Lead Exposure Linked to Criminal Behavior

Exposure to lead during one’s formative years is particularly dangerous. The metal is known to cause brain damage, neurological impairment, and even death. Now, a new study has found that children exposed to lead prenatally or in childhood grow up missing clusters of brain cells and are more likely to be arrested for committing criminal acts, many of which involve violence. Of 250 children raised in lead-contaminated housing, more than half are now adults with arrest records. The study also found that more than one percent of the brain’s grey matter is missing in these adults, affecting their decision-making abilities and mood regulation.