ead, present in water, soil and air, continues to pose a threat to millions of people around the world, seriously damaging the health of children in particular. It is one of the oldest chemicals in the environment: in Rome, around the year 100, drinking water contained about 40 times more lead than spring water, due to lead pipes. Although lead levels have decreased over the centuries, lead concentrations increased dramatically in the Middle Ages.
Today, Italy's drinking water is almost lead-free, but other dangerous chemicals have been introduced into the environment. Lead, however, remains one of the most harmful substances, with 1.5 million deaths each year from lead poisoning, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Even small amounts of lead can impair cognitive phone number list abilities, causing irreversible long-term damage. In children, even minimal exposure can negatively affect brain development, with permanent effects on intelligence and behavior. If the mother is exposed to lead, the baby also begins to be contaminated during pregnancy.
exposures are dramatic. According to a study published in the journal “The Lancet Planetary Health,” lead poisoning reduces the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa by 4%, while in Asia GDP decreases by 2%. The relationship between lead exposure and economic decline is clear and quantifiable. In the United States, a significant improvement in the intelligence of young people has been observed over the past 50 years, probably thanks to lead reduction policies, such as the limitation of leaded gasoline and the adoption of laws against leaded paint.
In fact, lead exposure has been linked to increased violent and aggressive behavior, possibly related to the decline in crime rates in the United States since the late 1990s. Studies suggest that lower lead concentrations may be linked to reduced violence.