Community Chat

[Lila Belle]

So many of us live in areas where lead pipes and old  fixtures are prevalent .

Do you think that might be a factor in so many instances of crime and violence ?

[151949]

I think it is universally accepted that crime and violence are due to the way children are raised - not the water.

[Another new name Sue]

I thought you were going to ask if there is a connection between lead and the high level of autism.  It's so sad, what happened to the community drinking leaded water.  Those poor families. 

[NoelSeven]

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@151949 wrote:

I think it is universally accepted that crime and violence are due to the way children are raised - not the water.

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@151949

Well, no. 

Crime and violence has always been linked to poverty.

However, there is a link between lead poisoning of children and serious problems.  Behavior problems and learning problems.

It is directly linked to children raised in poor areas, and some families have received financial compensation for rental apartments that were not up to code and which poisoned their children.

[Irshgrl31201]

Yes, there have been several studies linking lead poisoning to violent behavior. You can google to find them. They believe the lead exposure from using leaded gas caused a lot of harm in that regard too. Here is one such article.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-lead-poisoning-science-met-20150605-story.html

[NoelSeven]

CDC REPORT:

Today at least 4 million households have children living in them that are being exposed to high levels of lead. There are approximately half a million U.S. children ages 1-5 with blood lead levels above 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL), the reference level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated.

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

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THE EFFECTS OF LEAD POISONING ON CHILDREN

Each year in the United States, 310,000 1- to 5-year-old kids are found to have unsafe levels of lead in their blood, which can lead to a wide range of symptoms, from headaches and stomach pain to behavioral problems and anemia (not enough healthy red blood cells). Lead also can affect a child's developing brain.

http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/lead-poisoning.html

[Lila Belle]

I just wonder if there may be a connection since so many people are diagnosed as mentally ill and the rise in gun violence and violent behavior.

Our water may not be safe and there are so many environmental pollutants and run offs from fertilizers and pesticides/herbicides that it just makes me wonder if this might be a factor.

[Annabellethecat66]

Just my opinion which is worth zip.  Has anyone else noticed how many households now drink bottled water?

Out where I live (Northern Va) every family seems to buy it.  We used to have the big water jugs delivered to our house.  We've drank bottled water almost since my girls were born (oldest is 42).

I don't think it's because they think it is unsafe, they just buy it.  I used to have the jugs delivered by a private company.  They gave me pages and pages of print out about how the water was tested.  In our development, years ago we had a huge well for the neighborhood and the water was great.  Then the government took over and added all that stuff and it tastes nasty (I think).  

I drink at least 7 or more total a day!  I know they add fluoride in the water but my girls have beautiful teeth so no problem there.

Buying water seems to extend to everyone, no matter what your ethnicity or how much money you are worth (you can tell some are richer than others).

[Marp]

There have been many, many studies that show a connection between violence and crime and exposure to lead at very young ages.

One of the most dramatic studies centered around the drop in violent crime after lead was removed from gasoline. 

[MaggieMack]

I think there is more likely a stronger correlation to pharmaceuticals and violence than leaded water and violence.