HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

Electronic Letters to:

COMMENTARY: James A. Mercy, Etienne G. Krug, Linda L. Dahlberg, and Anthony B. Zwi Violence and Health: The United States in a Global Perspective Am J Public Health 2003; 93: 256-261 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

eLetters: Submit a response to this article

Electronic letters published:

Violence, Health and Toxins

Roger D. Masters, Foundation for Neuroscience & Society   (28 March 2003)

Violence, Health and Toxins 28 March 2003
Roger D. Masters, Research Professor Dartmouth College, Foundation for Neuroscience & Society Send letter to journal: Re: Violence, Health and Toxins Roger.D.Masters{at}Dartmouth.edu Roger D. Masters, et al.	Consideration of violence from the perspective of public health is long overdue. 1 Combining approaches of neurotoxicology, behavioral biology, and epidemiology reveals that environmental factors ignored by social scientists can help explain variation in rates of violent crime within the U.S. as well as violence in a global perspective. For example, because lead is a neurotoxin that interferes with dopaminergic function and weakens behavioral inhibition, 2 average levels of lead are often higher in children with ADD/ADHD 3 as well as in violent offenders.4 Because manganese has parallel effects (lowering serotonergic as well as dopaminergic function), counties with industrial pollution with either lead or manganese (as measured by the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory) have higher rates of violent crime. These contributions of exposure to heavy metals remain statistically significant controlling for socio-economic and demographic factors, with an interactive effect making the presence of both toxins worse than mere addition of their separate effects on violence.5 Temporal variations in lead exposure also matter as is evidenced by a reduction in violent crime in the U.S. associated with the ban on leaded gas. 6 Such effects often reflect synergistic interaction among risk factors. In addition to toxic releases of manganese and lead, recent research shows untested toxins in public water supplies interact with exposure to lead paint from old housing as factors associated with higher rates of violent crime.7 Moreover, minorities -- probably due to low calcium intake in diets -- are significantly more vulnerable to these effects. 8 Whereas sociologists and political scientists are ill-prepared to understand the complex nexus linking violent crime to neurotoxins, individual susceptibility, development, and physical as well as social environment, such findings are consistent with the conception of "population health."9 To further such research and link it effectively with public policy, however, our universities need more emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. References 1 . Mercy JA, Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Zwi AB. Violence and Health: the United States in a Global Perspective. Am. J. Pub. Health, 2003:93:256-261. 2 . Cory-Slechta DA, Brockel BJ, O’Mara DJ, Lead Exposure and Dorsomedial Striatum Mediation of Fixed Interval Schedule-Controlled Behavior, NeuroToxicology 2002:23:313-327. 3 . Minder B, Das-Smaal EA, Brand, EF, Orlebeke JM, Jacob F. Exposure to lead and specific attentional problems in schoolchildren. Journal of Learning Disabilities. 1994: 27:393-98; Tuthill RW. Hair lead levels related to children's classroom attention-deficit behavior. Archives of Environmental Health. 1996: 51:214-20. 4. Needleman HL ed., Human Lead Exposure Boca Raton: CRC,1989; Stretesky PB,. Lynch MJ, The Relation Between Lead Exposure and Homicide, Arch. Pediat Adoles/ Med 2001:155: 579-582. 5. Masters RD, Hone B, Doshi A. Environmental Polution, Neurotoxicity, and Criminal Violence in Rose J (ed.) Environmental Toxicology London: Gordon & Breach, 1998: 13-48. 6. Masters RD, Biology and Politics, in Polsby N (ed.) Ann. Rev. Pol. Sci 2001:4:353-356. 7. Masters RD, Coplan MJ, Hone BT, Dykes JE, Association of Silicofluoride Treated Water with Elevated Blood Lead, Neurotoxicology, 2000:21:1091-1100. 8. Masters RD. Social Implications of Evolutionary Psychology: Linking Brain Biochemistry, Toxins, and Violent Crime. In Bloom RW, Dess NK (eds.) Evolutionary Psychology and Violence 2003. N Y.: Praeger/Greenwood. 9. Kindig D, Stoddart G. What Is Population Health? Am J. Pub. Health 2003:93:380-383.