Summary
Childhood lead exposure from leaded gasoline caused 151 million additional psychiatric illnesses in the U.S. between 1940 and 2015, according to new research.
Peak exposure occurred for Generation X (1966–1986 births) due to widespread use of leaded gasoline before its 1996 ban.
The study links lead exposure to higher rates of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and altered personality traits, including increased neuroticism and reduced conscientiousness.
Lead pollution also caused a collective loss of 824 million IQ points in Americans.
I tried to resist being lumped in with millennials, meekly clung to “Xennials” for a time, but I’ve accepted my place finally.
Did you buy a detached house before you joined us? If not you’ll probably need to wait until at least 2060 to afford one.
Fortunately I did manage to exploit my then in-between status to purchase a home before covid, but i had to permanently sacrifice avocado toast to do it.
I’ll bring the avo if you’ve got a couch, buddy.