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A Negative Association Between Lithium in Drinking Water and the Incidences of Homicides, in Greece

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between lithium levels in the public water supply and incidences of homicide in Greece. A total of 149 samples of drinking water were collected from 34 out of 52 prefectures, and data for homicides were taken from National Statistic Service of Greece (Hellenic Statistical Authority - EL.STAT). The average lithium level was 11.10 μg/l (SD = 21.16). The results indicate that there is a tendency for lower mean number of homicides in the prefectures with high levels of lithium in drinking water (R 2 = 0.054, β = −0.38, p = .004). Considering the results of our previous study, which showed an inverse association between the lithium levels in drinking water and the incidence of suicide, homicide, rape, and drug abuse, we suggest that natural lithium level intake may influence impulsiveness, a factor that mediate to the manifestation of both suicidality and aggressiveness.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the following:

• SPECIFAR - ACTAVIS PHARMACEUTICALS, for the collection of water samples.

• Center of Biological Research of Armed Forces, 414 Hospital of Athens, for the analysis of water samples.

• National Statistic Service of Greece (Hellenic Statistical Authority - EL.STAT), for its contribution in providing the database regarding homicides in Greece during 2007–2011 at the prefecture level.

• Tsouvelas George who is supported by a grant from “Alexander S. Onassis” Public Benefit Foundation for doctoral studies.

• Nissiannakis Paul, Chemist, MSc, Center of Biological Research of Armed Forces, 414 Military Hospital of Athens.

• Giakalou Vera-Varvara, Molecular Neuroscientist, as the corresponding author for bibliography research (Medline, PubMed literature search) regarding the investigation on the role of lithium and for her contribution of rewriting the manuscript according to the Editor’s guidance and instructions according to BTER for submission criteria.

• Lavdas, Alexandros A, MSc, PhD, Neuroscientist, Senior Researcher at EURAC, Italy, for bibliography research and his recommendations.

Conflict of Interest

The authors do not have financial or nonfinancial competing interests in publishing this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatric Department, 414 Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Orestis Giotakos

  2. Department of Psychology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    George Tsouvelas

  3. Center of Biological Research of Armed Forces, Athens, Greece

    Paul Nisianakis

  4. Medical Department, Molecular Neuroscientist, Specifar-Actavis Pharmaceuticals, Athens, Greece

    Vera Giakalou

  5. EURAC Research, Bozen, Italy

    Alexandros Lavdas

  6. Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Charalampos Tsiamitas

  7. Pharmacovigilance Department - PLRP, Specifar-Actavis Pharmaceuticals, Athens, Greece

    Katsaris Panagiotis

  8. Department of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Vasilis Kontaxakis

Authors
  1. Orestis Giotakos
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  2. George Tsouvelas
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  3. Paul Nisianakis
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  4. Vera Giakalou
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  5. Alexandros Lavdas
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  6. Charalampos Tsiamitas
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  7. Katsaris Panagiotis
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  8. Vasilis Kontaxakis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vera Giakalou.

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Giotakos, O., Tsouvelas, G., Nisianakis, P. et al. A Negative Association Between Lithium in Drinking Water and the Incidences of Homicides, in Greece. Biol Trace Elem Res 164, 165–168 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0210-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0210-6

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