Two new studies by researchers from Iran investigate the link between autism and mercury (and other heavy metals) by a meta-analysis of existing scientific literature.
Background:
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. Depending on the species looked at, it may stay in the human body (e.g. in the brain) for decades (see EVISA News below). Therefore, also small amounts should be avoided because they can be accumulated during life, causing cumulative adverse effects. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) affirms that young children and fetuses are particularly sensitive to harmful mercury-related effects such as “brain damage, mental retardation, incoordination, blindness, seizures and inability to speak. While the level of toxicity of mercury strongly depends on the species, all mercury species are strongly toxic.
Humans are exposed to different mercury species by several pathways: inorganic mercury is present in the environment, may be a risk factor in special working environments (e.g. chlor-alkali industry, mining) and may be released from dental amalgam. Organic mercury is present in the form of methylmercury in fish and in the form of ethylmercury as a component that makes up 50% of the vaccine preservative thimerosal. Organic mercury compounds are even more dangerous in comparison to inorganic species, since they can cross the blood-brain barrier causing numerous neurological problems. Numerous studies (see some references below) have found exposure to organic mercury being a strong risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), tic disorders, delayed language and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Despite this toxicological profile of mercury compounds, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refuses to admit that mercury in vaccines is an ASD risk factor and is discouraging researchers to continue to focus attention on the compelling relationship between mercury and ASD.
New studies:Two new studies, by Iranian teams, have validated the link between autism and mercury. A team of researchers investigated the relationship between ASD and mercury levels in hair, urine, blood, red blood cells (RBC), and brain through a meta-analysis of published studies. A key benefit of such meta-analysis, which is a quantitative systematic review, is its capability to consolidate “a large, and often complex, sometimes apparently conflicting, body of literature.”
Case-control studies evaluating concentration of total mercury in different tissues of ASD patients and comparing them to the healthy subjects (control group) were identified in several databases. A total of 44 studies were identified that met the necessary criteria for meta-analysis. The mercury level in whole blood, RBC, and brain tissue was significantly higher in ASD patients than healthy subjects, whereas mercury level in hair was significantly lower in ASD patients than healthy subjects. The mercury level in urine was not significantly different between ASD patients and healthy subjects. The authors conclude that their results of the current meta-analysis revealed that mercury is an important causal factor in the aetiology of ASD. The authors also offer an explanation by suggesting that the detoxification and excretory mechanisms are impaired in ASD patients, which lead to accumulation of mercury in the body.
The second study (published in Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry by Amene Saghazadeh and Nima Rezaei at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences) examines mercury along with other heavy metals. The included 52 observational studies were related to the metals antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, silver, and thallium in different body fluids and tissues such as whole blood, plasma, serum, red cells, hair and urine. The meta-analysis revealed that the hair concentrations of antimony and lead in ASD patients were significantly higher than those of control subjects. Also ASD patients had higher erythrocyte levels of lead and mercury. There were
significantly higher blood lead levels in ASD patients.
Both teams used a variety of techniques to mitigate the potential weaknesses of meta-analyses. These included using multiple databases, search terms and search strategies to identify relevant studies; following established guidelines to assess the quality of each study; investigating sources of and (where appropriate) adjusting for heterogeneity; analysing subgroup differences (i.e., the distinction between developed and developing countries); and screening for publication bias. The substantial overlap in the individual studies included in each meta-analysis and the comparability of the two teams’ findings offer a further degree of confidence in the results.
Unfortunately, the majority of published studies only measure total mercury, and very few have examined brain tissue. Therefore, future additional studies on mercury levels in different tissues of ASD patients should be undertaken.
The original studies
Tina Jafari, Noushin Rostampour, Aziz A. Fallah, Afshin Hesami,
The association between mercury levels and autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis, J. Trace Elements Med. Biol., 44 (2017) 289–297.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.09.002 Amene Saghazadeh, Nima Rezaei,
Systematic review and meta-analysis links autism and toxic metals and highlights the impact of country development status: Higher blood and erythrocyte levels for mercury and lead, and higher hair antimony, cadmium, lead, and mercury, Progr. Neuro-Psychopharmacol. Biol. Psych., 79/Part B (2017) 340-368.
doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.07.011 Related studies (newest first) H. Li, H. Li, Y. Li, Y. Liu, Z. Zhao,
Blood mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead in children with autism spectrum disorder, Biol. Trace Elem. Res. (2017),
doi: 10.1007/s12011-017-1002-6.
A.V. Skalny, N.V. Simashkova, T.P. Klyushnik, A.R. Grabeklis, G. Bjřrklund, M.G. Skalnaya, et al.,
Hair toxic and essential trace elements in children with autism spectrum disorder, Metab. Brain Dis., 32/1 (2017) 195–202.
doi: 10.1007/s11011-016-9899-6 A.V. Skalny, N.V. Simashkova, T.P. Klyushnik, A.R. Grabeklis, I.V. Radysh, M.G. Skalnaya, A.A. Tinkov,
Analysis of hair trace elements in children with autism spectrum disorders and communication disorders, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 177/2 (2017) 215–223. doi:
10.1007/s12011-016-0878-x A.V. Skalny, N.V. Simashkova, T.P. Klyushnik, A.R. Grabeklis, I.V. Radysh, M.G. Skalnaya, A.A. Nikoronov, A.A. Tinkov,
Assessment of serum trace elements and electrolytes in children with childhood and atypical autism, J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol., 43 (2016) 9-14.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.09.009 D.A. Geier, J.K. Kern, M.R. Geier,
Increased risk for an atypical autism diagnosis following thimerosal-containing vaccine exposure in the United States: a prospective longitudinal case control study in the vaccine safety datalink, J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol., 42 (2017) 18–24.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.03.005 D.A. Geier, J.K. Kern, K.G. Homme, M.R. Geier,
Abnormal brain connectivity spectrum disorders following thimerosal administration: a prospective longitudinal case–control assessment of medical records in the vaccine safety datalink, Dose Response, 15/1 (2017) 1–12. doi:
10.1177/1559325817690849 A. El-Ansary, G. Bjřrklund, A.A. Tinkov, A.V. Skalny, H. Al Dera,
Relationship between selenium, lead, and mercury in red blood cells of Saudi autistic children, Metab. Brain Dis., 32/4 (2017) 1073–1080.
doi: 10.1007/s11011-017-9996-1 Janet K.Kern, David A. Geier, Lisa K. Sykes, Boyd E. Haley, Mark R.Geier,
The relationship between mercury and autism: A comprehensive review and discussion, J. Trace Elements Med. Biol., 37 (2016) 8-24.
doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.06.002 E.M. Khaled, N.A. Meguid, G. Bjřrklund, A. Gouda, M.H. Bahary, A. Hashish, et al.,
Altered urinary porphyrins and mercury exposure as biomarkers for autism severity in Egyptian children with autism spectrum disorder, Metab. Brain Dis., 31/6 (2016) 1419–1426. doi:
10.1007/s11011-016-9870-6 V.F. Domingues, C. Nasuti, M. Piangerelli, L. Correia-Sá, A. Ghezzo, M. Marini, P.M. Abruzzo, P. Visconti, M. Giustozzi, G. Rossi, R. Gabbianelli,
Pyrethroid pesticide metabolite in urine and microelements in hair of children affected by autism spectrum disorders: a preliminary investigation, Int. J. Environ. Res. Pub. Health, 13/4 (2016) 388.
doi:10.3390/ijerph13040388 G.A. Mostafa, G. Bjřrklund, M.A. Urbina, L.Y. A.L-Ayadhi,
The levels of blood mercury and inflammatory-related neuropeptides in the serum are correlated in children with autism spectrum disorder, Metab. Brain Dis., 31/3 (2016) 593–599. doi:
10.1007/s11011-015-9784-8 K.N. Kim, H.J. Kwon, Y.C. Hong,
Low-level lead exposure and autistic behaviors in school-age children, Neurotoxicology, 53 (2016) 193-200.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.02.004 M. Macedoni-Lukšič, D. Gosar, G. Bjřrklund, J. Oražem, J. Kodrič, P. Lešnik-Musek,
Mirjana Zupančič, Alenka France-Štiglic, Alenka Sešek-Briški, David Neubauer, Joško Osredkar,
Levels of metals in the blood and specific porphyrins in the urine in children with autism spectrum disorders, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 163/1–2 (2015) 2–10. doi:
10.1007/s12011-014-0121-6 S.J. McKean, S.M. Bartell, R.L. Hansen, G.H. Barfod, P.G. Green, I. Hertz-Picciotto,
Prenatal mercury exposure, autism, and developmental delay, using pharmacokinetic combination of newborn blood concentrations and questionnaire data: a case control study, Environ. Health, 14 (2015) 62.
doi: 10.1186/s12940-015-0045-4 F.M. Metwally, E.R. Abdelraoof, H. Rashad, A. Hasheesh,
Toxic effect of some heavy metals in Egyptian autistic children, Int. J. Pharm. Clin. Res., 7/3 (2015) 206–211. available from:
http://impactfactor.org/PDF/IJPCR/7/IJPCR,Vol7,Issue3,Article8.pdf F.E. Mohamed, E.A. Zaky, A.B. El-Sayed, R.M. Elhossieny, S.S. Zahra, W. Salah Eldin, et al.,
Assessment of hair aluminum, lead, and mercury in a sample of autistic Egyptian children: environmental risk factors of heavy metals in autism, Behav. Neurol., 2015 (2015) 545674.
doi: 10.1155/2015/545674 G.A. Mostafa, L.Y. Al-Ayadhi,
The possible association between elevated levels of blood mercury and the increased frequency of serum anti-myelin basic protein autoantibodies in autistic children, J. Clin. Cell Immunol., 6/2 (2015) 310.
doi: 10.4172/2155-9899.1000310 Mohammad H. Rahbar, Maureen Samms-Vaughan, Aisha S. Dickerson, Katherine A. Loveland, Manouchehr Ardjomand-Hessabi, Jan Bressler, Sydonnie Shakespeare-Pellington, Megan L. Grove, Deborah A. Pearson, Eric Boerwinkle,
Blood Lead Concentrations in Jamaican Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 12 (2015) 83-105.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph120100083 M. Fuentes-Albero, C. Puig-Alcaraz, O. Cauli,
Lead excretion in spanish children with autism spectrum disorder, Brain Sci., 5/1 (2015) 58-68.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci5010058.
V.M. Yau, P.G. Green, C.P. Alaimo, C.K. Yoshida, M. Lutsky, G.C. Windham, G. Delorenzo, M. Kharrazi, J.K. Grether, L.A. Croen,
Prenatal and neonatal peripheral blood mercury levels and autism spectrum disorders, Environ. Res., 133 (2014) 294–303.
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.04.034 A. Alabdali, L. Al-Ayadhi, A. El-Ansary, A key role for an impaired detoxification mechanism in the etiology and severity of autism spectrum disorders, Behav. Brain Funct., 10/1 (2014) 14.
N.W. Hodgson, M.I. Waly, Y.M. Al-Farsi, M.M. Al-Sharbati, O. Al-Farsi, A. Ali, A. Ouhtit, T. Zang, Z.S. Zhou, R.C. Deth,
Decreased glutathione and elevated hair mercury levels are associated with nutritional deficiency-based autism in Oman, Exp. Biol. Med., 239/6 (2014) 697–706. doi:
10.1177/1535370214527900 H.A. Yassa,
Autism: A form of lead and mercury toxicity, Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol., 38/3 (2014) 1016–1024.
doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2014.10.005 K. Yoshimasu, C. Kiyohara, S. Takemura, K. Nakai,
A meta-analysis of the evidence on the impact of prenatal and early infancy exposures to mercury on autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the childhood, Neurotoxicology, 44 (2014) 121–131.
doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2014.06.007 Altaf Alabdali, Laila Al-Ayadhi and Afaf El-Ansary,
A key role for an impaired detoxification mechanism in the etiology and severity of autism spectrum disorders, Behav. Brain Funct., 10 (2014) 14.
doi: 10.1186/1744-9081-10-14 S. Sidrak, T. Yoong, S. Woolfenden,
Iron deficiency in children with global developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder, J. Paediatr. Child Health, 50/5 (2014) 356-361.
doi: 10.1111/jpc.12483 M.H. Rahbar, M. Samms-Vaughan, A.S. Dickerson, K.A. Loveland, M. Ardjomand-Hessabi, J. Bressler, S. Shakespeare-Pellington, M.L. Grove, D.A. Pearson, E. Boerwinkle,
Blood lead concentrations in Jamaican children with and without autism spectrum disorder, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 12/1 (2014) 83-105.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph120100083 M.H. Rahbar, M. Samms-Vaughan, A.S. Dickerson, K.A. Loveland, M. Ardjomand-Hessabi, J. Bressler, S. Shakespeare-Pellington, M.L. Grove, D.A. Pearson, E. Boerwinkle,
Blood manganese concentrations in Jamaican children with and without autism spectrum disorders, Environ. Health, 13 (2014) 69.
doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-13-69
J.B. Adams, T. Audhya, S. McDonough-Means, R.A. Rubin, D. Quig, E. Geis, E. Gehn, M. Loresto, J. Mitchell, S. Atwood, S. Barnhouse,
Toxicological status of children with autism vs. neurotypical children and the association with autism severity, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 151/2 (2013) 171–180. doi:
10.1007/s12011-012-9551-1 M.H. Rahbar, M. Samms-Vaughan, K.A. Loveland, M. Ardjomand-Hessabi, Z. Chen, J. Bressler, S. Shakespeare-Pellington, M.L. Grove, K. Bloom, D.A. Pearson,
Seafood consumption and blood mercury concentrations in Jamaican children with and without autism spectrum disorders, Neurotox. Res., 23/1 (2013) 22–38.
doi: 10.1007/s12640-012-9321-z M.H. Rahbar, M. Samms-Vaughan, A.S. Dickerson, K.A. Loveland, M. Ardjomand-Hessabi, J. Bressler, M.J. Lee, S. Shakespeare-Pellington, M.L. Grove, D.A. Pearson, E. Boerwinkle,
Role of fruits, grains, and seafood consumption in blood cadmium concentrations of Jamaican children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder, Res. Autism Spectrum Dis., 8/9 (2014) 1134-1145.
doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2014.06.002 Y.M. Al-Farsi, M.I. Waly, M.M. Al-Sharbati, M.A. Al-Shafaee, O.A. Al-Farsi, M.M. Al-Khaduri, I. Gupta, A. Ouhtit, S. Al-Adawi, M.F. Al-Said, R.C. Deth,
Levels of heavy metals and essential minerals in hair samples of children with autism in Oman: a case-control study, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 151/2 (2013) 181-186.
doi: 10.1007%2Fs12011-012-9553-z A. Almogren, Z. Shakoor, A. Almomen, R.M.W. Hasanato,
Levels of heavy metal and trace element among children with Autism spectrum disorders, Curr. Pediatr. Res., 17/2 (2013) 79-83. available from:
http://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/levels-of-heavy-metal-and-trace-element-among-children-with-autismspectrum-disorders.pdf H. Yasuda, Y. Yasuda, T. Tsutsui,
Estimation of autistic children by metallomics analysis, Sci Rep, 3 (2013) 1199.
doi: 10.1038/srep01199 H. Yasuda, T. Tsutsui,
Assessment of infantile mineral imbalances in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 10/11 (2013) 6027-6043. available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863885/pdf/ijerph-10-06027.pdf M. Rodríguez-Barranco, M. Lacasańa, C. Aguilar-Garduńo, J. Alguacil, F. Gil, B. González-Alzaga, A. Rojas-García,
Association of arsenic, cadmium and manganese exposure with neurodevelopment and behavioural disorders in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Sci. Total Environ., 454–455 (2013) 562-577.
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.047 M.M. Abdullah, A.R. Ly, W.A. Goldberg, K.A. Clarke-Stewart, J.V. Dudgeon, C.G. Mull, et al.,
Heavy metal in children’s tooth enamel: related to autism and disruptive behaviors? J. Autism Dev. Disord., 42/6 (2012) 929–936.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-011-1318-6
G. De Palma, S. Catalani, A. Franco, M. Brighenti, P. Apostoli,
Lack of correlation between metallic elements analyzed in hair by ICP-MS and autism, J. Autism Dev. Disord., 42/3 (2012) 342–353.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-011-1245-6 B. Wright, H. Pearce, V. Allgar, J. Miles, C. Whitton, I. Leon, J. Jardine, N. McCaffrey, R. Smith, I. Holbrook et al.,
A comparison of urinary mercury between children with autism spectrum disorders and control children, PLoS One, 7/2 (2012) e29547.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029547 A. Albizzati, L. More, D. Di candia, M. Saccani, C. Lenti,
Normal concentrations of heavy metals in autistic spectrum disorders, Minerva Pediatr., 64/1 (2012) 27–31.
D.A. Geier, J.K. Kern, P.G. King, L.K. Sykes, M.R. Geier,
Hair toxic metal concentrations and autism spectrum disorder severity in young children, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 9/12 (2012) 4486-4497.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph9124486 S. Hergüner, F.M. Kelesoglu, C. Tanidir, M. Copur,
Ferritin and iron levels in children with autistic disorder, Eur. J. Pediatr., 171/1 (2012) 143-146.
doi: 10.1007/s00431-011-1506-6 M.H. Rahbar, M. Samms-Vaughan, M. Ardjomand-Hessabi, K.A. Loveland, A.S. Dickerson, Z. Chen, J. Bressler, S. Shakespeare-Pellington, M.L. Grove, K. Bloom, J. Wirth, D.A. Pearson, E. Boerwinkle,
The role of drinking water sources, consumption of vegetables and seafood in relation to blood arsenic concentrations of Jamaican children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sci. Total Environ., 433 (2012), pp. 362-370.
doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.06.085 E. Blaurock-Busch, O.R. Amin, T. Rabah,
Heavy metals and trace elements in hair and urine of a sample of Arab children with autistic spectrum disorder, Maedica, 6/4 (2011) 247–257. available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3391939/ E. Elsheshtawy, S. Tobar, K. Sherra, S. Atallah, R. Elkasaby,
Study of some biomarkers in hair of children with autism, Middle East Curr. Psychiatry, 18/1 (2011) 6–10.
doi: 10.1097/01.XME.0000392842.64112.64
M.E. Obrenovich, R.J. Shamberger, D. Lonsdale,
Altered heavy metals and transketolase found in autistic spectrum disorder, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 144/1-3 (2011) 475–486.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-011-9146-2 M.D. Priya, A. Geetha,
Level of trace elements (copper, zinc, magnesium and selenium) and toxic elements (lead and mercury) in the hair and nail of children with autism, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 142/2 (2011) 148–158.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-010-8766-2 J.K. Kern, D.A. Geier, T. Audhya, P.G. King, L.K. Sykes, M.R. Geier,
Evidence of parallels between mercury intoxication and the brain pathology in autism, Acta Neurobiol. Exp., 72/2 (2011) 113–153. available at:
http://www.ane.pl/linkout.php?pii=7212 Afaf K. El-Ansary, Abir Ben Bacha, Layla Y. Al-Ayahdi,
Relationship between chronic lead toxicity and plasma neurotransmitters in autistic patients from Saudi Arabia, Clin. Biochem., 44/13 (2011) 1116-1120.
doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2011.06.982 H. Yasuda, K. Yoshida, Y. Yasuda, T. Tsutsui,
Infantile zinc deficiency: association with autism spectrum disorders, Sci Rep, 1 (2011) 129.
doi: 10.1038/srep00129 L. Vergani, C. Lanza, P. Rivaro, M.L. Abelmoschi, S. Genti, E. Veneselli, G. Minniti, E. Grasselli, L. Canesi, A. Voci,
Metals, metallothioneins and oxidative stress in blood of autistic children, Res. Autism Spectrum Dis., 5/1 (2011) 286-293.
doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.010 Y.
Tian, P.G. Green, B. Stamova, I. Hertz-Picciotto, I.N. Pessah, R.
Hansen, X.W. Wang, J.P. Gregg, P. Ashwood, G. Jickling, J. Van der
Water,
Correlations of gene expression with blood lead levels in children with autism compared to typically developing controls, Neurotox. Res., 19/1 (2011), 1-13.
doi: 10.1007/s12640-009-9126-x B. Stamova, P.G. Green, Y. Tian, I. Hertz-Picciotto, I.N. Pessah, R. Hansen, X. Xang, J. Teng, J.P. Gregg, P. Ashwood, J. Van de Water, F.R. Sharp,
Correlations between gene expression and mercury levels in blood of boys with and without autism, Neurotox. Res., 19/1 (2011) 31-48.
doi: 10.1007/s12640-009-9137-7 F. El-Baz, R.M. Elhossiny, A.B. Elsayed, G.M. Gaber,
Hair mercury measurement in Egyptian autistic children, Egypt J. Med. Human Genet., 11/2 (2010) 135–141.
doi: 10.1016/j.ejmhg.2010.10.007 D.A. Geier, T. Audhya, J.K. Kern, M.R. Geier,
Blood mercury levels in autism spectrum disorder: is there a threshold level? Acta Neurobiol. Exp., 70/2 (2010) 177–186. available from:
http://www.ane.pl/linkout.php?pii=7022 I. Hertz-Picciotto, P.G. Green, L. Delwiche, R. Hansen, C. Walker, I.N. Pessah,
Blood mercury concentrations in CHARGE Study children with and without autism, Environ. Health Perspect., 118 (2010) 161–166.
doi: 10.1289/ehp.0900736 M.D. Majewska, E. Urbanowicz, P. Rok-Bujko, I. Namyslowska, P. Mierzejewski,
Age-dependent lower or higher levels of hair mercury in autistic children than in healthy controls, Acta Neurobiol. Exp., 70/2 (2010) 196–208. available from:
http://www.ane.pl/linkout.php?pii=7024 Ayhan Bilgiç, Kağan Gürkan, Serhat Türkoğlu, Ömer Faruk Akça, Birim Günay Kılıç, Runa Uslu,
Iron deficiency in preschool children with autistic spectrum disorders, Res. Autism Spectrum Dis., 4/4 (2010) 639-644.
doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2009.12.008 B. Clark, B. Vandemeer, A. Simonetti, I. Buka,
Is lead a concern in Canadian autistic children ?, Paediatr. Child Health, 15/1 (2010) 17-22. available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2827318/pdf/pch15017.pdf D.A. Geier, T. Audhya, J.K. Kern, M.R. Geier,
Blood mercury levels in autism spectrum disorder: Is there a threshold level?, Acta Neurobiol. Exp. (Wars), 70/2 (2010) 177-86. available from:
http://www.ane.pl/linkout.php?pii=7022 O. Yorbik, I. Kurt, A. Hasimi, O. Ozturk,
Chromium, cadmium, and lead levels in urine of children with autism and typically developing controls, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 135/1–3 (2010) 10-15.
doi: 10.1007/s12011-009-8494-7
J.B. Adams, M. Baral, E. Geis, J. Mitchell, J. Ingram, A. Hensley, I. Zappia, S. Newmark, E. Gehn, R.A. Rubin, K. Mitchell, J. Bradstreet, J.M. El-Dahr,
The severity of autism is associated with toxic metal body burden and red blood cell glutathione levels, J. Toxicol., 2009 (2009), #532640.
doi: 10.1155/2009/532640 A. Lubkowska, W. Sobieraj,
Concentrations of magnesium, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc and copper in the hair of autistic children, Trace Elem. Electrolytes, 26/2 (2009) 72-77.
doi: 10.5414/TEP26072 J.B. Adams, J. Romdalvik, K.E. Levine, L.W. Hu,
Mercury in first-cut baby hair of children with autism versus typically-developing children, Toxicol. Environ. Chem., 90/4 (2008) 739–753.
doi: 10.1080/02772240701699294 P.G. Williams, J.H. Hersh, A. Allard, L.L. Sears,
A controlled study of mercury levels in hair samples of children with autism as compared to their typically developing siblings, Res. Autism Spectr. Disord., 2/1 (2008) 170–175.
doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2007.05.001 Myung-Ae Jung, Hyun-Seo Jang, Eun-Ju Park, Han-Woo Lee, Jeong-Hwa Choi,
Study on the Mineral and Heavy Metal Contents in the Hair of Preschool Aged Autistic Children, J. Korean Soc. Food Sci. Nutr., 37/11 ( 2008) 1422-1426.
doi : 10.3746/jkfn.2008.37.11.1422 G.A. Mostafa, T.M. Refai,
Antineuronal antibodies in autistic children: relation to blood mercury, Egypt J. Pediatr. Allergy Immunol., 5/1 (2007) 21–30. available from: h
ttps://www.ajol.info/index.php/ejpai/article/view/108862/98658
J.K. Kern, B.D. Grannemann, M.H. Trivedi, J.B. Adams,
Sulfhydryl-reactive metals in autism, J. Toxicol. Environ. Health Part A, 70/8 (2007) 715–721. doi:
10.1080/15287390601188060 J.B. Adams, J. Romdalvik, V.S. Ramanujam, M.S. Legator,
Mercury, lead, and zinc in baby teeth of children with autism versus controls, J. Toxicol. Environ. Health Part A, 70/12 (2007) 1046–1051.
doi: 10.1080/15287390601172080 M.C. Desoto, R.T. Hitlan,
Blood levels of mercury are related to diagnosis of autism: a reanalysis of an important data set, J. Child Neurol., 22/11 (2007) 1308-1311.
doi: 10.1177/0883073807307111 J.B. Adams, C.E. Holloway, F. George, D. Quig,
Analyses of toxic metals and essential minerals in the hair of Arizona children with autism and associated conditions, and their mothers, Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 110/3 (2006) 193–209.
doi: 10.1385/BTER:110:3:193 L.Y. Al-Ayadhi,
Heavy metals and trace elements in hair samples of autistic children in central Saudi Arabia, Neurosciences, 10/3 (2005) 213–218.
A. Fido, S. Al-Saad,
Toxic trace elements in the hair of children with autism, Autism, 9/3 (2005) 290–298.
doi: 10.1177/1362361305053255
P. Ip, V. Wong, M. Ho, J. Lee, W. Wong,
Mercury exposure in children with autistic spectrum disorder: case-control study, J. Child Neurol., 19/6 (2004) 431–434. doi:
10.1177/088307380401900606 J. Bradstreet, D.A. Geier, J.J. Kartzinel, J.B. Adams, M.R. Geier,
A case-control study of mercury burden in children with autistic spectrum disorders, J. Am. Phys. Surg., 8/3 (2003) 76–79. available at:
https://www.vaccinationnews.org/sites/default/files/DailyNews/2003/September/07/Bradstreet7.pdf A.S. Holmes, M.F. Blaxill, B.E. Haley,
Reduced levels of mercury in first baby haircuts of autistic children, Int. J. Toxicol., 22/4 (2003) 277–285.
doi: 10.1080/10915810305120 A. Fido, H. Dashti, S. Al-Saad,
Biological correlates of childhood autism: trace elements, Trace Elem. Electrolytes, 19/4 (2002) 205-208.
- C. Hock, G. Drasch, S. Golombowski, F. Müller-Spahn, B. Willershausen-Zönnchen, P. Schwarz, U. Hock, RR.M. Nitsch, Increased blood mercury levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease, J. Neural Transm., 105/1 (1998) 59-68. doi: 10.1007/s007020050038
M. Shannon, J.W. Graef, Lead Intoxication in Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders, J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol., 34/2 (1996) 177-181. doi: 10.3109/15563659609013767
L. Wecker, S.B. Miller, S.R. Cochran, D.L. Dugger, W.D. Johnson,
Trace element concentrations in hair from autistic children, J. Intellect. Disabil. Res., 29/1 (1985) 15–22.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.1985.tb00303.x T.F. Massaro, D.J. Raiten, C.H. Zuckerman,
Trace element concentrations and behavior: clinical utility in the assessment of developmental disabilities, Top. Early Childhood Spec. Educ., 3/2 (1983) 55-61.
doi: 10.1177/027112148300300210 T.R. Shearer, K. Larson, J. Neuschwander, B. Gedney,
Minerals in the hair and nutrient intake of autistic children, J. Autism Dev. Disord., 12/1 (1982) 25-34.
doi: 10.1007/BF01531671
Related information
Wikipedia: Thiomersal controversy U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Information about Thimerosal in Vaccines Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Frequently asked questions about Thimerosal NIAID Research on Thimerosal EVISA Link Database: Thimerosal Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Institute of Medicine. 2004.
Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Available at
http://www.nap.edu/books/030909237X/html/.
Prisonplanet.com, September 28, 2007: How Mercury Kills the Brain (set of videos) Translating
Autism: Informational blog intended to rapidly disseminate the latest
scientific findings related to the nature, causes, & treatments of
autism spectrum disorders.
Related EVISA Resources
Link Database: Toxicity of Organo-mercury compounds Link Database: Mercury exposure through the diet Link Database: Environmental cycling of methylmercury Link Database: Environmental cycling of inorganic mercury Link Database: Environmental pollution of methylmercury Link Database: Environmental pollution of inorganic mercury Link Database: Toxicity of mercury 
Related EVISA News May 25, 2017: Toxic effects of mercury persists for generations February 15, 2017: Toxicity of organomercury compounds May 5, 2014: Global policy on the use of mercury as a preservative in vaccine called discriminatory September 12, 2013: Scientists reveal how organic mercury can interfer with vision October 12, 2012: Prenatal mercury intake linked to ADHD June 19, 2012: Vaccine ingredient causes brain damage; some nutrients prevent it August 16, 2010: Methylmercury: What have we learned from Minamata Bay? July 15, 2009: New Study Finds: Thimerosal Induces Autism-like Neurotoxicity October 9, 2007: New CDC study on the effect of thimerosal exposure on neuropsychological characteristics of children is fueling the debate about the origin of autism November 16, 2006: A silent pandemic: Industrial chemicals are impairing the brain development of children worldwide
May 3, 2006:
Texas Study Relates Autism to Environmental Mercury March 24, 2006: American lawmakers initiate mercury probe for vaccines March 24, 2006: Mercury Containing Preservative Alters Immune Function April 27, 2005: New results about toxicity of thimerosal February 11, 2005: New findings about Thimerosal Neurotoxicitylast time modified: September 22, 2024
