The effects of lead on child mental and behavioral problems have been the subject of considerable research for decades. Numerous meta-analyses have summarized the adverse effects of lead exposure, concluding a likely causal relationship between prenatal or early childhood lead exposure and various intellectual and psychological outcomes in childhood and adolescence.1-6 [JAMA]
Early lead exposure is also known to increase the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children,6 a condition that is an established risk factor for adult depression.7 However, no studies have directly examined whether early lead-related psychological concerns persist into later adulthood, where psychiatric disorders are major risk factors for disability and mortality. Since early lead exposure can cause deficits in brain structure and function in limbic system structures, like the frontal cortex, amygdala, and basal ganglia,8-11 regions that are implicated in behavioral regulation and mood, it is biologically possible that such exposures could have long-lasting effects on psychopathology, such as depression and anxiety, which cause substantial morbidity in the general adult population.12,13
...Conclusions and Relevance Third-trimester lead exposure was associated with higher risk of major depressive disorder and anxiety symptoms in later adulthood. These findings emphasize the importance of factoring in later life health outcomes when considering the benefits of lead exposure interventions in childhood and suggest investment in screening and mental health services may be needed to address the long-term burden of historical lead exposure.
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