A groundbreaking new study has revealed a startling connection between decades of lead exposure from gasoline and a surge in mental health issues across generations in the United States.
Published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the research suggests that the widespread use of leaded gasoline, which was common until the 1980s, may be linked to a staggering 151 million mental health disorder diagnoses in the country.
Bill Maerkle,who grew up in the era of leaded gasoline,vividly remembers pumping fuel for his father’s car as a child. “I was born in 1940,” he recalls. “I remember pumping gas for my dad, and then later for my own Volkswagen Bug. It was around 49 cents a gallon back then.”
Leaded gasoline was a mainstay in American vehicles from the 1920s until its gradual phase-out began in the 1980s,according to the U.S. Energy details Administration. Dr. Mary Katherine Donovan, from the Brody School of Medicine, explains the devastating impact lead has on the developing brain.
“Lead gets into the lungs and then it gets into the blood, then the lead can actually cross what we call in science the ‘blood-brain barrier’ and that’s when it really causes neurological effects and neurological deficits that are sadly irreversible,”
Dr. Donovan emphasizes the long-lasting and irreversible damage lead can inflict on the brain, leading to a range of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
health officials stress the importance of identifying and mitigating lead exposure to protect future generations. Simple steps like frequent handwashing for children, especially before meals, and regularly cleaning toys can definitely help reduce exposure.
A blood test is the only definitive way to determine if a child has been exposed to lead. While leaded gasoline is no longer used in most vehicles, it is still found in some planes, race cars, and farm and marine equipment, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
This research serves as a stark reminder of the lasting consequences of environmental toxins and the importance of protecting public health.
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