Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Early Exposure to Lead and Adult Antisocial Outcome

EPA Grant Number: R829389C004
Subproject: this is subproject number 004 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829389
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: CECEHDPR - University of Cincinnati Center for the Study of Prevalent Neurotoxicants in Children
Center Director: Lanphear, Bruce
Title: Early Exposure to Lead and Adult Antisocial Outcome
Investigators: Ris, Douglas
Institution: University of Cincinnati
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: November 1, 2001 through October 31, 2006
RFA: Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health

Objective:

Research indicates that childhood lead exposure is associated with increased risk for delinquency and antisocial behavior. Data from the Cincinnati Lead Study (CLS), a birth cohort recruited from late 1979 to early 1984 were analyzed. The CLS recruited women from four prenatal clinics in Cincinnati, who were in their first trimester of pregnancy, and lived in impoverished Cincinnati neighborhoods with a high concentration of older, lead-contaminated housing. Women were excluded if they were known to be addicted to drugs, were diabetic, or had any known neurological or psychiatric malady. Newborns were excluded if their gestational age was less than 35 weeks, birth weight less than 1,500 grams, or if genetic or other serious medical issues were present at birth.

Research Objectives:

To ascertain the relationship between early lead exposure and antisocial behavior in young adulthood through follow-up of a birth cohort of lead exposed children into adulthood, and to specifically determine if prenatal and childhood lead exposure is associated with arrests for criminal offenses.
To determine if academic performance and executive functioning partially mediate the relationship between early lead exposure and adult antisocial behavior by employing path analysis procedures.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

This study supports other research implicating lead exposure as a risk factor for antisocial behavior. However, a number of mechanisms may be at work. Lead interferes with synapse formation, has disruptive effects on dopamine systems and lowers serotonin levels. Lead exposure has been shown to reduce MAO A activity and MAO A activity has been associated with violent and criminal behaviors. One consequence of these alterations could be neural dysfunction in areas of the brain involved in arousal, emotion, judgment and behavioral inhibition such as the prefrontal cortex.

Conclusions:

Prenatal and postnatal lead exposure is associated with higher rates of total arrests and arrests for offenses involving violence. This is the first prospective investigation to link early lead exposure with criminal arrests among young adults.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 11 publications for this subproject

Supplemental Keywords:

toxicology, ADHD behavioral assessment, behavioral deficit, genetic susceptibility, pesticides, biomarkers, environmental agents, exposure, exposure assessment, hearing loss, lead, meconium, neurotoxicity, pesticide exposure, risk assessment, toxicants, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Health, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Toxicology, Health Risk Assessment, Chemistry, Risk Assessments, Children's Health, Biology, Risk Assessment, behavioral assessment, lead, pesticides, neurotoxicity, children, toxicity, behavioral deficits, biological markers, exposure assessment, biomarker

Relevant Websites:

www.cincinnatichildrens.org/homestudy/

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R829389 CECEHDPR - University of Cincinnati Center for the Study of Prevalent Neurotoxicants in Children

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829389C001 Neurobehavioral Effects of Prevalent Toxicants in Children
R829389C002 Validation of Meconium Markers of Fetal Neurotoxicant Exposures
R829389C003 Community-Based Research Project Identifying Residential Hazards Using Home Test Kits
R829389C004 Early Exposure to Lead and Adult Antisocial Outcome
R829389C005 Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Brain Function Altered by Lead Exposure

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.