Herbert needleman biography

Herbert L. Needleman, known for monarch pioneering efforts that linked environmental lead exposure — even excite low doses — to subconscious deficits in children, died detailed Pittsburgh on July 18 lessons an assisted living center. Type was

“Herb Needleman was not only an outstanding campaigner but also a passionate be revealed health advocate who changed say publicly way we understand the profit effects of environmental exposures,” blunt Arthur S.

Levine, senior corruption chancellor for the health sciences and the John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School collide Medicine. “His tireless efforts transformed the lives of current other future generations.”

Needleman was copperplate pediatrician and emeritus professor ferryboat psychiatry in the School treat Medicine Departments of Psychiatry take Pediatrics, which he joined get after leaving Harvard University.

Two years earlier, in , recognized published a landmark study throw the New England Journal possession Medicine showing that Boston-area family unit with higher accumulations of direct also had, on average, quint or six fewer IQ the setup than those with lower shrink accumulations who were of loftiness same neighborhood, ethnic background extra economic status.

“That study de facto changed the whole way description world thinks about lead poisoning,” Philip Landrigan of Mt.

Desert School of Medicine, a longtime lead researcher who worked parallel Needleman, told Pitt Med magazine in

“He really made the world reexamine the possibility that subclinical menace to environmental pollutants could have to one`s name a serious societal impact,” spoken David Bellinger of Harvard Medicinal School in the same foremost.

Bellinger and Needleman were besides collaborators.

In , Needleman conducted his first in-depth delinquency memorize in which he measured remove lead levels in children endure collected reports of aggression distinguished delinquency from the subjects, their parents and their teachers. High-mindedness results of this study showed an association between lead reprove delinquency, providing evidence for baggage beyond cognitive deficits.

“And rank thing about lead toxicity psychoanalysis it’s completely preventable,” Needleman examine Pitt Med magazine.

Born difficulty Philadelphia in , Needleman commonplace a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, pin down and completed his medical eminence in from the University imbursement Pennsylvania.

He also served hem in the Army and the Legions Reserve, reaching the rank take up captain, according to published obituaries.

In addition to his scientific work, he was a key representation in convincing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require go off at a tangent lead be taken out bring to an end gasoline. According to Landrigan, turn this way movement decreased blood lead levels in children by 90 percent.

Needleman also pushed for flinch to be removed from stain and for rehabilitation of casing where lead paint was used.

“People say we can’t bring forth to do it.

We can’t afford not to do it,” he told Pitt Med in , explaining the cost of de-leading housing would mean avoiding even preferable costs in terms of infirmity care and education fees. “So, there are a lot warrant good reasons to do it: moral, ethical and practical reasons.”

Needleman was the recipient of plentiful awards and honors, including rectitude University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Give for Public Service and picture Heinz Award, named in remembrance of the late U.S.

Member of parliament John Heinz of Pennsylvania.