Home
Join
Inches
About
Inches
Inches
Activities
News
Main Goals
Associates
Support
Site
Index
BOOK REVIEW: "Destroying Children's Brains With Lead Pollution"
New Publication: Edited by Dr. Naila Z. Khan, Professor, Child Neurology and Development, Dhaka Shishu Hospital.
Published by: Narigrantha Prabartana, January, 2000 Price: Taka 20.
Available at: Narigrantha Prabartana and Shishu Bikash Kendro, Dhaka Shishu Hospital.
Environmental air pollution by leaded petrol has been recently found to be affecting the functional and brain development and intelligence of children in Bangladesh. This book is an important chronological documentation of a campaign started by the Shishu Bikash Kendro (bangla for Child Development Centre) of the Dhaka Shishu Hospital, along with basic scientists, environmentalists and the media, demanding a ban on leaded petrol and immediate implementation of policies for clean air in Bangladesh. More importantly, scientific research findings have been put forward in easy format and language to convey the urgency of the matter to the general public.
The first section gives information to the general reader on sources of lead in the environment, its toxic effects and effects on health and development of both children and adults. It explains why specific populations, specially children's brain development, are more vulnerable to its long-term effects than adults.
In the second section evidences that Bangladesh has one of the highest known lead levels in environment and in human blood is explained. Two major studies conducted in the eighties and early nineties is quoted.
In the third section a previously published article of Dr. Khan is reprinted, where she has explained the extent of the problems found in children, and some important measures to prevent them. A letter to the Lancet called "Psychomotor delay and lead poisoning in Bangladeshi children" has also been reprinted.
In the fourth section excerpts from relevant editorials, editorial commentaries, and frontline articles including the announcement of the Bangladesh Government to ban leaded petrol, have been chronologically reprinted as an important documentation of a positive public action towards a cleaner environment in Bangladesh.
In the fifth section a comprehensive policy towards cleaner air is strongly voiced, specially the need to change car exhausts to include catalytic converters. Dr. Alauddin's article clearly explains a research finding where over 40 types of carcinogenic emissions were found in the exhaust fumes of the two-stroke autorickshaws.
In the sixth section a small population based survey of blood lead levels conducted by the Shishu Bikash Kendro recently has been highlighted, ie its main findings have been reproduced. It shows that no population is exempted from lead poisoning. However, the worst sufferers have been shown to be the urban slum population, especially children.
In the seventh and final section individual children suffering from lead poisoning have been described, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic children, and how lead affects their brain development and intelligence.The book is very simply written and full of information for the general public. In every page the most important points are printed in larger font and easily catches the eye of the reader. The synthesis of important scientific information with socially relevant issues is commendable and will serve to further the campaign for a cleaner environment for scientists, environmentalists and social activists alike. The focus on children's development makes it an important reader for every parent, child care provider and child health professional. And, of course, the policy-makers.