Publication: Blood Heavy Metal Levels in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross- Sectional Study From Northern India
| creativeworkseries.issn | ISSN 1990-7974 eISSN 1990-7982 | |
| dc.contributor.author | Sehgal, Rachna | |
| dc.contributor.author | Gulati, Sheffali | |
| dc.contributor.author | Gupta, Yogendra Kumar | |
| dc.contributor.author | Sapra, Savita | |
| dc.contributor.author | Mehta, Manju | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pandey, Ravindra Mohan | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kumar, Gajendra | |
| dc.contributor.author | Srivastava, Amita | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kabra, Madhulika | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-01-05T08:11:14Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-01-05T08:11:14Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019 | |
| dc.description | Rachna Sehgal Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, India Sheffali Gulati All India institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Yogendra Kumar Gupta All India institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Savita Sapra All India institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Manju Mehta All India institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Ravindra Mohan Pandey All India institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Gajendra Kumar All India institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Amita Srivastava All India institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Madhulika Kabra All India institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India | |
| dc.description.abstract | Abstract: Introduction: The role of heavy metals in the etio-pathogenesis of ASD is controversial. Paucity of studies from Indian subcontinent with different sociocultural and environmental background prompted the present study. Methods: Sixty children aged three to 12 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 60 age matched controls were enrolled. Detailed history including possible exposure history to various heavy metals was taken. Severity of ASD was assessed using Childhood Autism Rating Scale 2. Blood level of metals was estimated by Inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Results: Mean blood mercury levels in the two groups of ASD and controls was comparable (p = 0.28). Median blood cadmium and arsenic levels were higher in controls possibly due to higher ground water use and insecticide exposure. (7/60 versus 17/60, p = 0.04) and (2/60 versus 7/60, p = 0.08) while mean blood zinc level was lower in controls. Lead was significantly higher in greater proportion of children with ASD. (11/60 vs 1/60, p = 0.002). Children with ASD had significantly higher pica (26/60 versus 10/60, p = 0.001) and higher median number of days of antibiotics during infancy (24.5 (0-120) versus 15 (0-60), p = 0.004). None of the heavy metal tested had significant correlation with the severity of ASD. Conclusions: Mean blood mercury, lead, zinc, arsenic and cadmium did not show significant association with diagnosis of ASD. High levels of toxic metals in both children with ASD and controls points towards an urgent need to contain environmental pollution by heavy metals. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14572/4050 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Nepal Paediatric Society (JNPS) | |
| dc.subject | ASD | |
| dc.subject | heavy metals | |
| dc.subject | ICP-AES | |
| dc.subject | lead | |
| dc.subject | mercury | |
| dc.title | Blood Heavy Metal Levels in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross- Sectional Study From Northern India | |
| dc.type | Article | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| local.article.type | Original Article | |
| oaire.citation.endPage | 14 | |
| oaire.citation.startPage | 6 | |
| relation.isJournalIssueOfPublication | 397ebed9-779e-4ea6-818f-6ea25ed3b72a | |
| relation.isJournalIssueOfPublication.latestForDiscovery | 397ebed9-779e-4ea6-818f-6ea25ed3b72a | |
| relation.isJournalOfPublication | 6f9be05c-05a9-4a3e-a5b5-a19a15ab042c |