A new study from George Washington University finds that exposure to lead during pregnancy or childhood is linked to an increased risk of criminal behavior in adulthood.
- Exposure to lead during childhood or pregnancy can cause lead poisoning. This is characterized by psychomotor and developmental delay as well as learning disabilities.
- Childhood lead exposure is also linked with increased criminal behavior in adulthood.
- The researchers call for strong action by governments and society to act to protect people in the most vulnerable conditions from lead exposure.
Lead poisoning in children, called infantile lead poisoning, has serious consequences on the child’s psychomotor development. He may present with intellectual development and learning delays. But, it seems that exposure to this metal can also have an impact on behavior in adulthood, according to a study published in the journal PLOS Global Public Health on August 2, 2023.
Lead : exposed children have more anti-social behavior in growing
Indeed, the work of researchers at George Washington University has established a link between exposure to lead in utero or during childhood and an increased risk of criminal or antisocial behavior in adulthood. This analysis included 17 studies conducted in three different countries. Among other things, they measured exposure to lead, the effects of exposure at different ages of life, from gestation to adolescence, as well as the criminal and antisocial behavior of the participants. The results suggest that there is an excessive risk of criminal behavior in adulthood when a person is exposed to lead during the prenatal period or in the early years of childhood.
“While more individual-level data need to be collected to verify the link between the effects of childhood lead exposure and criminal behavior in adulthood, the evidence we found indicates that lead exposure to lead is associated with biological effects in children that have long term behavioral consequences”explains Maria Jose Talayero Schettino, lead author of the study and doctoral student at George Washington University in a communicated. “The data clearly demonstrates the need for all countries to implement policies to prevent lead exposure.“.
Exposure lead and children: further studies needed
Researcher Maria Jose Talayero Schettino points out that criminal behavior in individuals is a complex concept, with many additional factors involved beyond lead exposure during development. Other social, family and environmental factors may also play a role in the propensity to engage in antisocial behaviors in adulthood. Therefore, it is important to consider the full environmental and social context when developing prevention policies and interventions.
The researchers recognize a limitation to their meta-analysis: each study analyzed used different definitions for criminal and aggressive behavior in adulthood. Therefore, it is important to conduct additional studies that include a wider range of regions and countries, as well as the use of a common set of indicators for lead exposure and outcomes, to measure lead exposure. global impact of lead exposure on criminal behavior.
“There is no safe level of lead exposure for children, and countries should make every effort to protect children and pregnant women from lead exposure”adds the expert. “The evidence from the systematic review supports strong action by governments and society to act to protect people in the most vulnerable conditions.“
