Children's exposure to lead linked to lower IQs, Dunedin Study finds
Exhaust fumes from the era of leaded petrol could be to blame for Kiwis with lower IQs and social standing, according to the latest Dunedin Study findings.
Researchers at the long-running University of Otago project said high levels of lead in New Zealand cities in the 1970s and 1980s appeared to be responsible for a loss of intelligence and occupational standing among today's adults.
Until now, the long-term effects of lead exposure were unknown due to a lack of research, Dunedin Study associate director Professor Terrie Moffitt of Duke University said.