US study links leaded gas exposure to mental health issues; Gen X mostly affected
A new study estimates that lead exposure from car exhaust has caused 151 million psychiatric disorders in Americans over the past 75 years. The research, led by Aaron Reuben, a postdoctoral scholar at Duke University, and colleagues at Florida State University, was published on December 4 in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
Significant mental health burden
The study suggests that Americans born before the 1996 ban on leaded gasoline experienced higher rates of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and attention disorders, due to childhood exposure to lead. Researchers found that those born during the peak use of leaded gas in the 1960s and 1970s were especially affected.
Lead, a neurotoxin, disrupts brain development and function, particularly in young children. Even small amounts can erode brain cells and alter mental health. Reuben explained that humans are not adapted to handle lead at the levels they have encountered over the past century.
Generational impact
The team used historical data on blood-lead levels, leaded gas consumption, and population statistics to estimate the psychological toll of lead exposure. Their findings indicate that more than half of Americans alive in 2015 had concerning levels of lead in their blood as children. Generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, experienced the highest exposures and corresponding mental health challenges.
In addition to diagnosable disorders, lead exposure likely caused subtle, widespread effects, such as reduced resilience and shifts in personality traits like neuroticism and conscientiousness. Co-author Michael McFarland noted that mental health issues across generations have often affected quality of life.
Broader health implications
The researchers previously linked lead exposure to an estimated loss of 824 million IQ points in the US population over the past century. Beyond mental health, lead has been associated with long-term risks for cardiovascular disease and other health impairments.
Despite the 1996 ban on leaded gasoline, its legacy persists. Lead pipes in older water systems and contaminated soil remain ongoing sources of exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced measures to address these risks, including new regulations to replace lead plumbing and stricter guidelines on hazardous soil levels.
Category: Education
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