Lead exposure
Lead exposure has been studied in 4 papers since 2024: 2 observational studies in people; 2 in the past year. The newest paper, Oct 20, 2026: “Global environmental and cardiometabolic correlates of periodontitis- ischemic heart disease co-burden: a spatiotemporal network analysis”.
4 papers study it7 findingsUpdated
“For periodontitis, lead exposure showed the largest model-derived PAF among the assessed factors (PAF 2.36%)”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 3 independent labs in 2 countries
- Funders: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and 7 more
- Humans1
- In silico2
What is Lead exposure linked with?
7Studies link Lead exposure with 7 measures, most often periodontitis burden (1 study), mortality (1) and biological age (1).
Periodontitis burden
upin humans1
1 study
Periodontitis burden
upin humans1
Lead exposure is associated with periodontitis burden in humans (Model-derived PAF 2.36%).
“For periodontitis, lead exposure showed the largest model-derived PAF among the assessed factors (PAF 2.36%)”
Humanscountry-level ecological analysis1990-2021
Quintessence international (Berlin, Germany : 1985)
Mortality
upin humans1
1 study
Mortality
upin humans1
Lead exposure raises the risk of mortality in humans.
“Leading risk factors included low fruit intake (6.98 deaths per 100,000), high sodium, and lead exposure.”
Humanshypertensive kidney disease
Frontiers in nephrology
Biological age
mixedin humans1
1 study
Biological age
mixedin humans1
Lead exposure is associated with biological age in humans.
“males experienced accelerated biological age, compared to females who saw a decelerated biological age, with respect to IEAA, EEAA, Horvath, Hannum, and PedBE clocks.”
Humansblood
The Science of the total environment
Hannum's clock
downin humans1
1 study
Hannum's clock
downin humans1
Lead exposure is associated with Hannum's clock in humans (0.08 year decrease (95%CI -0.15, -0.01)).
“Additionally, 3rd trimester blood lead levels were associated with a 0.08 year decrease in Hannum age in GLM and GEE models (95%CI -0.15, -0.01).”
Humansblood
The Science of the total environment
Skin-Blood clock
downin humans1
1 study
Skin-Blood clock
downin humans1
Lead exposure is associated with Skin-Blood clock in humans (-0.06 and -0.05 decrease).
“Third trimester and 24 month blood lead levels were associated with a -0.06 and -0.05 decrease in Skin-Blood age, respectively, in GLM models.”
HumansGLM modelsblood
The Science of the total environment
PedBE clock
upin humans1
1 study
PedBE clock
upin humans1
Lead exposure is associated with PedBE clock in humans (0.02 year increase (1st trimester, 95%CI 0.004, 0.03; 2nd trimester, 95%CI 0.01, 0.03)).
“First and 2nd trimester blood lead levels were associated with a 0.02 year increase in PedBE age in GLM and GEE models”
Humansblood
The Science of the total environment
EEAA
upin humans1
1 study
EEAA
upin humans1
Lead exposure is associated with EEAA in humans (0.14 increase (95%CI 0.03, 0.25)).
“First trimester blood lead was positively associated with a 0.14 increase in EEAA age in the GLMs though not the GEE models (95%CI 0.03, 0.25).”
HumansGLMsblood
The Science of the total environment
Funding
5 grants since 2022National Institute on AgingUS$4.4mNational Institute of Environmental Health SciencesUS$119.5kFogarty International CenterUS$100k
Early Life Lead Exposure and Later Life Cognitive Function: Biological and Psychosocial Pathways
National Institute of Environmental Health SciencesHarvard UniversityUS$119.5k2026–2028
Lead Exposure and Hypertension Across the Reproductive Lifespan
American Heart Association2026–2028
The Legacy of Childhood SES and Lead Exposure on Dementia Risk: ARIC-NCS Historical Census Linkage
National Institute on AgingUniversity of MinnesotaUS$645.7k2026–2030
National Institute on AgingUniversity of Michigan at Ann ArborUS$762.9k2022–2026
Environmental Lead Exposure and Premature Aging among Adolescents Living with HIV in Haiti
Fogarty International CenterGheskio CenterUS$100k2020–2024