The impact of early childhood lead exposure on education and crime.
Official title: Early Childhood Housing Condition, Education, and Criminal Behavior
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10827174 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how being exposed to lead as a young child might impact things like school success and behavior later in life, using information from kids in South Carolina who were on Medicaid and comparing those who lived in homes with lead paint to those who didn’t.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $45,504 |
| NIH project number | 1F31MD019213-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10827174 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of five who have been tested for blood lead levels and are Medicaid recipients.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Medicaid recipients or who are older than five years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to lead in early childhood affects long-term outcomes such as education and criminal behavior. By analyzing data from Medicaid recipients in South Carolina, the study aims to link childhood blood lead levels to future educational achievements and criminal records. It utilizes a natural experiment approach by comparing children who lived in homes built before and after the 1978 federal ban on lead paint. This method allows for a rigorous assessment of the causal effects of lead exposure on life outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved public health policies aimed at reducing lead exposure in children, ultimately enhancing their educational and life outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown significant correlations between lead exposure and negative life outcomes, supporting the relevance of this study's approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hess, Andrew J — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Hess, Andrew J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.