Juvenile Delinquency and Heavy Metals
Juvenile delinquency may be linked to heavy metal, and I’m not talking about music.
We tend to blame childhood behavioral problems and juvenile delinquency on growing up in a dysfunctional family. But heavy metals and toxic chemicals in the environment also may contribute to developmental and behavioral problems. Several studies show that a child who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, may commit crimes in the teenage years. Studies also show links between exposure to toxins may lead to ADHD as well as adolescent criminal behavior.
One study found that monkeys exposed to lead and (PCBs) have patterns of behavior similar to children with ADHD.
The link to environmental toxins and adolescent criminal behavior was found in another study that compared lead levels of adolescents who were in the juvenile court system, with non-delinquent adolescents and found that the delinquent adolescents’ bones had about 10 times the amount of lead found in the non-delinquent teenagers’ bones.
Children two years of age and under have ten times the risk of adults from exposure to toxins. Per pound of body weight, they also drink more fluids and eat more food than adults. More study is needed to understand the affects exposure to environmental toxins has on our children and our society. But enough is known to realize it is important to protect children and infants from exposure to toxic chemicals and heavy metals.