Early Childhood Lead Exposure - Linked to Adult Crime

Early Childhood Lead Exposure - Linked to Adult Crime

May 30th, 2008

Dr. Avnish Jolly:According to Kim Dietrich, Researcher, University of Cincinnati in Ohio, one of the studies in the Public Library of Science Journal PLoS Medicine are now reporting that lead exposure in early childhood, even as early as in the womb, can lead to permanent brain damage and may cause criminal behavior. Two separate studies indicate that people with high levels of lead in childhood grew up with not only blocks of missing brain cells, but with a propensity for crime, some violent. As a matter-of-fact, the lead effect is so strong it may account for a large percentage of inner-city area crimes, where old houses are likelier to have lead paint.