2001
Lead-poisoned Boys Are More Aggressive, Delinquent
Children's health researchers found that boys with relatively high levels of lead in their bones are more likely to engage in aggressive acts and delinquent behavior than boys with lower bone-lead levels. Follow-up studies also associated high blood-lead levels with antisocial acts. This longitudinal study's initial results, announced in 1996, were confirmed. The study linked both prenatal and postnatal lead exposure to aggression and antisocial behavior.
Tags: children's health, lead
Needleman HL, Riess JA, Tobin MJ, Biesecker GE, Greenhouse JB. 1996. Bone lead levels and delinquent behavior. JAMA 275(5):363-369. [Abstract]
Dietrich KN, Ris MD, Succop PA, Berger OG, Bornschein RL. 2001. Early exposure to lead and juvenile delinquency. Neurotoxicol Teratol 23(6):511-518. [Abstract]
News Release:
- 2001: Drug Treatment of Lead-Exposed Children Does Not Improve Psychological Test Scores
Environmental Health Perspectives articles:
- Succimer Chelation Improves Learning, Attention, and Arousal Regulation in Lead-Exposed Rats but Produces Lasting Cognitive Impairment in the Absence of Lead Exposure
- Association of Environmental Toxicants and Conduct Disorder in U.S. Children: NHANES 2001-2004
Health Information: