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Manganese toxicity has a known association with impulsive and serotonin, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine, all
violent behavior. A poor diet increases the susceptibility to lead and man- conditions related to mood and motivation. 131
ganese toxicity. The most significant dietary source is soy infant formulas,
which typically have very high levels of manganese. 128 IN PLAIN SIGHT
Lead has been the subject of extensive research documenting its Many factors in the environment are new to
relationship to all of these conditions and to juvenile delinquency. Based the genome since World War II and have been
on a national sample of children, there is a significant association of lead implicated in violent behavior. These include
body burden with aggressive behavior, crime, juvenile delinquency and changes and additions to the food we eat leading
behavioral problems. After adjustment for covariates and interactions and to severe nutrient deficiencies, changes in Ameri-
removal of non-influential covariates, adjudicated delinquents were four can agriculture and fertility of the soils, more
times more likely to have bone lead concentrations greater than 25 parts chemicals in the environment, cheaper goods and
per million (ppm) than controls. Communities with a higher percentage of services, heavy use of personal care and building
children having blood lead over 10 mg/dL are significantly more likely to materials that contain lethal toxins, changes in
have higher rates of violent crime and higher rates of educational failure. the American family, vaccination programs and
129
Communities using silicofluorides in the water supply also report others. Above all the most influential factor in the
higher rates of learning disabilities, ADHD, violent crime and criminals course of increasing violence has been changes in
using cocaine at the time of arrest. The use of fluorosilicic acid (H SiF ) the American food system and loss of nutrients
2
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to fluoridate public water supplies significantly increases the amounts of for children and growing teens.
lead in the water. Data from analysis of a national sample of over four These changes, coupled with an increase in
thousand children show that water fluoridation is associated with a sig- medicalization of the mind with psychotic drugs,
nificant increase in children's blood lead, with especially strong effects have provoked a crisis in mental health with ap-
among minority children. 129 palling consequence: mass killings by our youth.
Studies have found that heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, It appears that our government officials do not
lead, aluminum, nickel, and tin affect chemical synaptic transmission in have the political will to deal with or even rec-
the brain and the peripheral and central nervous system. 130,131 They also ognize the factors that have led to this violence.
disrupt brain and cellular calcium levels, significantly affecting many The Farm Bill and other government actions
body functions. Inadequate calcium levels in the brain can adversely af- contributed greatly to the crisis. It will take a
fect cognitive development and contribute to degenerative CNS diseases. grass-roots effort to return the balance in our
Calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release results in depressed levels of food system. Recently efforts have sprung up

LEAD AND THE BRAIN

Until 1995, lead was not only used in insecticides, but also in gasoline. Lead was only outlawed in paints in 1978.
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Lead dust released by smelters and mines can contaminate nearby soil. The metal can also be found in everyday items
like pottery glazes, lead shot, water piping and fishing weights; it can leach from improperly glazed ceramic ware and
even leaded crystal.
Lead adversely affects the brain and nervous system. Toxic levels cause neurological problems, especially in chil-
dren. Exposure to high levels of lead can lead to premature births, decreased mental capacity, learning difficulties and
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reduced growth in young children. Unborn babies can also be exposed to lead through their mothers. Lead poisoning
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during childhood can have long-term detrimental effects on behavior. 4
“Lead poisoning produces hyperactivity and aggression, and studies of low-dose exposure show an increased incidence
of those behaviors subsumed under the attention deficit syndrome. More than half of children who display symptoms
of ADD hyperactivity will go on to become delinquent and commit violent crime. The attributable risk for hyperactivity
in children with elevated lead levels is .55 which means that more than half of the risk of developing hyperactivity or
ADD-ADHD can be attributed to lead exposure.” 4

1. Peryea FJ. Historical use of lead arsenate insecticides, resulting in soil contamination and implications for soil remediation.1998. Proceedings,
16th World Congress of Soil Science, Montpellier, France. 1998. P. 20-26. Aug.http://soils.tfrec.wsu.edu/leadhistory.htm1998b.
2. Lidsky TI et al. Lead neurotoxicity in children: basic mechanisms and clinical correlates. Brain. 2002. 126(1) 5-19.
3. Schooley T et al. The History of Lead Arsenate Use in Apple Production: Comparison of its Impact in Virginia with Other States. Journal of
Pesticide Safety Education, 2008. 10: 22-3.
4. Needleman HL et al. Bone lead levels in adjudicated delinquents. A case control study. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2002 Nov-Dec;24(6):711-7;
Needleman, HL. The Persistent Threat of Lead: A Singular Opportunity. Am J Public Health. 1989; 643-645.
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