Lead Exposure, Concentrated Disadvantage, and Violent Crime Rates

Lead is an environmental toxin that contributes to several health and neurological development problems, with young children particularly at risk. Research shows that elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) are higher in communities characterized by concentrated disadvantage. However, studies have provided conflicting evidence regarding the relationship between concentrated disadvantage, lead exposure, and crime rates. We analyzed data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Census Bureau, and Boston Police Department to help address several issues in the literature. Specifically, we examined EBLLs at the census tract level and accounted for the percentage of homes built before 1979 to overcome previous research limitations regarding lead exposure measures, unit of analysis, and omitted variables. Our findings revealed that (1) the impact of concentrated disadvantage on EBLL rates was exacerbated by the amount of pre-1979 housing, and (2) concentrated disadvantage intensified the effect of EBLLs on crime rates, but only after accounting for pre-1979 housing.