system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
How is this an American only phenomenon? I know there are more cars in the USA and cars were accessible to middle class longer than other countries, but they weren't using horse and buggy in Europe when there was still lead in petrol, come on.
gpt
you think its only from leaded gas?  there was a recent study released suggesting around half the US population has some level of lead poisoning.  I guarantee the old house I rent has lead paint.  I wonder about some of the old plumbing too.  And I am certain that is common.  We haven't had significant initiatives to overhaul infrastructure in a while.

And I know as a child of the 90s that around probably a sixth to a quarter of my toys were likely contaminated.  I can remember a set of sea turtle models I loved that were part of my bath time when I was pretty little.  Guess what got recalled by the education and nature company who sold them...

I would bet it is incredibly more widespread than you would imagine

EDIT: and I can't speak for the rest of the world.  I've just focused on info for my country