Exposure to lead, tobacco smoke linked to ADHD, Cincinnati study finds

The incidence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the U.S. could be cut by more than a third if childhood exposure to lead and tobacco smoke were eliminated, according to a new study by Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center (Source: “Lead, smoke exposure in kids linked to ADHD,” Cincinnati Enquirer, Oct. 20, 2008).

While lead and smoke exposure each increase the risk of developing ADHD, children exposed to both are more than eight times as likely to develop the disorder as those who weren’t exposed to either, according to the study.

"Tobacco and lead exposure together seem to have a synergistic, negative effect," said Tanya Froehlich, a physician in the division of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's, and lead author of the study.