Herbert Needleman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | December 13, 1927 |
| Died | July 18, 2017 (aged 89) |
| Alma mater | Muhlenberg College, University of Pennsylvania |
| Known for | Lead poisoning research |
| Spouse | Shirley Weinstein - divorced Roberta Pizor |
| Children | three |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | pediatrics, child psychiatry |
| Institutions | University of Pittsburgh, Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning |
Herbert Leroy Needleman (December 13, 1927 – July 18, 2017) researched the neurodevelopmental damage caused by lead poisoning. He was a pediatrician, child psychiatrist, researcher and professor at the University of Pittsburgh,[1] an elected member of the Institute of Medicine, and the founder of the Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning (later known as the Alliance for Healthy Homes, it has since merged with the National Center for Healthy Housing). Dr. Needleman played a key role in securing some of the most significant environmental health protections achieved during the 20th century, which resulted in a fivefold reduction in the prevalence of lead poisoning among children in the United States by the early 1990s. Despite engendering strong resistance from lead-related industries, which made him the target of frequent attacks, Needleman persisted in campaigning to educate stakeholders, including parents and government panels, about the dangers of lead poisoning. Needleman has been credited with having played a key role in triggering environmental safety measures that have reduced average blood lead levels by an estimated 78 percent between 1976 and 1991. He died in Pittsburgh in 2017.[2]
- ^ Becher, Anne (2000). American environmental leaders: from Colonial times to the present. ABC-Clio. p. 592. ISBN 9781576071625.
- ^ "Doctor who linked kids' lead exposure to health issues dies". WFTV 9 ABC. Pittsburgh. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2019.