A study by researchers from Duke University and Florida State University reveals that exposure to leaded gasoline, used until 1996, has caused significant mental health issues and personality changes in Americans, particularly those born before 1996. The research links lead exposure to 151 million psychiatric cases over 75 years, highlighting its lasting impact on public health. Lead, a neurotoxin, was widely used in gasoline, paint, and plumbing, and its effects are still felt today, with many Americans having been exposed to harmful levels during childhood.
A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry suggests that leaded petrol may have contributed to a mental health crisis among Generation X, with an estimated 151 million additional mental health disorders linked to lead exposure. The study highlights increased rates of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and neuroticism, alongside decreased conscientiousness. Despite the known toxicity of lead, its widespread use in petrol throughout the 20th century has had lasting effects on public health, with implications for educational outcomes, criminal behavior, and overall societal well-being.
A study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry links the use of leaded gasoline to an estimated 151 million mental health disorders in the U.S. over 75 years, particularly affecting Generation X. The study highlights increased rates of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and neurotic behavior among those exposed to leaded gas as children, with peak exposure occurring from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s. Despite the ban on leaded gas in 1996, the long-term effects continue to impact mental health, with researchers suggesting these estimates are conservative.
