Hair mercury measurement in Egyptian autistic children

El-Baz, Farida; Elhossiny, Reham M.; El-Sayed, Adel Bassuoni; Gaber, Ghada M.

doi:10.1016/j.ejmhg.2010.10.007

Cited by 27 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…As regards Mercury (Hg). In the current study, the mean mercury level of the autistic patients (0.39 ± 0.37 mg/kg) was significantly higher than that of the controls (0.25 ± 0.16 mg/kg) with P = 0.023; this was consistent with other studies assessing the increased mercury body burden/toxicity in subjects diagnosed with the autism spectrum [ 4 , 14 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism

Mohamed

Zaky

El-Sayed

et al. 2015

Behavioural Neurology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and Aims. The etiological factors involved in the etiology of autism remain elusive and controversial, but both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated. The aim of this study was to assess the levels and possible environmental risk factors and sources of exposure to mercury, lead, and aluminum in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as compared to their matched controls. Methods. One hundred ASD children were studied in comparison to 100 controls. All participants were subjected to clinical evaluation and measurement of mercury, lead, and aluminum through hair analysis which reflects past exposure. Results. The mean Levels of mercury, lead, and aluminum in hair of the autistic patients were significantly higher than controls. Mercury, lead, and aluminum levels were positively correlated with maternal fish consumptions, living nearby gasoline stations, and the usage of aluminum pans, respectively. Conclusion. Levels of mercury, lead, and aluminum in the hair of autistic children are higher than controls. Environmental exposure to these toxic heavy metals, at key times in development, may play a causal role in autism.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism

Mohamed

Zaky

El-Sayed

et al. 2015

Behavioural Neurology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Finally, the present study also did not allow us to determine the sources of Hg significantly contributing to hair Hg concentrations observed. Interestingly, investigators in a previous small study published on hair Hg concentrations in children diagnosed with an ASD, with similar demographics to the participants examined in the present study, observed that Hg exposure from vaccines containing Thimerosal significantly contributed to hair Hg concentrations, where as a mild non-significant increases of mean hair Hg concentrations were observed in subjects diagnosed with an ASD whose mothers had increasing numbers of dental amalgams during pregnancy or had increasing fish consumption during pregnancy [33]. As a result, future studies should evaluate the relationship between different sources of Hg exposure and hair Hg concentrations in subjects diagnosed with an ASD.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 55%

Hair Toxic Metal Concentrations and Autism Spectrum Disorder Severity in Young Children

Geier¹,

Kern

King³

et al. 2012

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previous studies have found a higher body-burden of toxic metals, particularly mercury (Hg), among subjects diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in comparison to neurotypical controls. Moreover, Hg body-burden was associated with ASD severity. This cross-sectional study examined the potential correlation between hair toxic metal concentrations and ASD severity in a prospective cohort of participants diagnosed with moderate to severe ASD. The Institutional Review Board at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (Dallas, TX) approved the present study. Qualifying study participants (n = 18) were evaluated for ASD severity using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and quantitatively for arsenic, Hg, cadmium, lead, chromium, cobalt, nickel, aluminum, tin, uranium, and manganese using hair toxic element testing by Doctor’s Data (a CLIA-approved laboratory). CARS scoring and hair toxic element testing were blinded to one another. Increasing hair Hg concentrations significantly correlated with increased ASD severity. In contrast, no significant correlations were observed between any other of the hair toxic metals examined and ASD severity. This study helps to provide additional mechanistic support for Hg in the etiology of ASD severity, and is supported by an increasing number of recent critical reviews that provide biological plausibility for the role of Hg exposure in the pathogenesis of ASDs.

show abstract

“…For example, investigators, El-baz et al [104], who examined hair Hg levels in children diagnosed with an ASD whose ages ranged from 2 to 13 years (mean age 6.75, SD ± 3.26 years) and controls whose ages ranged from 2 to 11 years (mean age 5.53, SD ± 2.75 years), observed that Hg exposure from vaccines containing TM significantly contributed to hair Hg levels, whereas only mild non-significant increases of mean hair Hg levels were observed in subjects diagnosed with an ASD whose mothers had increasing numbers of dental amalgams during pregnancy or had increasing fish consumption during pregnancy [77]. In addition, the hair Hg levels of patients diagnosed with an ASD were higher in those patients with the lowest mentality and those with the most severe degree of autism according to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale.…”

Section: Research Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Thimerosal Exposure and the Role of Sulfation Chemistry and Thiol Availability in Autism

Kern

Haley

Geier

et al. 2013

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder in which a significant number of the children experience a developmental regression characterized by a loss of previously acquired skills and abilities. Typically reported are losses of verbal, nonverbal, and social abilities. Several recent studies suggest that children diagnosed with an ASD have abnormal sulfation chemistry, limited thiol availability, and decreased glutathione (GSH) reserve capacity, resulting in a compromised oxidation/reduction (redox) and detoxification capacity. Research indicates that the availability of thiols, particularly GSH, can influence the effects of thimerosal (TM) and other mercury (Hg) compounds. TM is an organomercurial compound (49.55% Hg by weight) that has been, and continues to be, used as a preservative in many childhood vaccines, particularly in developing countries. Thiol-modulating mechanisms affecting the cytotoxicity of TM have been identified. Importantly, the emergence of ASD symptoms post-6 months of age temporally follows the administration of many childhood vaccines. The purpose of the present critical review is provide mechanistic insight regarding how limited thiol availability, abnormal sulfation chemistry, and decreased GSH reserve capacity in children with an ASD could make them more susceptible to the toxic effects of TM routinely administered as part of mandated childhood immunization schedules.

show abstract

Hair mercury measurement in Egyptian autistic children

Cited by 27 publications

References 32 publications

Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism

Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism

Hair Toxic Metal Concentrations and Autism Spectrum Disorder Severity in Young Children

Thimerosal Exposure and the Role of Sulfation Chemistry and Thiol Availability in Autism

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About