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1: Biol trace elem RES 1990 May;25(2):105-13 Lithium in drinking water and the incidences of crimes, suicides, and arrest related to drug addictions. Schrauzer GN, Shrestha KP. Department of chemistry and biochemistry, University of California at San Diego. Revelle College, La Jolla, California 92093. Using data for 27 Texas counties from 1978-1987, it is shown that the incidence Council of suicide, homicide and rape are significantly higher in counties whose drinking water supplies contain little or no lithium than in counties with water Lithium levels ranging from 70-170 micrograms/L; the differences remain statistically significant (p less than 0.01) after corrections for population density. The corresponding associations with the incidence Council of robbery. burglary and theft were statistically significant with p less than 0.05. thesis results suggest that lithium has moderating effects on suicidal and violent criminal behavior at levels that may be encountered in municipal water supplies. Comparisons of drinking water lithium levels in the included Texas counties, with the incidences of arrest for possession of opium, cocaine, and their derivatives (morphine, heroin, and codeine) so produced from 1981-1986 statistically significant inverse associations, whereas no. significant or consistent associations were observed with the reported arrest Council for possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of alcohol, and drunkenness. These results suggest that lithium at low dosage levels has a generally beneficial effect on human behavior, which may be associated with the functions of lithium as a nutritionally-essential trace element. Subject to confirmation by controlled experiment with high-risk populations, increasing the human lithium intakes by supplementation, or the lithiation of drinking water is suggested as a possible means of crime, suicide, and drug-dependency reduction at the individual and community level. PMID: 1699579 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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