Journal of Child Neurology · 2004 · 111 citations · 11 references
PharmacyEnvironmental SciencesToxicologyAutism Spectrum DisordersEnvironmental HealthEnvironmental ToxicologyEnvironmental Heavy Metal ExposureHeavy Metal NeurotoxicityMercury PoisoningMercury ToxicologyMetal ToxicityNeurodevelopmental DisordersChildhood Mercury ExposureCohort Study InvestigationControl Group DesignEnvironmental Mercury ContaminationEnvironmental Mercury ExposureMatched Control GroupMercury Exposure AssessmentToxicity Of Mercury Exposure
Although mercury has been proven to be a neurotoxicant, there is a lack of data to evaluate the causal relationship between mercury and autism. We aim to see if there is increased mercury exposure in children with autistic spectrum disorder. We performed a cross-sectional cohort study over a 5-month period in 2000 to compare the hair and blood mercury levels of children with autistic spectrum disorder (n = 82; mean age 7.2 years) and a control group of normal children (n = 55; mean age 7.8 years). There was no difference in the mean mercury levels. The mean blood mercury levels of the autistic and control groups were 19.53 and 17.68 nmol/L, respectively (P = .15), and the mean hair mercury levels of the autistic and control groups were 2.26 and 2.07 ppm, respectively (P = .79). Thus, the results from our cohort study with similar environmental mercury exposure indicate that there is no causal relationship between mercury as an environmental neurotoxin and autism.
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Practice parameter: Screening and diagnosis of autism
Pauline A. Filipek, Pasquale Accardo, Stephen Ashwal et al. · Neurology · 2000 · 1.1K citations · Full text
Effects of Prenatal and Postnatal Methylmercury Exposure From Fish Consumption on Neurodevelopment
Philip W. Davidson, Gary J. Myers, C. Cox et al. · JAMA · 1998 · 674 citations