# ‘Reframing the Coronary Heart Disease Epidemic - The Role of Lead Exposure’ **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260 "2026-09-16T23:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/1 "2026-09-16T23:46:00Z")
This article from JAMA ([https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2846867](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2846867)) tells the story of figuring out why the rate of heart disease had decreased precipitously. Although lead had long been known to poison the heart, it hadn’t been considered a factor in heart disease. Investigation attributed most of the unexplained decline to the decrease of lead, not just from gasoline but also paint and safer recycling of batteries. ‘In the US, coronary heart disease mortality rose in the 1930s and 1940s alongside expanding production of leaded gasoline. By 1968 - the year production peaked - coronary heart disease accounted for 1 in 3 deaths. ‘Coronary heart disease mortality then began a steep and sustained decline. During this same period, production of leaded gasoline and blood lead levels dropped in parallel. Hypertension prevalence also declined - from roughly 1 in 3 adults in the mid-1970s to 1 in 5 by the early 1990s. ‘In 1978, more than 80 physicians and scientists gathered in Bethesda, Maryland, at what became known as the Decline Conference, to understand why myocardial infarctions had suddenly decreased. Nearly 190 000 fewer deaths had occurred than expected. Antihypertensive medications were not yet widely used, and traditional risk factors did not fully explain the shift."’ ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/2 "2026-09-17T02:58:15Z")
Violent crime also allegedly spiked and declined a couple decades after childhood exposure to lead and other heavy metals (mercury in dental filings, etc.) : ![IMG_2600](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/a/cabcdfcc255c05211fcd56271a74eefdcfdceda8.gif) Legend: Green are years of maximum exposure Blue are years of peak crime rates ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/3 "2026-09-17T16:29:04Z")
Both are conclusions drawn from correlation not proven causation. I am, however, thrilled about the results. Violent crime also decreased 17-20 years after Roe v Wade, too. Again correlation, not proven causation. Smoking also declined during those years. That also decreases heart disease and strokes. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/e/ae8a33d02c0babd6ec25deb943b200770971db5b.png) Getting the lead out was a wonderfully successful crusade as was the story of recycling Pb-acid batteries. Now if we could just develop a way to cost effectively recycle Li-Ion batteries! ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 2:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/4 "2026-09-18T02:31:56Z")
Fascinating topic! Did they study people who live in remote areas with minimal exposure to lead? ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/5 "2026-09-18T03:50:23Z")
To be in no way uncertain: Heavy metals (aluminum, cadmium, lead, mercury, etc.)do not, in any quantiity, belong in the human body or blood stream. They have been linked clinically to a wide assortment of childhood developmental and behavioral issues, along with chronic and acute illnesses in people of all ages. The best place for heavy metal is on an iPod or the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/6 "2026-09-18T13:05:45Z")
I miss my Zippo lighter and Marlboro Red cigarettes back when smoking was the norm. Still get a craving after all these years. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/7 "2026-09-18T13:11:36Z")
I understand smoking is a very tough habit to break. I know a few that have quit but still crave them every now and again. Never a smoker but both my parents and 3 of 4 grandparents were. 2 quit in their 50s and lived long lives. The others… well, all died from smoking related illnesses at earlier ages. So keep up the good fight! ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/8 "2026-09-18T13:39:55Z")
Id be more worried about fluoride in water then lead in gas. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/9 "2026-09-18T13:57:47Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Id be more worried about fluoride in water then lead in gas. Hard to describe how wrong that is… ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/10 "2026-09-18T16:30:51Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Id be more worried about fluoride in water then lead in gas. The fluoride will make someone not care as much about the lead in the gas. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/11 "2026-09-18T18:39:18Z")
Agreed, the **lack** of fluoride in water is concerning. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/12 "2026-09-18T18:43:02Z")
Ah, but when you have VC behind every tree, who worries about your lungs​😀. I think it was around 90% of us that smoked. C rations had mini pack of four cigarettes in each meal. Chesterfields or Pall Malls! ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/13 "2026-09-18T18:46:59Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Id be more worried about fluoride in water then lead in gas. What is wrong with you? There is no safe level of lead getting in our ground water. For Flourude to be a problem it would have to many times the amount that is put in our drinking water. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/14 "2026-09-18T19:19:15Z")
Fluoride is dangerous The moon landing was faked Chemtrails are real That’s the world we live in today. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/15 "2026-09-18T19:53:45Z")
Gee, where are those eager flag police? Guess it just depends what side of the fence you are on. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/16 "2026-09-19T13:31:07Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Both are conclusions drawn from correlation not proven causation Correlation is NOT causation. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/17 "2026-09-19T13:38:05Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > What is wrong with you? There is no safe level of lead getting in our ground water. For Flourude to be a problem it would have to many times the amount that is put in our drinking water. The uneducated are easily persuaded. > [@Purebred](#): > > I think it was around 90% of us that smoked. C rations had mini pack of four cigarettes in each meal. Chesterfields or Pall Malls! I traded my cigs from my C rations for their dessert. I got used to smokers because my parents smoked. Both my parents and older sister died from smoking related illnesses. When I went to Nam and came back home, I couldn’t stand the smoke anymore. I can’t stand being around smokers Thank ■■■ we now have smoking laws that prevent the rest of us from being poisoned by someone’s bad habit. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/18 "2026-09-19T13:39:19Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Fluoride is dangerous > > The moon landing was faked > > Chemtrails are real > > That’s the world we live in today. Don’t forget - Vaccines are bad. but snorting coke off a toilet seat seems to be OK. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/19 "2026-09-19T14:09:36Z")
![IMG_0370](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/9/e9c0a2ac205a9a35577338c2ce2c99811d47da17.jpeg) Why is there a hotspot of higher soil lead contamination in area away from highway in mpls? There was never any heavy manufacturing in this part of downtown mpls. The interstate is laid out in a tee where cars go east or west. The area to the east has more traffic, so higher lead concentration ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260/20 "2026-09-19T15:02:06Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > Correlation is NOT causation. Re-read what I wrote. The way I posted indicated a clear differentiation between the two. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/reframing-the-coronary-heart-disease-epidemic-the-role-of-lead-exposure/206260.md?page=2)