NPR

Childhood Exposure To Lead Can Blunt IQ For Decades, Study Suggests

Researchers following a group of New Zealanders over the course of 40 years found an association between childhood lead exposure and declines in intelligence and socioeconomic status later in life.
State and federal policies now limit the use of lead in gasoline, paint and plumbing, but children can still ingest the metal through contaminated soil. The effects of even fairly small amounts can be long-lasting, the evidence suggests.

Exposure to lead as a child can affect an adult decades later, according to a study out Tuesday that suggests a link between early childhood lead exposure and a dip in a person's later cognitive ability and socioeconomic status.

Lead in the United States can come from lots of sources: old, peeling paint; contaminated soil; or water that's passed through lead pipes. Before policies were enacted to get rid of lead in gasoline, it could even come from particles

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min readInternational Relations
Venezuela Orders The Closure Of Its Embassy In Ecuador
Venezuela's president ordered the closure of his country's embassy in Ecuador in solidarity with Mexico in its protest over a raid by Ecuadorian authorities on the Mexican embassy in Quito.
NPR3 min read
NBA Bans Jontay Porter After Gambling Probe Shows He Shared Information, Bet On Games
The Toronto Raptors player has been banned for life from the NBA after a probe found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and bet on games, even betting on the Raptors to lose.
NPR3 min read
NPR Editor Uri Berliner Resigns With Blast At New CEO
The senior editor says CEO Katherine Maher has "divisive views" that confirm the issues he wrote about in an essay accusing NPR of losing the public's trust.

Related Books & Audiobooks