Lithium in drinking water and crime rates in Japan: cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In pharmacological doses, lithium successfully treats bipolar disorder and it can reduce violent crimes committed by individuals with this disorder.

Aims

To investigate whether naturally occurring lithium in drinking water lowers rates of violent crime in the general population.

Method

We examined lithium levels in the drinking water of the 274 municipalities of Kyushu Island in Japan and compared these with the crime rates in each municipality.

Results

We found that lithium levels were significantly and inversely associated with crime rates in 2009.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that even very low levels of lithium in drinking water may play a role in reducing crime rates in the general population.

SUBMITTER: Kohno K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7576670 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature