US EditionA Century of Hair Samples Proves Leaded Gas Ban Worked
- On February 2, 2026, University of Utah researchers published in PNAS showing human lead exposure in the Salt Lake City region fell about 100-fold since EPA-era regulations.
- After the EPA's creation, removal of leaded gasoline and the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act laws coincided with smelter closures in Midvale and Murray, reducing lead exposure.
- Researchers analyzed 47 hair samples dated 1916–2024 using mass spectrometry, finding lead concentrations fell from about 100 ppm midcentury to less than 1 ppm by 2024, though hair does not exactly record blood levels.
- The authors warn that EPA policy rollbacks could reverse gains since lead exposure causes developmental, kidney, and cardiovascular harms in children and adults; study authors urge that `We should not forget the lessons of history` .
- The team cited the March 12, 2025 announcement easing EPA rules by President Donald Trump and noted at least one federal lawsuit challenging the resulting exemptions to science-based regulations.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Hair samples show lead exposure falling in US
A study of a century’s worth of US hair samples showed that lead exposure has fallen more than 100-fold since the 1960s. High concentrations of lead cause developmental damage in children, notably neurological effects as well as cardiovascular, reproductive, and kidney problems. Lead’s use in petrol, paint, and elsewhere meant it was omnipresent in the mid-20th century until bans — such as the 1970 US Clean Air Act — began to take effect. The ne…
The levels of lead in the environment have decreased significantly since the 1970s, as well as human exposure. This is revealed by an American study on samples...
Banning lead in gas worked. The proof is in our hair
University of Utah researchers analyzed samples of Salt Lake residents’ hair going back a century to document a 100-fold decrease in lead concentrations, demonstrating the efficacy of environmental regulations that phased lead out of gasoline and paint beginning in the 1970s.
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