Gasoline used to be a common source of lead exposure in the US. Now, millions of people’s mental health may be feeling the impacts.

A landmark study reveals a disturbing link between past leaded gasoline use and widespread mental health issues in the US. Millions of Americans may suffer from depression, anxiety, and attention deficits due to lead exposure,

The fuel type was banned in 1996, but people exposed to it as children are particularly susceptible to depression, anxiety, ADHD and personality changes.

A new study calculates that exposure to car exhaust from leaded gas during childhood altered the balance of mental health in the U.S. population, making generations of Americans more depressed, anxious and inattentive or hyperactive.

Decades of leaded gasoline exposure in the United States linked to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD and neurotic behavior.