Prenatal and Early Postnatal Lead Exposure, Sensitive Periods, and Later Adult Mental Health

Are prenatal and early postnatal lead exposures associated with the risk of mental health disorders in later life?In this cohort study of 718 adults who donated baby teeth during childhood, greater prenatal lead exposure, particularly in the third trimester, was associated with higher risk of major depressive disorder in their 60s.The third trimester may be a uniquely sensitive window of early lead exposure affecting long-term mental health.

Corresponding Author: Marc G. Weisskopf, PhD, EOME, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Bldg 1, Ste 1402, Boston, MA 02115 (mweissko@hsph.harvard.edu).

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