Mental disorders in US kids linked to decades of lead exposure
Lead exposure in the 20th century may have had a significant impact on the mental health of Americans, according to a new study conducted by researchers from Duke University and Florida State University. The study focused on the effects of lead in gasoline, which was first introduced in 1923 to improve car engine performance and was only banned from use in U.S. vehicles in 1996.
Individuals born between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s are believed to have experienced the highest levels of lead exposure. The researchers found that childhood exposure to car exhaust from leaded gas resulted in an imbalance of mental health in the U.S., leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and attention deficit disorders.
The study, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, estimated that around 151 million cases of psychiatric disorders over the past 75 years could be attributed to leaded gas exposure in American children. Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, was identified as the group with the greatest mental health losses due to lead exposure.
Lead is known to be neurotoxic and can have detrimental effects on brain function and development. The researchers emphasized that there is no safe level of lead exposure at any point in life and that even low levels of exposure can have long-lasting consequences on mental health.
The study revealed that more than 170 million Americans had clinically concerning levels of lead in their blood as children by 2015, leading to a range of mental health issues. Lead exposure was linked to lower IQs, mental health problems, and other long-term health complications such as cardiovascular disease.
Lead study author Aaron Reuben emphasized that humans are not adapted to high levels of lead exposure and that the toxic effects of lead have played a larger role in mental health than previously thought. He urged for greater awareness of lead exposure risks and the importance of removing lead hazards from the environment.
Child psychologist Dr. Michele Borba noted that while the current youth mental health crisis is often attributed to factors like social media, the study on lead exposure presents a new perspective on the potential causes of deteriorating mental health. Borba emphasized the need for mental health experts to consider lead exposure as a contributing factor in their treatment approaches.
Overall, the study highlights the long-lasting impact of lead exposure on mental health and underscores the importance of addressing lead hazards in the environment to prevent further harm to individuals’ well-being. Future research is needed to better understand the extent of lead exposure effects and to develop strategies for mitigating its impact on mental health.
