Mercy mercy me: social injustice and the prevention of environmental pollutant exposures among ethnic minority and poor children.

Children's lead and pesticide exposures are used as examples to examine social disparities in exposure reduction efforts as well as environmental policies impacting children in poverty and minority children. The review also presents an estimate of the effect of social disparities in lead exposure on standardized test performance. Because including measures of pollutants with potential behavioral effects can alter the observed effects of race/ethnicity, income, and other variables, suggestions are made for including measures of pollutants in longitudinal studies and studies of multiple and cumulative risk. Continued basic research on developmental correlates and effects of pollution exposure, participatory action-research with at-risk and underrepresented populations, and contributions to public awareness and education are important leadership areas for developmental researchers.