Effects of lead exposure are linked to violent crime, research says

New studies are emphasizing a link between leaded gas and violent crime, according to Mother Jones. Lead reportedly causes brain damage and stunts aggression control, impulse control and emotional regulation. Childhood lead exposure and juvenile delinquency have also been linked. Lead emissions rose between the 1940s and 1970s, while crime increased from the 1960s through 1990s. Efforts to lower lead exposure began in the 1970s, and following the same 20-year lag (which scientists argue shows the effects of childhood lead exposure in creating violent adults), crime dropped in the '90s. Some experts argue that cleaning higher lead deposits out of inner city areas could help lead to a dramatic drop in violent crime in future generations. [Source]

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