A new study published in the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health suggests that exposure to lead in gasoline may have caused over 150 million cases of mental health disorders, including ADHD, anxiety, and depression, in children born between 1966 and 1986.
The study analyzed blood lead levels from 1940 to 2015 and found a significant correlation between lead exposure and increased rates of mental illnesses. The peak use of lead in gasoline, which was added to fuel to reduce engine “knock,” coincided with the highest rate of lead-associated mental illnesses.
According to experts, exposure to lead can cause serious harm to children’s health, including damage to the brain and nervous system, slow growth and development, and problems with learning, behavior, hearing, and speech. The US Centers for Disease Control states that lead is most harmful to children under age 6.
The study’s findings add to existing evidence of the link between lead exposure and mental health issues. Research has shown that even low levels of lead can raise the risk of ADHD and mood disorders. Experts hope that the study will inform efforts to reduce lead exposure in the environment, which they believe would have more benefits than previously understood.
Although lead was banned as a gasoline additive in 1996, it remains widely present in the environment, including in paint, dishes, glasses, and pipes. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that while blood lead levels have decreased significantly since then, further reductions are possible.
Source: https://people.com/lead-in-gas-mental-disorders-adhd-anxiety-depression-8756685