Notable recent commentary on links between lead exposure and crime rates

Long-time readers may recall that I have long been intrigued by the (often under-discussed) social science research that suggests lead exposure levels may better account for variations in crime rates than just about any other single variable.  In an number of older posts (linked below), I have flagged some articles on this topic, and I have always been eager to note work by researcher Rick Nevin and others who have been eager to put a spotlight on the lead-exposure-crime-link evidence. 

This week, interestingly, I have seen not only some new work by Rick Nevin on this topic, but also by another notable empiricist.  Here are links to the new pieces:

From Jennifer Doleac via the Niskanen Center, “Research Roundup: Lead Exposure Causes Crime“

From Rick Nevin at Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, “Lead Exposure’s Link to Crime Should Shape Criminal Sentencing, Early Release“

From Rick Nevin at his website, “Why are prisons “getting Whiter”?“

I will close here by just quoting one paragraph from the start of the first of these pieces by Jennifer Doleac:

Below, I summarize the latest evidence on the effects of lead exposure on criminal behavior.  Given the tremendous cost of crime to society, investing more in lead remediation to protect children from the dangerous effects of this toxin would be an extremely cost-effective strategy to improve public safety, and one that deserves bipartisan support.

Some prior related posts from this blog:

• Should we thank unleaded gas and the EPA for the great modern crime decline?
• Effective Washington Post commentary talks up great (and still puzzling) crime decline
• Do lead exposure realities continue to best explain modern crime-rate realities?
• Fascinating lead-crime-rate forecast that incarceration levels will decline significantly in coming years
• “Research on [lead]’s effects on the brain bolsters the hypothesis that childhood exposure is linked to criminal acts”
• More useful discussion of the (under-discussed) lead-crime-rate connections 
• Finding an age-based silver lining — or lead lining — in latest BJS prison data
• Does latest FBI report of crime’s decline provide still more support for lead-exposure-crime link?
• “Association of Childhood Blood Lead Levels With Criminal Offending” 
• Reviewing again links between lead exposure and crime rates