Ripple effects of childhood lead poisoning
In addition to causing health and behavioral problems in children, lead poisoning may result in serious costs to both a child’s future and to society.
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Childhood Lead Poisoning
- Health Problems
- Lead is not safe at any level. Lead poisoning can cause permanent brain damage in children, and possible damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive system.
- Learning Disabilities
- Lead in the blood is linked to symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- Hyperactivity
- Lead in the blood is linked to hyperactivity and lower IQ as measured by IQ tests.
- Speech Disorders
- Lead poisoning can cause damage to the brain and nervous system resulting in speech delay.
- Childhood Deliquency
- Lead poisoning can lead to aggression and criminal behavior.
- Reduced Intelligence/ Lower IQ Scores
- It is estimated that children who are lead poisoned below 10 µg/dL, the threshold for most legislation, will lose 5–7 IQ points.
- Crime in Adulthood
- Lead poisoning in childhood has been connected to more arrests and/or arrests for violent offenses as adults.
- Behavioral Disorders
- Lead poisoning has been associated with inattention, impulsivity, delays in reaction time, and hyperactivity.
Costs to Child's Future
- Academic Failure
- As the amount of lead in a child’s blood increases, research shows a decrease in math and reading scores.
- Learning Difficulties
- Childhood lead poisoning can affect the ability of the brain and nervous system to work together to connect thinking and behavior.
- Lack of Employment
- For each IQ point that is lost, a child makes an estimated $16,809 less over the course of his or her lifetime.
- Life-long Health Problems
- At high levels, lead poisoning causes damage to the child’s central nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive system.
- Criminal Record
- The estimated total direct costs of violent crimes linked to early childhood lead poisoning is nearly $1.8 billion.
- Socialization Problems
Costs to Society
- Healthcare
- Preventing childhood lead poisoning in the U.S. could save up to $44 million per year in healthcare costs.
- Joblessness
- Childhood lead poisoning has been shown to cause loss of IQ points, life-long illnesses, and lower academic achievement—all of which can affect the ability to hold down a job.
- Special Education
- There is a strong link between childhood lead poisoning and a need for special education due to lowered IQ and impaired neurobehavioral function.
- Juvenile Justice
- The estimated total direct costs of violent crimes linked to early childhood lead poisoning is nearly $1.8 billion.
Prepared by LeadSafe Illinois at Loyola University Chicago Civitas ChildLaw Center and Policy Institute