America's Real Criminal Element: Lead

Thanks to one of our visitors, Bonnie, for bringing our attention to the following article by Kevin Drum, Political Blogger for American website, Mother Jones.

America's Real Criminal Element: Lead takes a fresh look at the correlation between lead and violent crime, not just in the US, but in all countries round the world.  This is well worth a read and includes a link to the original 1999 paper by researcher Rick Nevin, the main proponent for the theory – see related links below:

We had almost forgotten about this research that was begun almost twenty years ago and, against the background of our previous blog last week - Why has crime fallen around the world? – we shouldn’t forget this important study.

Thanks again Bonnie

Source: Mother Jones 2013: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/01/lead-crime-link-gasoline

Original Study by Rick Nevin: How Lead Exposure Relates to Temporal Changes in IQ, Violent Crime, and Unwed Pregnancy: http://www.ricknevin.com/uploads/Nevin_2000_Env_Res_Author_Manuscript.pdf

Related news articles:  

BBC News 1998: UK Four-star petrol banned [severely restricted] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/225275.stm

The Independent: 2007: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/ban-on-leaded-petrol-has-cut-crime-rates-around-the-world-398151.html

Daily Mail Online October 2011: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054708/Leaded-petrol-phased-years.html