- Babies exposed to high levels of lead in the womb are
more than twice as likely to develop schizophrenia in adulthood, according
to new research by US scientists.
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- Blood samples taken from pregnant American women in the
1960s, show that the children of those who had high levels of lead in their
blood grew up with a much increased risk of the psychiatric disorder.
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- Dr Ezra Susser, of New York's Columbia University, said
it was "the first time that any environmental toxin has been related
to the later risk of schizophrenia".
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- Presenting the findings to the American Association for
the Advancement of Science in Washington, he said: "It is a preliminary
finding but an intriguing one. We think that people will now look at a
variety of environmental toxins which can disrupt brain development."
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- © 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
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- http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=4915
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