Study Reveals Leaded Gasoline Contributed to Millions of Psychiatric Disorders and Elevated Mental Health Risks Across Generations
A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry suggests that childhood exposure to lead from vehicle exhaust may have significantly worsened mental health in the U.S. over the past 75 years, potentially contributing to 151 million excess psychiatric disorders. Researchers found that lead exposure during the peak use of leaded gasoline in the 1960s-1980s increased population-level mental health symptoms by 0.13 standard deviations, amounting to an estimated 602 million additional psychopathology factor points by 2015. The findings link lead exposure to heightened risks for disorders such as ADHD, depression, and increased neuroticism, with the most significant effects observed in individuals born between 1966-1986. The study also identified notable increases in ADHD symptoms (0.42 SD) and internalizing symptoms (0.64 SD). Despite limitations, such as reliance on historical data and the lack of a direct causal link, the findings highlight lead’s significant and often overlooked impact on population mental health and emphasize the need for its consideration in public health and mental health strategies.
