TITLE:
Environmental Exposure to Lead, Vanadium, Copper and Selenium: Possible Implications in the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorders
AUTHORS:
A. O. Akinade, I. O. Omotosho, I. A. Lagunju, M. A. Yakubu
KEYWORDS:
Toxic and Essential Metals, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Children, Aetiopathogenesis
JOURNAL NAME:
Neuroscience and Medicine,
Vol.10 No.3,
September
23,
2019
ABSTRACT: Human exposure to toxic metals is on the increase especially in the developing world; this is compounded by the almost unavoidable application of the metals domestically and industrially and their implication in several genetic defects, aging and some chronic illnesses including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This study investigated the concentration of toxic metals (Pb and V) and micro-essential elements (Cu and Se) in children with ASD and controls in Nigeria towards establishing their possible associations with the aetiopathogenesis of ASD. Eight children clinically diagnosed by Paediatric Neurologist and Child Psychiatrist for ASD using DMS-IV and fifteen apparently healthy children (age range 2 - 12 years) were recruited as cases and controls respectively. Plasma levels of Pb, V, Cu and Se were analyzed using Induction ICP-MS. Results were analyzed using students t-test. The mean plasma lead and vanadium levels were (7.92 ± 1.30 μg/dl; 1.07 ± 0.22 μg/dl) and (6.83 ± 0.72 μg/dl; 2.59 ± 0.48 μg/dl) in children with ASD and in controls respectively. The result showed that blood lead level in ASD was slightly increased but not significant when compared with control (p