Effects of Lead in Gasoline Still Knock at the Door for Aging Americans

Study broadens understanding of how this neurotoxin ruined the mental health of multiple generations

Back in the 1920s, lead was touted as a gasoline additive that keeps cars healthy. Fast forward 100 years, and it turns out public health was sacrificed for the sake of performance.

Researchers at Duke and Florida State universities confirm that Americans who were exposed to leaded gasoline fumes, especially as children in the 1960s and 1970s, have a higher rate of depression, anxiety, inattention, and hyperactivity. Lead exposure prevents individuals from reaching their full potential due to neurological problems. This was especially true for exposed adolescents who were still developing.

Duke’s study estimates that 151 million Americans were affected with lead poisoning. Study authors base their discoveries on historical data of blood-lead levels, mental health, and air pollution. The study appeared in the December 4 issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

“We have very few effective measures for dealing with lead once it is in the body, and many of us have been exposed to levels 1,000 to 10,000 times more than what is natural,” said Aaron Reuben, a postdoctoral scholar in neuropsychology at Duke. 

Adding lead to gasoline was done to improve engine knocking, boost performance, and increase power. But using lead turned out to pollute cities and towns with far-reaching impacts. 

Lead was fully removed from passenger vehicle gasoline in 1996, a move spearheaded by U.S. Congress and the Clean Air Act. While some may think that the threat is gone, Car and Driver reports that leaded gasoline is still being used in aircraft, race cars, marine engines, off-road vehicles, and farm equipment.

References:
https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-air-act
https://today.duke.edu/2024/12/20th-century-lead-exposure-damaged-american-mental-health
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a20970380/how-leaded-gas-came-to-be-and-why-we-dont-miss-it

Author: Razi Ann Berry