Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence
- The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Intelligence and Its Measurement
- Part II Development of Intelligence
- Part III Intelligence and Group Differences
- Part IV Biology of Intelligence
- Part V Intelligence and Information Processing
- Part VI Kinds of Intelligence
- Part VII Intelligence and Its Role in Society
- 37 Intelligence in Worldwide Perspective
- 38 Historical Evolution of Intelligence
- 39 Secular Changes in Intelligence
- 40 Society and Intelligence
- 41 Environment and Intelligence
- Part VIII Intelligence and Allied Constructs
- Part IX Folk Conceptions of Intelligence
- Part X Conclusion
- Author Index
- Subject Index
- References
41 - Environment and Intelligence
from Part VII - Intelligence and Its Role in Society
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 December 2019
Edited by
Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence
- The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Intelligence and Its Measurement
- Part II Development of Intelligence
- Part III Intelligence and Group Differences
- Part IV Biology of Intelligence
- Part V Intelligence and Information Processing
- Part VI Kinds of Intelligence
- Part VII Intelligence and Its Role in Society
- 37 Intelligence in Worldwide Perspective
- 38 Historical Evolution of Intelligence
- 39 Secular Changes in Intelligence
- 40 Society and Intelligence
- 41 Environment and Intelligence
- Part VIII Intelligence and Allied Constructs
- Part IX Folk Conceptions of Intelligence
- Part X Conclusion
- Author Index
- Subject Index
- References
Summary
The complex processes that underlie normal nervous system development are known to be extremely vulnerable to perturbation by chemicals that are present in the human environment, either naturally or as a result of human activities. These processes include neurogenesis, differentiation and migration of neurons, myelination, and synaptogenesis. Children are generally at greater risk than adults of suffering adversities from chemical exposures because of their physiology and behavior. As a result, reductions in cognitive function, including intelligence, are among the most important effects of such exposures. This chapter surveys the harmful impacts on children’s brains and cognition of certain chemicals and chemical classes, including mercury, lead, organophosphate pesticides, air pollution, synthetic organic compounds (e.g., flame retardants, plastics), and compounds that disrupt the endocrine system. The final section illustrates how an exposure that causes relatively modest cognitive morbidity in an individual can nevertheless, if highly prevalent as many chemical exposures are, contribute substantially to the burden of disease at the population level.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence , pp. 988 - 1008Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020
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