Childhood lead exposure linked to adult crime

In what may be the strongest link yet between lead exposure and crime rates, researchers at the University of Cincinnati released new evidence, spanning more than 20 years, that draws a direct relationship between the amount of lead in a child’s blood and the likelihood he or she will commit crimes as an adult.

Controlling for a host of factors, including parental IQ, education, income and drug use, the team found that the more lead in a child’s blood from birth through age 7, the more likely he or she was to be arrested as an adult. The tie between high lead levels and violent crime was particularly strong.

[Read](http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-05-27-lead-levels-crime_N.htm?csp=34 “Read the Article”) (USA Today)