December 9, 2009 — Young adults with higher blood lead levels are more likely to have major depressive disorder (MDD) or panic disorder, even if they have exposure to lead levels generally considered safe, new research suggests.

Maryse F. Bouchard, PhD, Universite de Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues found individuals with lead levels of 2.11 μg/dL or more had 2.3 times the odds of having MDD and nearly 5 times the odds of panic disorder compared with those with lead levels of 0.7 μg/dL or less.

“What is most surprising is the finding that lead can be associated with adverse mental health status at such low levels of exposure,” Dr. Bouchard told Medscape Psychiatry. The mean blood level in study subjects was 1.61 μg/dL.

The study is published in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

The investigators analyzed data from 1987 adults aged 20 to 39 years who were participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2004. Participants underwent medical examinations that included collection of a blood sample and also completed a diagnostic interview to identify MDD, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.

The number of individuals who met diagnostic criteria for MDD was 134 (6.7%), 44 (2.2%) had panic disorder, and 47 (2.4%) had generalized anxiety disorder.

Because smoking is related to blood lead levels, the researchers conducted additional analyses excluding the 628 smokers. Among nonsmokers, the elevation in risk between the highest and lowest blood lead levels was increased to 2.5-fold for MDD and 8.2-fold for panic disorder.

Need to Reduce Environmental Exposure

Previous studies conducted in highly exposed employees from foundries, smelters, and battery plants show that these workers (who had blood lead levels averaging 40 μg/dL) have reported elevated symptoms of depression, hostility, and anxiety, said Dr. Bouchard.

A study conducted in nonoccupationally exposed older men showed that those with higher blood lead levels (averaging 6.3 μg/dL) also had a higher prevalence of self-reported anxiety, phobic anxiety, and depression. “In my study group, the mean blood lead level was only 1.6 μg/dL, which is representative of the exposure level in the general population,” Dr. Bouchard said.

Eliminating lead from gasoline has decreased average blood lead levels in the general population, but remaining sources of exposure include paint, industrial processes, pottery, and contaminated water.

However, Dr. Bouchard pointed out that blood lead levels reflect not only current exposure but also past exposures because lead is sequestered in bones and is slowly released into the blood.

“These findings suggest that lead neurotoxicity may contribute to adverse mental health outcomes, even at levels generally considered to pose low, or no, risk,” the researchers conclude. “These findings, combined with recent reports of adverse behavioral outcomes in children with similarly low blood lead levels, should underscore the need for considering ways to further reduce environmental lead exposures,” they write.

Dose-Response Relationship Questioned

Edwin van Wijngaarden, PhD, interim chief of the Division of Epidemiology, Community & Preventive Medicine at the University of Rochester in New York, reviewed the study for Medscape.

“Although the data reported by Bouchard et al are certainly suggestive of an association between blood lead levels and major depressive disorder, the nature of the dose-response relationship is somewhat uncertain, with no clear pattern until the upper quintile.

“The authors emphasize the statistically significant trend statistics, which are appropriate if there is a true linear trend — not sure if that is the case here. The results for panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder suffer from limited statistical power and consequently statistically imprecise risk estimates, and I would be cautious interpreting the dose-response patterns reported for these outcomes,” he said.

Dr. van Wijngaarden also noted that the mental health outcomes studied were only available for adults aged 20 to 39 years and might differ for older adults with higher levels of cumulative lead exposure.

Dr. van Wijngaarden and colleagues recently examined population-based data on blood lead levels in relation to depression in the United States in a study that will be published in the near future.

This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Bouchard and Dr. van Wijngaarden have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009;66:1313-1319.

Don’t forget that kitchen cabinets also are full of Formaldehyde.  Be careful of grout fillings, glue, and carpets.  Many are not chemical sensitive and your body might not react to these chemicals, but that is not good either, as you have NO warning.  At least if you are chemical sensitivity your body lets you know pretty quickly.  I personally am like a Canary.  I can walk into a building, room, new construction, even retail stores and sense these dangerous chemicals.  Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target and most clothing stores are full of pesticides from the clothing they are selling.  Remember to wash clothes, etc., etc., at least 3 times before wearing.  Please don’t look at your body reaction as a burden, be thankful that your body reacts, so that you can remove yourself.  When I buy new tires for my car I react to the tires.  Bicycle shops are out.

Just remember that these are very harmful chemicals and be thankful that you react.  Being an informed person could very well save your life.  Why now and not previous years?  The chemicals that are used are made with cheap materials, that were not used years ago.  Be careful of stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot, they are full of pesticides,herbicides,paints, treated woods and more.

They say that 85% of Cancers today are environmental.  I provide my body with the right detox methods, so I am neutralizing these chemical assaults, while replenishing my body with the right herbals, supplements and nutrients.  Buyer Beware!!

Regards,

Linda

CPSC study confirms homeowner’s worst fears about Chinese drywall

Tom Kraeutler
Nov 24th 2009 at 3:00PM More Text SizeAAA

A study of 51 homes released this week by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found a strong association between homes with Chinese-made drywall and levels corrosive hydrogen sulfide, which gives off a smell similar to rotten eggs.

It was the largest investigation ever taken on by the CPSC, costing $3.5 million and involving 15% of the staff, according to the CPSC.

CPSC has received more than 2,000 complaints from homeowners in 32 states, reporting that their health had been adversely affected by odors given off by the suspect material. Victims also reported blackening or corrosion of metal in their homes, including electrical wiring, appliances and air conditioning systems. The complaints stem from homes built largely in 2006 and 2007, following an unexpected demand for building materials spurred on by the destructive hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005.

By confirming the corrosive effects of the Chinese sourced drywall, the CPSC hopes to develop protocols that will identify homes with the problem material and determine effective remediation methods. “Ongoing studies will examine health and safety effects, but we are now ready to get to work fixing this problem,”CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said in a press release.

To date though, the CPSC states it remains difficult to estimate the total number of homes that contain the toxic drywall and recently reached out to the governors of all 50 states to assemble the fullest possible accounting. Together with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CPSC is also monitoring imports and believes no new Chinese drywall has entered the United States in 2009.

What to do if you suspect your house has Chinese drywall
If you have reason to believe that your home was built with Chinese drywall, the CPSC recommends you take the following four steps:

1. If you are suffering from the health symptoms described as common to the reports of exposure to problem drywall, please consult your physician as soon as possible. If you experience any of the electrical or fire safety concerns described as common to the reports of exposure to problem drywall, please consult your local gas or electric supplier and a licensed electrician or building inspector as soon as possible.
2. Contact your State and local authorities to report your concerns and get direction on any help or resources in your area.
3. Report your concerns to the CPSC using this form.
4. Consider contacting your insurance company and homebuilder to report your concerns.

For more information on the problem and to monitor ongoing progress in the investigation, go to the CPSC’s Drywall Information Center.

Tom Kraeutler reports on toxic black mold and other home repair issues each week as host of The Money Pit, a nationally syndicated home improvement radio program. He is also AOL’s Home Improvement Editor and author of “My Home, My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure.”