Happy Water
Levels of lithium in the municipal water of Oita prefecture in Japan have been linked to lower rates of suicide, according to a new study.
"Researchers examined levels of lithium in drinking water and suicide rates in the prefecture of Oita, which has a population of more than one million.
The suicide rate was significantly lower in those areas with the highest levels of the element, they wrote in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
High doses of lithium are already used to treat serious mood disorders.
But the team from the universities of Oita and Hiroshima found that even relatively low levels appeared to have a positive impact of suicide rates.
Levels ranged from 0.7 to 59 micrograms per litre. The researchers speculated that while these levels were low, there may be a cumulative protective effect on the brain from years of drinking this tap water."
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this page
- Why Public Transit Doesn't Work In The U.S. - Aug 10, 2009
- Unearthing Buried Waterways - Jul 18, 2009
- Japan's Stimulus Package Lowers Highway Tolls To Stimulate Travel - May 05, 2009
- How the Road Construction Industry is Destroying Japan - Apr 25, 2009
- Japan's Bullet Trains to Top 310 MPH by 2025 - Mar 25, 2009
Contribute
TECH-320: Advanced SketchUp Webinar
Advanced SketchUp Webinar
Wednesday, December 2, 11am PST/2pm EST
Learn More:
TECH-320: Advanced SketchUp - Modeling Buildings
- Competing Technologies Within Hydrogen Car Community
- Promise Takes Root in Dallas' Newest Park
- Friday Funny: Chicken Supports Chicken Ordinance
- Class Divide in NY Inclusive Buildings
- Alternative Fuels Won't Change the Expense of Driving
- Not Just About Jobs
- Suburbs See Rise in Kids in Poverty
- Judge Rules Army Corps Responsible for New Orleans Flooding
- BRT PDQ in DF
- Investing in Infrastructure
Gain the practical knowledge needed to create TODs in your community with our affordable, self-paced, online course.
Learn more »
Student Writing Competition - Deadline Extended!
APA Urban Design and Preservation Division
Nov 20, 2009
NEW NCI 2009 Best Practices Report
National Charrette Institute
Nov 19, 2009
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) Request for Proposals
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH)
Nov 19, 2009
Build your expertise in sustainable planning, public participation, urban design or real estate
Rutgers University -- Professional Development Institute
Nov 18, 2009
www.flickr.com
|
Suicide Prevention Japan
Yes the pros and cons still need to be weighed carefully. It is important to note that this study was done on naturally existing levels of lithium in the water suppoly in the Oita area of Japan. Some bloggers on other websites have misunderstood this as being some indication lithium is being added to the water supply in Japan, an assertion which is groundless in fact.
While the BBC report is well written there is also a good report on this from the Telegraph published on 30th April:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/5251365/Natural-levels-of-l...
For the orginal article in the British Journal of Psychiatry see:
http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/194/5/464