New studies link the reduction of lead in the environment to a drop in crime rates in nine nations some two decades later. The findings may help explain why minority residents of inner cities have disproportionately high crime rates.
A recent study finds removing lead from gasoline and paint 20 years ago could be linked to a drop in national crime rates. But, the story isn’t that simple. Host Bruce Gellerman talks with Kim Dietrich, professor of environmental health at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, to find out what other factors make certain individuals more likely to commit crimes, and how lead’s involved.