IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v15y2018i7p1427-d156649.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Is There a Relationship between Lead Exposure and Aggressive Behavior in Shooters?

Author

Listed:
  • Nisha Naicker

    (Environment & Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 87373, Houghton, Johannesburg 2041, South Africa
    The Epidemiology and Surveillance Section, National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Services, 25 Hospital St, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
    Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa)

  • Pieter De Jager

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
    Department of Anaesthesia, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Shan Naidoo

    (School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa)

  • Angela Mathee

    (Environment & Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 87373, Houghton, Johannesburg 2041, South Africa
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa
    Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa)

Abstract

Lead exposure has been associated with psycho-neurological disorders. Elevated blood lead levels have been found in shooters. This study assesses the association between the blood lead levels of shooters and their levels of aggression. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Gauteng, South Africa. Participants were recruited from four randomly selected shooting ranges with three randomly selected archery ranges used as a comparison group. A total of 118 (87 shooters and 31 archers) participants were included in the analysis. Aggressiveness was measured using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Shooters had significantly higher blood lead levels (BLL) compared to archers with 79.8% of shooters versus 22.6% of archers found to have a BLL ≥ 5 μg/dL ( p < 0.001). Aggression scores were significantly higher in shooters ( p < 0.05) except for verbal aggression. In the bivariate and regression analyses, shooters with BLLs ≥ 10 μg/dL were significantly associated with the hostility sub-scale ( p = 0.03, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.103–7.261). Shooters have a significantly higher BLL and aggressiveness compared to archers. However, elevated blood lead levels were significantly associated with hostility only. Interventions need to be put in place to prevent continued exposure and routine screening of populations at risk should be implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Nisha Naicker & Pieter De Jager & Shan Naidoo & Angela Mathee, 2018. "Is There a Relationship between Lead Exposure and Aggressive Behavior in Shooters?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1427-:d:156649
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/7/1427/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/7/1427/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, 2018. "Hepatobiliary Related Outcomes in US Adults Exposed to Lead," 2018 Stata Conference 81, Stata Users Group.
    2. Tripathi, R.K. & Sherertz, P.C. & Llewellyn, G.C. & Armstrong, C.W., 1991. "Lead exposure in outdoor firearm instructors," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 81(6), pages 753-755.
    3. Nevin, Rick, 2007. "Understanding international crime trends: The legacy of preschool lead exposure," MPRA Paper 35338, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Jessica Wolpaw Reyes, 2015. "Lead Exposure And Behavior: Effects On Antisocial And Risky Behavior Among Children And Adolescents," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 53(3), pages 1580-1605, July.
    5. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi & Rodrigo X. Armijos & M. Margaret Weigel & Gabriel M. Filippelli & M. Aaron Sayegh, 2018. "Cardiovascular-Related Outcomes in U.S. Adults Exposed to Lead," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Thokozani Patrick Mbonane & Angela Mathee & André Swart & Nisha Naicker, 2021. "Lead Poisoning among Male Juveniles Due to Illegal Mining: A Case Series from South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-6, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gabriel M. Filippelli & Jessica Adamic & Deborah Nichols & John Shukle & Emeline Frix, 2018. "Mapping the Urban Lead Exposome: A Detailed Analysis of Soil Metal Concentrations at the Household Scale Using Citizen Science," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, July.
    2. Magnus Lofstrom & Steven Raphael, 2016. "Crime, the Criminal Justice System, and Socioeconomic Inequality," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 30(2), pages 103-126, Spring.
    3. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi & Alesia C. Ferguson & Katherine A. Stamatakis & Michael A. Province, 2021. "Combined Effect of Lead Exposure and Allostatic Load on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality—A Preliminary Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, June.
    4. Higney, Anthony & Hanley, Nick & Moro, Mirko, 2022. "The lead-crime hypothesis: A meta-analysis," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Jessica Sauve‐Syed, 2024. "Lead exposure and student outcomes: A study of Flint schools," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(3), pages 432-448, March.
    6. Feigenbaum, James J. & Muller, Christopher, 2016. "Lead exposure and violent crime in the early twentieth century," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 51-86.
    7. Alex Coad & Gianluca Biggi & Elisa Giuliani, 2021. "Asbestos, leaded petrol, and other aberrations: comparing countries’ regulatory responses to disapproved products and technologies," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(2), pages 201-233, February.
    8. Stephen B. Billings & Kevin T. Schnepel, 2018. "Life after Lead: Effects of Early Interventions for Children Exposed to Lead," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 10(3), pages 315-344, July.
    9. Adejoke Christianah Olufemi & Andile Mji & Murembiwa Stanley Mukhola, 2022. "Potential Health Risks of Lead Exposure from Early Life through Later Life: Implications for Public Health Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-21, November.
    10. Anna Aizer & Janet Currie, 2019. "Lead and Juvenile Delinquency: New Evidence from Linked Birth, School, and Juvenile Detention Records," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 101(4), pages 575-587, October.
    11. Shamshad Karatela & Christin Coomarasamy & Janis Paterson & Neil I. Ward, 2019. "Household Smoking Status and Heavy Metal Concentrations in Toenails of Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-12, October.
    12. Ewa Wojciechowska & Nicole Nawrot & Jolanta Walkusz-Miotk & Karolina Matej-Łukowicz & Ksenia Pazdro, 2019. "Heavy Metals in Sediments of Urban Streams: Contamination and Health Risk Assessment of Influencing Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-14, January.
    13. Alex Hollingsworth & Mike Huang & Ivan J. Rudik & Nicholas J. Sanders, 2020. "A Thousand Cuts: Cumulative Lead Exposure Reduces Academic Achievement," NBER Working Papers 28250, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Ludovica Gazze & Claudia Persico & Sandra Spirovska, 2024. "The Long-Run Spillover Effects of Pollution: How Exposure to Lead Affects Everyone in the Classroom," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(2), pages 357-394.
    15. Zaalberg, Ap, 2019. "The effects of nutrients and neurotoxicants on aggressive behavior," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    16. Zahran, Sammy & Iverson, Terrence & McElmurry, Shawn P. & Weiler, Stephan & Levitt, Ryan, 2019. "Hidden Costs of Blight and Arson in Detroit: Evidence From a Natural Experiment in Devil's Night," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 266-277.
    17. Karen Clay & Margarita Portnykh & Edson Severnini, 2021. "Toxic Truth: Lead and Fertility," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 8(5), pages 975-1012.
    18. James B. Ang & Per G. Fredriksson, 2017. "Statehood Experience, Legal Traditions, And Climate Change Policies," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 55(3), pages 1511-1537, July.
    19. Vincent Nedellec & Ari Rabl, 2016. "Costs of Health Damage from Atmospheric Emissions of Toxic Metals: Part 2—Analysis for Mercury and Lead," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(11), pages 2096-2104, November.
    20. Abbasi, Ali & DiTraglia, Francis J. & Gazze, Ludovica & Pals, Bridget, 2023. "Hidden hazards and screening policy: Predicting undetected lead exposure in Illinois," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:7:p:1427-:d:156649. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.