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Pollutants pass into our bodies through eating, drinking, and breathing. Children are the most vulnerable of all and the effects of pollutants on their development may have serious consequences, especially on the brain, causing cognitive delay and learning difficulty.
Dyslexia or word blindness and autism are actually affecting more and more children and may be caused by exposure to pollutants.
The chapters describe pollutant classes and feature daily events, research study results, risk factors and some advice to prevent exposure, such as a few curious and virtuous measures taken by some imaginative people.

1. State of the art. Children’s development and health
2. Lead: properties and effects on health
3. Mercury: properties and effects on health
4. POP (Persistent Organic Pollutants), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs or flame retardants)
5. Pesticides
6. Air pollution. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organic solvents.
7. Endocrine interferents, plastics, ftalates, bisphenol A
8. Conclusions

Maria Cristina Saccuman, Ph.D, taught Developmental Neurobiology and Cognitive Neurophyisiology at the University of San Raffaele, Milan, and carried on research in the field of cognitive development of children affected by language disorders.