Most of us know that lead is bad for our bodies and the environment. It’s a pollutant that endangers our waters, air, and most living creatures. It’s also a well-known neurotoxin, disrupting cognitive function and development. But recent news has exposed another stark truth about this heavy metal: Lead exposure during childhood can lead to mental health problems later in life. 

A new study, published by The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry earlier this month, has found that roughly 151 million cases of mental illness in the U.S. can be tied back to leaded gasoline exposure during early life.

Between the 1920s and 1980s, cars ran on gasoline that contained lead. Usage of leaded gasoline peaked in the 1970s, but eventually, was banned as a passenger car fuel in 1996. That means, up until 1996, many people were exposed to lead regularly. As the fuel burned, lead was released into the air and soil, constituting a massive exposure to lead for over a generation.

People of all ages were exposed to lead, with children being the most vulnerable. Analyses leading up to the study found that in 2022, more than 170 million people in the United States (over half the population) had experienced dangerous levels of lead exposure during childhood.

“The people who were exposed are not in the history books,” co-author of the study, Dr. Aaron Reuben, said. “Millions of Americans are walking around with an unknown, invisible history of lead exposure that has likely influenced for the worse how they think, feel and behave.”

It’s an incredibly sad reality, as we cannot go back in time to fix past mistakes. However, the silver lining is that we can take this knowledge and move forward. We can do what we can to prioritize our mental health care, and we can protect our children from lead exposure, too.

How does lead affect the body and the brain?

Studies so far have shown that lead is harmful to almost every organ in the body. While the research is still ongoing, here is what we know so far about the effects of lead on the body, brain, and overall health.

Effects of Lead on Mental Health

Simply put, lead is a neurotoxin. It disrupts brain development and can cause mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. However, its effects are not always obvious. This new body of research suggests that lead exposure can also change personalities—making people less organized, less detail-oriented, and more neurotic.

Preceding studies have found that lead exposure can also reduce the parts of the brain responsible for decision-making and self-control. Especially when exposed in childhood, lead can disrupt a person’s ability to make rational choices as well as manage impulses.

Lead poisoning can also lower a person’s IQ, with higher amounts of lead exposure contributing to reduced IQ levels. Specifically, researchers found that for every 5 micrograms per deciliter in lead exposure, there was a 1.61-point decline in IQ between childhood and adulthood.

Effects of Lead on Physical Health

The effects of lead poisoning go beyond our mental health. When lead is inhaled or ingested, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and deposited into cells and tissues. When this happens, it prevents key enzymes and minerals, such as zinc and calcium, from binding with proteins in the body, therefore affecting different bodily systems. For example, lead poisoning can:

• Disrupt kidney function
• Cause infertility
• Prevent the creation of hemoglobin (needed to carry oxygen)
• Elevate blood pressure
• Cause anemia

Lead exposure can also give way to long-term effects on a person, including irritability, lack of energy, headaches, fatigue, problems with sleep, poor coordination, and general feelings of unwellness. 

For children and young people specifically, lead exposure gets even more risky. This is because lead prevents the nervous system from fully developing. Research shows that lead is also bio-accumulative, meaning it builds and builds over time. The body does not have a proper mechanism for ridding itself of the toxin, so the effects can compile and be long-lasting. 

Why are children most vulnerable to lead exposure?

Children and adolescents are more vulnerable to the effects of lead exposure, due to their stages of development. They are undergoing a rapid period of growth.

Because the body grows so much during early life, it works hard to absorb all the nutrients children need. Unfortunately, this means that a young person’s body will also absorb toxins like lead at a greater rate than an adult’s. 

At the same time, the young brain and nervous system as a whole are going through dynamic changes. Critical connections in the brain are forming (millions every second!), but those connections can be disrupted by neurotoxins like lead.

Developmentally, too, children especially are exploring the world—often with their hands and mouths. They are more likely to put things in their mouths, and sometimes those things can be unsafe. However, as noted in the study above, lead exposure can also come from pollutants in the air we breathe. Young people, including teenagers, are also especially susceptible when exposed to air with lead, such as that caused by industrial facilities and leaded gasoline.

When young people are exposed to lead, or more critical, lead poisoning, it can result in a range of negative effects on their mental health and physical health. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even low levels of lead in the blood of children and adolescents can lead to:

• Behavior and learning problems
• Lower IQ 
• Hyperactivity
• Developmental delays or slowed growth
• Hearing issues
• Anemia

More immediate symptoms of lead poisoning, though, might include:

• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

Protecting children from lead exposure today

According to the most up-to-date research, no level of lead exposure is safe, especially during core developmental years. However, experts agree that sometimes it’s unavoidable. Lead can be found in old pipes, and therefore drinking water, as well as in old homes, certain metal products, paints, soil, batteries, and more. The CDC has set a blood reference level at 3.5 micrograms per deciliter for children, to flag high exposure in children.

The good news is that there is treatment for lead poisoning when it’s caught in time. And, parents can take simple steps at home to protect their children and family from lead poisoning. According to the EPA, proper precautions include:

• Ensuring painted surfaces are inspected and maintained, to prevent chipping/deterioration
• Addressing any water damage quickly and entirely
• Keeping your home clean and free of dust, especially around painted areas like doors and windows
• Using cold water to prepare food and drinks, and flushing the water outlets first
• Cleaning debris out of faucets on a regular basis
• Washing children’s hands, bottles, pacifiers and toys often
• Teaching children to wipe and remove their shoes 
• Teaching children to wash their hands regularly, especially when entering the home
• Ensuring that that family members eat nutritious meals, as children and teens with healthy diets absorb less lead overall

About Turnbridge

Turnbridge is a recognized mental health treatment provider, helping adolescents and young adults facing a range of issues like anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. We recognize that protecting your child’s mental health is essential for their overall health.

While lead exposure can contribute to mental health issues, many factors can make young people more vulnerable to mental health problems later in life. As a parent, we ask you to learn about the risk factors of mental illness here. 

If you are worried about your son or daughter and would like to speak with a mental health treatment provider, we are here for you. Contact us at 877-581-1793 to learn more.