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Leaded Gasoline Caused Neurological Defects in Black Children

By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jun 16th 2010 1:41PM
Filed under: News, Politics, Race and Civil Rights

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Leaded Gasoline Caused Neurological Disorders in Black Children
According to a recent study, leaded gasoline is to blame for nearly two-thirds of the toxic lead ingested or inhaled by African American children in Cleveland during the latter two-thirds of the 20th century.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University argue that their findings probably apply to several cities across the United States. They also reiterate the health threat to children in countries that still use leaded gasoline.

Lead from the teeth of 124 residents of urban Cleveland was analyzed.

"At the peak of leaded gasoline usage, in the 1960s and early 70s, the levels of lead in the bloodstream were likely to be toxic," said Norman Robbins, emeritus professor of neuroscience at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.

Robbins also noted that other research has shown that such high levels of lead are connected with neurological and behavioral defects that last into adulthood.

"It raises the question, has leaded gasoline had a lasting effect on many present-day Cleveland adults?" Robbins said.

Robbins began the study in 1993. He has also put together a team to determine the predominant source of lead in the Cleveland community. The team is arguing that leaded gasoline, lead paint and lead soldering in food are the primary culprits.



The findings of this study are obviously disturbing. When serious neurological disorders are connected to the presence of lead, I begin to wonder how serious these disorders might be. I also wonder what the potential impact on our community has been, given that black children are far more likely to be diagnosed with learning and behavioral disorders than white kids.


Urban centers across America should be made aware of the results of this study and engage in action plans to deal with the fall out. This issue will not go away.




Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.

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