Neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, attention deficit disorder ADHD, dyslexia, and cerebral palsy affect one in six children worldwide. Growing evidence strongly links childhood exposures to hazardous chemicals such as mercury, lead, and certain solvents and pesticides to higher rates of these neurodevelopmental disorders and suggests that more stringent controls could generate billions of dollars in savings. The estimated yearly costs of childhood lead poisoning in the USA, for example, are about US$50 billion, and the annual costs of methylmercury toxicity are roughly US$5 billion.

via Experts call for global overhaul of industrial chemical regulations.