Investigate the mental health risks associated with this toxin for individuals born in the '60s or '70s.

A recent study suggests that exposure to lead in the 20th century may have caused mental health problems among Americans.

In 1923, lead was introduced in gasoline to improve car engine performance. However, it was eventually banned from all U.S. vehicles in 1996 due to its negative impact on health. Researchers from Duke University and Florida State University examined the effects of lead in gasoline on various aspects of health.

Individuals born during the mid-1960s to mid-1970s are believed to have experienced the greatest level of exposure.

A Duke press release stated that the imbalance of mental health in the U.S. was caused by childhood exposure to car exhaust from leaded gas, resulting in generations of Americans being more depressed, anxious, inattentive, or hyperactive.

Over the past 75 years, American children have experienced an estimated 151 million cases of psychiatric disorders due to leaded gas exposure, according to a study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

The researchers found that Americans born before 1966 had "significantly higher rates of mental health problems" due to lead exposure, which may have also caused changes to their personalities that made them less successful and resilient in life.

‘No safe level’

According to Duke, lead is "neurotoxic" and can erode brain cells and alter brain function, which means there is "no safe level of exposure at any point in life."

Despite age, our brains are unable to protect against lead toxicity.

"Lead has played a larger role in our mental health than previously thought."

According to lead study author Aaron Reuben, PhD, humans are not adapted to the levels of lead exposure we have experienced over the past century.

He stated that we lack effective measures for managing lead in the body and that many of us have been exposed to levels 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than what is natural.

‘Clinically concerning’

As of 2015, over 170 million American children had "clinically concerning levels" of lead in their blood, according to a study that analyzed historical data on childhood blood-lead levels, leaded gas use, and U.S. population statistics.

Mild distress that would impair quality of life was also found to be more prevalent as a result of lead exposure, in addition to greater rates of depression and anxiety.

According to co-author Matt Hauer, there were substantial changes in mental health among American generations, with a higher prevalence of psychiatric issues due to the addition of lead to gasoline.

The study suggests that this likely resulted in lower IQs, mental health problems, and other long-term health complications, including cardiovascular disease.

In a conversation with Planet Chronicle Digital, Reuben emphasized that Americans' exposure to lead over the past century has likely significantly impacted their mental health.

""Lead has been found to have a greater impact on our mental health than previously believed," he stated."

The researcher was not surprised that lead caused harm, but he was taken aback by the "extent" of its impact.

"Although we believed our 'lead problem' was resolved in the 1970s and 1980s, this was merely the beginning of addressing the issue," he stated.

"We aimed to investigate the impact of high lead exposure on the lives of millions of American children who were exposed as kids."

Some limitations of the study were highlighted by Reuben, such as the inclusion of only two cohorts and the exclusion of exposures from other sources apart from gasoline.

""We hope that future studies will incorporate lead exposure from water and paints to improve our estimates based on better lead-harm curves," he said."

The expert advised the public to take lead exposure seriously by removing hazards from certain paints, fuels, and batteries.

"There are millions of Americans alive today who had extremely high lead exposure as children."

In October 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a regulation requiring cities to replace any remaining lead plumbing within 10 years.

In January 2024, the agency acted to reduce lead levels in soil at homes nationwide.

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Dr. Michele Borba, a child psychologist, stated in an interview with Planet Chronicle Digital that while social media has been a significant factor in the current youth mental health crisis in America, a new study on lead exposure is exploring a "new realm" of potential causes.

She stated that most people are unprepared for an unusual and fascinating reason that affects children's mental health and well-being.

"Other generations and the long-lasting impact of lead exposure may be being overlooked."

Borba advised that mental health experts should consider lead exposure when treating patients, although more research is needed on the topic.