CLARKSVILLE, TN − A new study recently published in Explorations in Economic History suggests that early-life exposure to lead in drinking water is associated with a reduced longevity in men by approximately 9.6 months in cities with the most significant exposure.
Coauthors Dr. Jason Fletcher, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Dr. Hamid Noghanibehambari, assistant professor at Austin Peay State University, believe they could be the first to link early-life exposure to lead and old-age longevity.
Fletcher and Noghanibehambari used primary data sources like the Social Security Administration Death Master Files for men who died between 1975 and 2005 and historical census data, among others, to conduct their study. The greatest impact is linked to individuals born in “lead cities,” locations associated with greater amounts of acidic water and older pipeline systems. Cities with higher automobile density using leaded gasoline during the 1940s are also noted to have increased risk. Their final sample size represents 783,483 individuals born in a lead city…