UT-Austin researchers find childhood lead exposure may affect adult personalities

Two UT researchers found that lead exposure in childhood is correlated to people having “less adaptive” personalities as adults.

The researchers conducted a study published July 20 that used an online questionnaire to map the personalities of around 1.5 million adults across the United States and Europe to their childhood atmospheric lead exposure by analyzing lead exposure levels in the areas they grew up.

“The general findings of this study are that across the U.S. and across Europe, people who are exposed to more atmospheric lead grew up to have less adaptive personality profiles.” said Ted Schwaba, a postdoctoral researcher.

The researchers also looked at the effects of the Clean Air Act of 1970, which allowed federal and state regulations to limit harmful emissions in order to further strengthen their conclusion that lead exposure is harmful to personality development.

Read more: https://thedailytexan.com/2021/08/05/ut-austin-researchers-find-childhood-lead-exposure-may-affect-adult-personalities/