Neurotoxins and their Neurotoxicology

Many chemicals produce neurotoxicity by acting directly on nerve cells, and others may interfere with metabolic processes on which the nervous system depends. Naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals and drugs, drugs of abuse, pesticides, occupational chemicals, and food contaminants can also induce neurotoxicity and cause human neurological diseases. Each year millions of people are exposed to neurotoxicants. Many epidemics of neurotoxic diseases have occurred throughout the world, including the United States. Ataxia and blindness caused by mercury contamination in Japan, fungicide-treated grain in Iraq; neuropathy caused by tri-. o-cresylphosphate (TOCP) in Morocco; toxic oil syndrome in Spain; and tremors and motor disturbances caused by the pesticide Kepone in the United States are some of the examples of human neurotoxic diseases.