Links found between lead exposure and violent crime
This week’s article is about a study in Australia
that has found a link between exposure to lead and violent crime. It starts in the town of Boolaroo, which is
located in New South Wales, Australia. Chad
Hinds grew up just 300 meters from the town’s lead and zinc smelter. Chad suffered from asthma as a child, and
later on in his life was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and memory loss. Sammy Zahran, a Columbia University
scientist, has discovered a consistent 20-year time gap between lead pollution
and violent crime. Australian researcher Mark Taylor has also began
a study in Australian cities. He claims
that children living in high levels of lead pollution are pre-disposed to
violent activity later in life. Critics
say the research is too broad, and there is no evidence that youth exposed to
lead are the same people who commit the crimes.
But there is evidence on an individual level of people who are exposed
and the likelihood of them engaging in violent crime. Crime is associated with lower IQ, so
researchers are trying to look at the relationship between the two. Lead also affects the human brain, which
could lower a person’s IQ, which leads to engaging in violent crime. Nevertheless, the impacts of lead exposure
are harmful to children and this should not be ignored.
This is a different kind of pollution than I have
blogged about before. Lead pollution is
harmful and does damage to the human brain.
Scientists in Australia as well as the United States are looking deeper
into this link between lead exposure in childhood and violent crime later on in
life. It is critical to keep our
children away from such harmful exposures, so they can grow into productive
citizens of the society. This article was
great because it gave a counter argument of critics saying the studies are too
broad.
Carly Taylor
April 22, 2013 8:43PM
April 22, 2013 8:43PM
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-09/alarming-link-between-lead-exposure-and-violent-crime/4619168
