Lead and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Environmental lead remains an important public health concern despite successful reductions in its presence in recent decades. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, impairing, and poorly understood behavioral disorder with many associated cognitive features. Although ADHD is influenced by genetic liability, it also has environmental influences. Older studies at relatively high levels of lead exposure showed an association of lead exposure with reduced IQ as well as with attention problems and hyperactivity. Recent studies have extended this association down to levels consistent with current background exposure levels in the population.