this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2024
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I have been thinking a lot since the election about what could explain the incredibly high numbers of Americans who seem incapable of critical thinking, or really any kind of high level rational thought or analysis.

Then I stumbled on this post https://old.reddit.com/r/guns/comments/16ires5/lead_exposure_from_shooting_is_a_much_more/

Which essentially explains that “Shooting lead bullets at firing ranges results in elevated BLLs at concentrations that are associated with a variety of adverse health outcome"

I looked at the pubmed abstract in that Reddit post and also this one https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5289032/

Which states, among other things, “Workers exposed to lead often show impaired performance on neurobehavioral test involving attention, processing, speed, visuospatial abilities, working memory and motor function. It has also been suggested that lead can adversely affect general intellectual performance.”

Now, given that there are well in excess of 300 million guns in the United States, is it possible lead exposure at least partially explains how brain dead many Americans seem to be?

This is a genuine question not a troll and id love to read some evidence to the contrary if any is available

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[–] ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml 55 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

I doubt that there are enough people shooting enough guns often enough for it to be more than just trace exposures, it likely must be something else.

[–] MutilationWave@lemmy.world 42 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

It's regular old religion, shit culture, and propaganda just like it always is.

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 5 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Don't forget the deliberate effort by Republicans to nerf the public education system

[–] MutilationWave@lemmy.world 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Nerf is too nice a way to say it. They want to abolish the Department of Education. Their goal is that only the children of the rich will get anything close to a good education.

[–] Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 4 points 11 hours ago

It's by design. Keep people stupid, and use religion for its intended use, a tool for control.

We the masses are the foundation for their wealth and power.

[–] Wiz@midwest.social 11 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

Plus, Gen-X and Boomers were exposed to a lot of lead.

Gasoline types used to be "Regular or Unleaded" and Regular, I think, and required a"special" engine.

[–] SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world 9 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Also fungicides/pesticides can cause dementia. One of the first signs of early onset dementia is loss of empathy. So not very surprising many old rural folks have become jaded people

[–] JordanZ@lemmy.world 9 points 14 hours ago

Small aircraft still use 100LL fuel…(LL is low lead)

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 11 hours ago

Leaded ("regular") gas will destroy a catalytic converter. A car without a cat could usually run leaded or unleaded. Some may knock running unleaded if they're super old or broken in some way. I believe leaded was usually cheaper.

I wouldn't try running leaded in a modern engine even if you removed the cats. God knows what else it would screw up.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

Nailed it! Religion, shit culture and propaganda are all major sources of stupidity!

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 18 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

Yes it's actually a pretty ignorant idea. Lead exposure is more likely from car exhaust from leaded gas, which has been severely limited since the 80s.

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Lead paint in every house probably didn't help

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 3 points 10 hours ago

Most old lead paint just gets painted over, further sealing it in. It doesn't do anything to you unless you chew on peeling paint or release it into the air by sanding it.