • Boris L. Kachurak
  • Robert M. Copeland

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alkenes
  • Bioremediation
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Central Nervous System
  • Contamination
  • Ecotoxicology
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Environmental Health
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Protection
  • Health Services
  • Law
  • Medical Personnel
  • Poisoning
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Risk Analysis

Readers

  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Toxicology/Environmental Toxicology