A little while ago, I started a discussion about an article I read in our local paper about the connection between peeling lead paint in older homes and violence among youth in the inner city. My e-mail noted that many people had contributed to the discussion, but Taunton (or someone) had taken the posts down before I got a chance to read them. I don’t know why.
So I’m starting the discussion again. Here’s the article: http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=9738
The piece talks about the possibility that lead poisoning might be a contributing factor in high rates of inner city violence (with short tempers, hyperactivity, and aggression being telltale signs of lead poisoning in young people). the I’d be interested in thoughts from people out there in the homebuilding and renovating world.
Replies
Greetings Scott,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again.
Perhaps it will catch someones attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
No the thread is still there.
http://forums.prospero.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=55461.1
The tavern has been closed. You need to slipp me $50 and I will tell you how to get in.
Well being this is Easter Weakend I will tell you for free.
Post a message to the SYSOP in one of the ongoing threads asking for admitance to the tavern. If you can find one then start a new thread titled Tavern Access.
You will need to prove that you are over 21.
>> If you can't find one then start a new thread titled Tavern Access.Or e-mail [email protected] By the way, there's a pretty good chance this thread will also be moved to the Tavern. The General Discussion folder is for general discussion of building topics. General discussion of non building topics belongs in the Tavern. Discussion of lead paint mitigation would be a building topic, but discussion of links between lead paint and behavior is not.
but discussion of links between lead paint and behavior is not.
is too.
It's paint.
You know, I've noticed the same symptoms (temper, etc) in the personnell in our renovation crew. These guys breath a lot of plaster dust.
Yeah, someone's on to something......
I've heard the same "theory" ...
also heard it about lead paint in prisons ...
trouble is ... before lead paint was outlawed ... it was everywhere.
so why wasn't there wide spread violence EVERYWHERE before it was banned?
just like the good old days when Heavy Metal was causing kids to kill themselves ....
had nothing to do with the kids themselves ... it was all that damn loud music!
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
Edited 3/26/2005 11:50 pm ET by Jeff J. Buck
What?
be hearing
Exactly Jeff. Makes no sense at all. This logic is so flawed. Its like saying that it was the mail that drove the string of postal murders awhile back.
As I said before, the violence problems in Baltimore have everything to do with the out of control crack problem. Period.
I grew up really poor (cue the violins) in a run down rented house chock full of lead paint. Welfare at points, the whole nine. Similar to inner city Baltimore (sister went to Johns Hopkins, been there a bunch).
So did alot of my friends. No one's killing anyone. But then again we're not in a war zone where drugs and drug murders are a reality.
Just about everyone who is reading this post grew up in a house with lead paint.
How come history isnt littered with reports of murders happening at lead processing plants throughout the Industrial Revolution?
Wouldn't a plant like that be ground zero for violent behavior? Bet there were many more deaths due to industrial accidents than murders committed by the workers.
If lead truly is linked to violence, then it would follow that people who have had very high exposure would be more violent than others (such as painters, printmakers, plumbers, factory workers, etc.)
If the "journalist" who penned the article wanted to actually practice journalism, that's where he would start, right?