are violent criminals more likely to have high levels of toxic metals than non-criminals?
Masters and colleagues say seven studies of prison inmates all found that hair levels of either manganese or lead and cadmium were significantly higher in violent offenders than in non-violent offenders or controls. “Equally interesting,” the researchers say, “is the fact that lithium, which has been found to detoxify manganese, was abnormally low in two of the seven samples.” Masters et al. add that research strongly links sub-clinical lead poisoning to learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder-both risk factors for deviant behavior (See related articles, Crime Times, Vol. 1, No. 3, Page 4; Vol. 2, No. 2, Page 1; Vol. 2, No. 4, Page 7). Furthermore, they say, “extreme concentrations of manganese have also been associated with violence in environments with mining operations or industrial exposure.” 2. PREDICTION: are children with high toxin levels at increased risk for criminal behavior in later life? In two studies of lead, Masters et al. note, “lead uptake at age 7 was si
