Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism
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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Behavioural Neurology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/545674 |
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| author | Farida El Baz Mohamed Eman Ahmed Zaky Adel Bassuoni El-Sayed Reham Mohammed Elhossieny Sally Soliman Zahra Waleed Salah Eldin Walaa Yousef Youssef Rania Abdelmgeed Khaled Azza Mohamed Youssef |
| author_facet | Farida El Baz Mohamed Eman Ahmed Zaky Adel Bassuoni El-Sayed Reham Mohammed Elhossieny Sally Soliman Zahra Waleed Salah Eldin Walaa Yousef Youssef Rania Abdelmgeed Khaled Azza Mohamed Youssef |
| author_sort | Farida El Baz Mohamed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-45e93d28585a429690fb10f34ae74825 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0953-4180 1875-8584 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioural Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-45e93d28585a429690fb10f34ae748252025-02-03T05:49:47ZengWileyBehavioural Neurology0953-41801875-85842015-01-01201510.1155/2015/545674545674Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in AutismFarida El Baz Mohamed0Eman Ahmed Zaky1Adel Bassuoni El-Sayed2Reham Mohammed Elhossieny3Sally Soliman Zahra4Waleed Salah Eldin5Walaa Yousef Youssef6Rania Abdelmgeed Khaled7Azza Mohamed Youssef8Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptPediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptNational Institute of Standards, Giza, EgyptPediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptPediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptCommunity Medicine Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptPediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptPediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptPediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EgyptBackground 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.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/545674 |
| spellingShingle | Farida El Baz Mohamed Eman Ahmed Zaky Adel Bassuoni El-Sayed Reham Mohammed Elhossieny Sally Soliman Zahra Waleed Salah Eldin Walaa Yousef Youssef Rania Abdelmgeed Khaled Azza Mohamed Youssef Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism Behavioural Neurology |
| title | Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism |
| title_full | Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism |
| title_short | Assessment of Hair Aluminum, Lead, and Mercury in a Sample of Autistic Egyptian Children: Environmental Risk Factors of Heavy Metals in Autism |
| title_sort | assessment of hair aluminum lead and mercury in a sample of autistic egyptian children environmental risk factors of heavy metals in autism |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/545674 |
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