Autism develops in 62 out of 10 000 children and is a syndrome of neurotic disorders characterized by aberrations in essential human behaviors such as social interactions, communication and subjects show repetitive and stereotypic behavior. It is assumed that this systemic disorder with multiple etiology has both genetic and environmental/lifestyle factors as causative agents. Among the environmental factors that have received significant attention related to ASD are toxic metals which include Cd, Pb, Hg, Mn, Al and As. This work examines the level of Trace Elements (Copper, Zinc and Iron) and Toxic Elements (Cadmium and Arsenic) in the Hair of Children with Autism from autistic subjects of Kerala, India. Forty one children from various special schools across Kerala diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition, DSM-V were recruited for this study with the voluntary consent from parents. The severity of autism was assessed using childhood autism rate scale. Age-and sex-matched healthy normal children were used as control subjects. The mean hair metal concentration for iron was 65.87 ± 6.969 in normal children whereas in the autistic group a substantial decrease was observed with a mean concentration of 31.20 ±6.969 (P=0.003). The mean concentration was 134.78 ± 35.71 for zinc in normal children whereas in autistic group the level was significantly low with a mean concentration of 204.55 ± 183.33 (P=0.029). A mean concentration of 5.33 ± .622 and 8.27 ± 2.790 was observed of copper in normal and autistic children respectively which did not show any significance, even though the level of copper was slightly higher in autistic children. Elevated levels of Arsenic and Cadmium with mean concentration of .062619 ± .683729 in normal and .345808 ± .7398025 in autistic for Arsenic and .574429±.8134511 and 1.384038 ± .7398205 for Cadmium were also observed in normal and autistic respectively. Our study highlights that the aberration in mineral metals may affect the autistic severity equally or in a worse way than speculated from aberrant heavy metal toxicity as the lack of minerals can substantially cause metabolic disorders leading to the symptoms observed in autism.

Analysis of trace elements and toxic elements in hair of autistic children in India

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.