Environmental health and antisocial behavior: Implications for public policy

Antisocial behavior persists as a preeminent public policy issue in the Uni ted States. A more critical assessment of both the policies and the program s designed to address this problem is necessary, and new risk factors far a ntisocial behavior need to be investigated. Sufficient evidence exists to h ypothesize that exposure to neurotoxins may be a risk factor for antisocial behavior. Neurotoxins such as lead have been demonstrated to affect the co gnitive development of children, and impaired cognition is accepted as a ri sk factor for antisocial behavior. Little consideration has been given, how ever, to the possible link between neurotoxins and human behavior. This pap er presents a biologically and socially plausible justification for this as sociation, reviews the supporting evidence, and emphasizes the need for add itional investigation of the phenomenon, Elucidation of this risk factor ma y lead to new strategies for preventing or mitigating antisocial behaviors among youth and adults.