Lead and Hyperactivity Revisited

Gittelman, Rachel; Eskenazi, Brenda

doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1983.01790070017002

Cited by 42 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This explanation-referred to as the "neurotoxicity hypothesis"-suggests that lead exposure alters neurotransmitter and hormonal systems in ways that may induce aggressive and violent behavior (Needleman et al 1996). Several studies have relied on the neurotoxicity hypothesis to examine the relationship between lead exposure and undesirable outcomes such as impaired school performance and auditory processing, increased distractibility, short attention span, hyperactivity, inappropriate approach to problem solving, and inability to inhibit inappropriate responses (Bellinger, Stiles, and Needleman 1992;Dudek and Merecz 1997;Fergusson and Horwood 1993;Fulton et al 1987;Gittelman and Eskenazi 1983;Leviton et al 1993;Lyngbye et al 1990;Needleman and Gatsonis 1990;Needleman et al 1979;Oliver, Clark, and Voeller 1972;Oliver et al 1977;Rice 1996;Thompson et al 1989;Winneke et al 1983).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Lead and Crime

Stretesky

Lynch

2004

J Health Soc Behav

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This study investigates the association between air-lead levels and crime rates across 2,772 U.S. counties. Data for the analysis come from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bureau of Census, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Results suggest that air-lead levels have a direct effect on property and violent crime rates even after adjusting for general levels of air pollution and several structural covariates of crime. We also find that resource deprivation interacts with air-lead levels. The association between air-lead levels and crime rates-property and violent-is strongest in counties that have high levels of resource deprivation and weakest in counties that have low levels of deprivation. This interaction is consistent with arguments and evidence in the health care literature that populations most at risk of lead poisoning are least likely to get the resources required to prevent, screen, and treat the illness.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Lead and Crime

Stretesky

Lynch

2004

J Health Soc Behav

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“…However, even at relatively high levels of lead, fewer than 38% of children in one study were rated as having the behavior of hyperactivity on a teacher rating scale (Needleman et al, 1979), implying that most lead-poisoned children do not develop symptoms of ADHD. And most children with ADHD likewise, do not have significantly elevated lead burdens, although one study indicates that their lead levels may be higher than those of control subjects (Gittelman & Eskinazi, 1983). Studies that have controlled for the presence of potentially confounding factors in this relationship have found the association between body lead (in blood or dentition) and symptoms of ADHD to be .10-.19; the more factors are controlled for, the more likely the relationship is to fall below .10 (Fergusson, Fergusson, Horwood, & Kinzett, 1988;Silva, Hughes, Williams, & Faed, 1988;Thomson et al, 1989).…”

Section: Environmental Toxinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Barkley¹

1991

Psychiatric Annals

183

186

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“…Although lead exposure is often cited as a risk factor for ADHD, existing studies examining the association of lead exposure with a diagnosis of ADHD, which were limited by small sample size, are inconclusive (David et al 1972; Gittleman and Eskenazi 1983). Moreover, many of the studies examining the association of lead exposure with inattention or impulsivity involved children who had higher blood lead levels than the levels seen in contemporary children, and thus may not be directly relevant to children with lower levels of lead exposure (Bellinger et al 1994; Needleman et al 1979; Fergusson et al 1993a; Wasserman et al 1998, 2001).…”

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confidence: 99%

Exposures to Environmental Toxicants and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in U.S. Children

Braun

Kahn

Froehlich

et al. 2006

Environ Health Perspect

497

331

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ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to examine the association of exposures to tobacco smoke and environmental lead with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).MethodsData were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002. Prenatal and postnatal tobacco exposure was based on parent report; lead exposure was measured using blood lead concentration. ADHD was defined as having current stimulant medication use and parent report of ADHD diagnosed by a doctor or health professional.ResultsOf 4,704 children 4–15 years of age, 4.2% were reported to have ADHD and stimulant medication use, equivalent to 1.8 million children in the United States. In multivariable analysis, prenatal tobacco exposure [odds ratio (OR) = 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2–5.2] and higher blood lead concentration (first vs. fifth quintile, OR = 4.1; 95% CI, 1.2–14.0) were significantly associated with ADHD. Postnatal tobacco smoke exposure was not associated with ADHD (OR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3–1.3; p = 0.22). If causally linked, these data suggest that prenatal tobacco exposure accounts for 270,000 excess cases of ADHD, and lead exposure accounts for 290,000 excess cases of ADHD in U.S. children.ConclusionsWe conclude that exposure to prenatal tobacco and environmental lead are risk factors for ADHD in U.S. children.

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Lead and Hyperactivity Revisited

Cited by 42 publications

References 19 publications

The Relationship between Lead and Crime

The Relationship between Lead and Crime

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Exposures to Environmental Toxicants and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in U.S. Children

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