Lead exposure linked to emotional problems, anxiety and pervasive developmental problems in children
by: David Gutierrez
NaturalNews.com
Sunday, April 03, 2016
Even relatively low levels of lead exposure can produce emotional disorders in children, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics on June 30.
“Our study is showing that even low levels of lead is associated with behavior differences,” lead author Jianghong Liu said.
Lead, a naturally occurring element and widely used industrial metal, is a potent toxin that affects every system of the body but is particularly damaging to the developing nervous systems of children. Studies have shown that even low levels of lead in children’s blood can lead to permanent behavioral and cognitive damage, including lowered IQ, hyperactivity, and behavior and learning problems. Lead has also been shown to produce anemia, slowed growth and hearing damage in children.
The new study reinforced many of these findings, and also added a new concern: emotional problems. In 2004 and 2005, the researchers tested 1,341 preschoolers from Jintan, China, finding that they had average blood levels of 6.5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dl).
In 2012, the United States revised its “lead action levels” — the blood lead levels at which health intervention is needed — downward from 10 µg/dl to 5. China, however, still uses the old higher standard.
Even the 5 µg/dl level should not be considered “safe” though. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “no safe blood lead level in children has been identified.”
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