A History of Lead in Gasoline May Be Behind Tens of Millions of Mental Health Conditions
A new study has estimated that a history of lead in gasoline may be behind tens of millions of mental health conditions in the United States. The study, published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, found that about 151 million mental disorder diagnoses in the US are attributable to lead exposure.
Lead was added to gasoline starting in the 1920s and was not phased out until the 1980s, with continued use in some specialized applications such as planes, race cars, and farm and marine equipment. The exposure likely would not have happened had lead not been in gasoline, said Dr. Aaron Reuben, coauthor of the study.
The research suggests that the widespread exposure to lead has had a significant impact on mental health, with an estimated half of the US population exposed to adverse levels of lead early in life. The exposure has been linked to a range of negative effects on brain development and function, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
However, the true extent of the problem may be even greater than estimated, as the study did not account for other sources of exposure, such as lead in soil, paint, and other environmental sources. Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a population health scientist at Simon Fraser University, noted that the study’s estimates may be conservative and that more research is needed to fully understand the impact of lead on human health.
The good news is that lead can be removed from the environment, and steps can be taken to reduce exposure. The study’s authors recommend educating the public on sources of lead exposure and taking steps to reduce future exposure. They also urge regulatory agencies to take action to eliminate lead from the environment, including tests for lead levels, reducing exposure to the poison, and eliminating lead from products such as baby food.
Ultimately, the solution to this problem will require a concerted effort from individuals, institutions, and government agencies to eliminate lead from the environment and promote public health. As Dr. Reuben notes, “We’ve got to stop putting this burden on people and families.”