Studies link lead to adult crime, brain damage

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Exposure to lead in early childhood or in the womb can cause permanent brain damage that may even cause criminal behavior, researchers reported on Tuesday.

Two studies showed that people with high levels of lead in childhood grew up with blocks of missing brain cells -- and they also were far more likely to be arrested for crimes, especially violent crimes.

The effect is so strong that it may account for a large percentage of crimes in inner-city areas, where old houses are far more likely to have lead paint, said Kim Dietrich of the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, who led one of the studies in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Medicine.

"There are some data that suggest that in fact lead does run in parallel with crime trends over the past several decades," Dietrich said in a telephone interview.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2740549020080528?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

[onehandle]

1. So does recession, sky high gas prices, and ever rising food costs.

Just in time for the next President, crime rates will soar.

Another reason the next President will be a one termer.

[AngryAmish]

9. Why would crime rates soar?

Lead levels are going down over time.

maybe this was why Baby Boomers were so violent. They had the most lead when they were growing up.

[DBoon]

2. you mean crime isn't caused by permissive liberal judges?

:sarcasm:

Yeah, I can hear the right wingers moaning about how individuals choose to commit crimes, and how studies like this are a liberal plot to evade individual responsibility and the need for punishment.

I bet when the germ theory of disease was proposed, you heard similar complaints from those who believed disease was caused by demonic forces

[tanyev]

7. Don't forget "activist".

They never, ever say "liberal judges" without also using the word activist.

[LeftishBrit]

3. It's long been known that early lead exposure is associated with reduced IQ

As the frontal lobes are a particularly vulnerable part of the brain, and frontal damage can lead to impulsiveness, it makes sense that there might also be some association with crime.

[noonwitch]

5. Lead needs to be eradicated from housing

It's a big problem in older cities-in Detroit, it is probably one of the main environmental factors contributing to lower test scores in schools. There is not enough money in any community to really do a good job at eradicating it from the housing, or from the ground itself. Section 8 requires landlords to get inspections of the house, but in some parts of the area, the lead is in the soil. I live about 2-3 miles north of where a lead smelting factory used to be. It is suggested that kids wear flip-flops when running under the sprinkler or playing in the yard in the areas around that site. They had to replace all the soil in the playground at the apartment building across Nevada ST from the site.

[L0oniX]

4. So your saying that the entire Bush administration has lead poisoning?

:evilgrin:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. Let's review - missing brain cells leading to a predisposition to commit crimes

You're right, it sounds like the Bush Admin. :shrug:

[truthisfreedom]

8. No, I think the bush thing is genetic.

[LaurenG]

10. I think a lot of elected republicans must have sucked on lead as kids. nt