Faculty Profile

Steven Gilbert has long been driven by a desire to help children reach their full potential. As the director of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders (INND), in Seattle, Washington, he helps inform public policy to reduce the allowable amount of toxicants in the environment so that children are safe from their harmful effects. Gilbert is also driven by the desire to make this information accessible to the general public. Towards this aim, he has developed an internationally used, Web-based resource on toxic chemicals called Toxipedia (www.toxipedia.org), created teaching modules for grade school children here in Seattle, and written a book called A Small Dose of Toxicology (www.asmalldoseof.org). Guiding all these efforts is his belief that, with increased knowledge, community members can make informed choices about environmental regulations and may ultimately be better stewards for both the environment and future generations. Gilbert's main motivation in all his endeavors has been protecting children's health and well-being. "My lifelong interest is child health issues," Gilbert says.

Steve started his career researching the physiological effects of low-level exposures to lead and mercury on the nervous system. Toxicants like lead and mercury can have devastating effects on children's nervous system development, lowering their IQ's, impairing their memory and learning abilities, and leading to behavioral problems. These neurotoxicants can be found throughout our environment, from industrial pollutants in our water supply to lead paint on toys. The science behind the damaging effects of these neurotoxicants has been understood for years, but little had been done to translate the complicated research findings into concrete rules affecting industry practice. "We had all this knowledge but we weren't making good progress on policy," says Steve.

Convinced that more research was not necessary to start improving people's lives, Gilbert switched his focus to changing public policy. He has written papers about the hazards of low-level lead exposure, arguing that there is no "safe level" of lead exposure; and that even low levels of lead exposure lead to drops in IQ and behavioral problems. With the INND, he has worked with Washington State to create an action plan to reduce lead contamination in the environment. And slowly but surely, Steve feels he is making a difference in people's lives. "There's a lot of disagreement about how to go about fixing this, but there's more openness to change."

For Gilbert, changing policy goes hand-in-hand with increasing the public's knowledge and basic understanding of toxicology. Toxipedia articles are written in clear, accessible language, and anyone with interest and an Internet connection can learn more about toxicology. Doctors can search Toxipedia to understand whether it is safe to prescribe an anti-depressant to a pregnant patient, public officials can use it to determine how much arsenic can be allowed in our drinking water, and a farmer can find out how an insecticide affects the ecosystem.

Steve is also developing another project called the Healthy World Theater. The theater combines art and science with the aim of creating a more healthy and peaceful world. "We want to reach people's hearts and guts with poems and jokes, haikus, skits," he says. The project combines all types of art to raise awareness about toxins in our environment. "I hope it will attract people in the arts to write more on these issues, and I want the scientists to think of what they do as more a part of society."

For Gilbert, creating a safe and healthy environment cannot happen with science or regulation alone; it involves the mobilization and involvement of everyone in the community. And that awareness lies at the heart of all his projects. "We need to be better advocates of public health. That's a really important issue—not just sitting around with science," he says. "We have a responsibility to ensure that our children reach their full potential"