Importance Many children in the United States and around the world are exposed to lead, a
developmental neurotoxin. The long-term cognitive and socioeconomic consequences of
lead exposure are uncertain. Objective To test the hypothesis that childhood lead exposure
is associated with cognitive function and socioeconomic status in adulthood and with
changes in IQ and socioeconomic mobility between childhood and midlife. Design, Setting,
and Participants A prospective cohort study based on a population-representative 1972 …