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New Study Links Leaded Petrol to Mental Health Disorders in Americans

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For nearly a century, leaded petrol (gasoline) played a pivotal role in powering automobiles but at a great cost to public health, particularly mental health. A recent study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry suggests that lead exposure from petrol has likely contributed to an estimated 151 million additional mental health disorders among Americans, predominantly affecting those born between 1966 and 1986—commonly known as Generation X.

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The study highlights a significant rise in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and neuroticism, alongside a decline in traits like conscientiousness. The historical use of lead, despite its known toxicity, underscores a grave oversight in public health management.

Introduced in 1921 to enhance engine performance and reduce engine knock, tetraethyl lead’s dangers were quickly evident as workers and engineers exposed to the compound suffered severe illnesses and fatalities. However, U.S. health authorities, swayed by industry-funded studies, initially dismissed these risks due to the supposedly low exposure levels during automobile operation.

This oversight persisted until the 1970s when the negative impacts of lead became undeniable, aided by the advent of the catalytic converter, which incompatible with leaded fuels, heralded a decline in their use. The U.S. phased out leaded petrol by the late 1970s and banned lead-based residential paint in 1978.

The phasing out of leaded petrol has provided researchers with a clearer perspective on its broad ramifications, including lower educational achievements, heightened criminal behavior, and reduced lifetime earnings, not only in the U.S. but globally. Intriguingly, the study draws on historical data and emissions records to model the probable impact of lead exposure on mental health, marking a pioneering attempt to quantify this aspect of lead’s legacy.

While the use of lead extends beyond petrol—increasingly so in batteries—the study’s insights are a chilling reminder of the enduring harm caused by leaded petrol. Such comprehensive data on lead exposure does not exist in the UK, yet the presence of lead particles in London suggests that its legacy of harm continues.

Article information adapted from The Conversation: Leaded petrol probably affected the mental health of millions of Americans – new study by Ludovica Gazze, Associate Professor in the Department of Economics, University of Warwick. This article is provided under a Creative Commons license.