JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
    View Item 
    •   OpenBU
    • School of Public Health
    • Department of Environmental Health
    • SPH Environmental Health Papers and Presentations
    • View Item
    •   OpenBU
    • School of Public Health
    • Department of Environmental Health
    • SPH Environmental Health Papers and Presentations
    • View Item

    Role of the Neurologist in Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

    Thumbnail
    Download/View
    envhper00345-0...pdf (1.967Mb)
    Date Issued
    1996-04
    Author
    Feldman, R. G.
    White, R. F.
    Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare by Email
    Export Citation
    Download to BibTex
    Download to EndNote/RefMan (RIS)
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Permanent Link
    https://hdl.handle.net/2144/2760
    Citation
    Feldman, R G, R F White. "Role of the Neurologist in Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment." Environmental Health Perspectives 104(Suppl 2): 227-237. (1996)
    Abstract
    This review describes strategies used by a clinical neurologist in the investigation of neurotoxic disease. It emphasizes the need for a high level of suspicion that environmental substances are capable of producing impairments in neurologic and neurobehavioral functions. Because of the difficulties in differentiating neurotoxic from nonneurotoxic disease when presented with common neurological symptoms, it is necessary to rely upon corroborative evidence from past medical records, work and environmental histories, and exposure data, as well as detailed neurological examinations, to reach a conclusion about causation. Sensitive electrophysiologic and neuropsychologic test batteries are useful in identifying subclinical impairments and in providing objective confirmation of abnormalities in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Combining scientific and epidemiologic information with experience and clinical judgment, these sources of information are used in the formulation of a clinical diagnosis. When many patients among a group of people are exposed to neurotoxicants, the effects of the exposure may vary from one to another because of differences in susceptibility, duration of exposure and dosage of neurotoxicant, and other possible risk factors. Group statistics may obscure a significant effect for the larger group, despite clinically obvious effects in an individual. The neurologist applies clinical skills and refers to the accumulated neurotoxicologic literature as a frame of reference to make a diagnosis about an individual patient or a group of patients who have been exposed to particular neurotoxicants. The Boston University Environmental Neurology Assessment (BUENA) is a scheme that attempts to combine epidemiologic methodology and clinical approaches to detect effects of neurotoxic exposure. The advantages and limitations of such a strategy are discussed.
    Collections
    • SPH Environmental Health Papers and Presentations [90]
    • MED: Neurology Papers [66]

    Contact Us | Send Feedback | Help
     

     

    Browse

    All of OpenBUCommunities & CollectionsIssue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionIssue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    Deposit Materials

    LoginNon-BU Registration

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    Contact Us | Send Feedback | Help