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Heavy Metal in Children’s Tooth Enamel: Related to Autism and Disruptive Behaviors?

Abstract  

To examine possible links between neurotoxicant exposure and neuropsychological disorders and child behavior, relative concentrations
of lead, mercury, and manganese were examined in prenatal and postnatal enamel regions of deciduous teeth from children with
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), high levels of disruptive behavior (HDB), and typically developing (TD) children. Using
laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, we found no significant differences in levels of these neurotoxicants
for children with ASDs compared with TD children, but there was marginal significance indicating that children with ASDs have
lower manganese levels. No significant differences emerged between children with HDB and TD children. The current findings
challenge the notion that perinatal heavy metal exposure is a major contributor to the development of ASDs and HDB.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Pages 1-8
  • DOI 10.1007/s10803-011-1318-6
  • Authors
    • Maryam M. Abdullah, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
    • Agnes R. Ly, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
    • Wendy A. Goldberg, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
    • K. Alison Clarke-Stewart, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
    • John V. Dudgeon, Department of Anthropology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA
    • Christopher G. Mull, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
    • Tony J. Chan, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, Social Ecology I, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    • Erin E. Kent, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, Social Ecology I, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
    • Andrew Z. Mason, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA
    • Jonathon E. Ericson, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, Social Ecology I, Irvine, CA 92697, USA