Study Reveals Leaded Gasoline Caused Millions Of Mental Health Disorders

A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry has linked leaded gasoline exposure to over 150 million additional mental health disorders in the U.S. over the past 75 years. Researchers analyzed childhood blood lead levels from 1940 to 2015, uncovering a widespread impact on generations.

The study highlights that lead exposure from car exhaust contributed to conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, and poor impulse control. Individuals born between 1966 and 1986, particularly Generation Xers born in the late 1960s, were found to be the most affected, coinciding with the peak use of leaded gasoline.

Aaron Reuben, a co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of these findings. “Removing lead from our environment has benefits we are only beginning to fully understand,” Reuben said. He also noted that while lead in gasoline has been banned since 1996, other sources of exposure, including soil, outdated water systems, and imported toys, remain a concern.

The CDC has long warned of the dangers of lead exposure, stating that even minimal amounts can harm the brain, nervous system, and reproductive health. Researchers in the study combined historical lead data with findings from earlier work, such as a 2019 New Zealand study that tracked long-term mental health impacts of childhood lead exposure.

While the study does not establish new causal evidence, it provides a clearer picture of the extensive harm caused by lead in gasoline. Researchers estimate that generations of Americans suffered developmental and mental health consequences due to prolonged exposure.

Reuben hopes the findings will inspire continued efforts to reduce lead exposure. “We’ve made progress, but blood lead levels can drop further,” he said, adding that prevention remains the best way to ensure healthier futures for children.