Here are five things to know about the research findings:
- The study, published Dec. 4 in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, estimates that lead exposure contributed to millions of cases of psychiatric disorders, with Gen X bearing the brunt of the mental health fallout.
- Those born between 1965 and 1980 were exposed to the highest levels of lead from car exhaust, resulting in lasting mental health consequences like depression, anxiety and ADHD.
- Lead is a potent neurotoxin that impairs brain function. Even low levels of exposure, especially in children, can significantly affect mental health and brain development.
- Exposure to lead also caused shifts in personality traits at a population level, including increased neuroticism and decreased conscientiousness.
- The effects of lead exposure are not confined to the past. Even today, issues such as lead in water pipes and soil continue to pose risks.
