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Blood Mercury Concentrations in CHARGE Study Children with and without Autism
Irva Hertz-Picciotto, Peter G. Green, Lora Delwiche, Robin Hansen, Cheryl Walker, and Isaac N. Pessah
Environmental Health Perspectives, Oct.19,2009.
Conclusion :-
Children aged 2-5 years with autism or other ASD had similar blood Hg concentrations to TD controls
after adjustment for a variety of home and medical Hg sources. This finding was maintained when
analysis was restricted to non-fish eaters. Blood Hg levels in both controls and cases were very close
to those of a nationally representative sample of 1-5 year olds in the U.S..
The primary limitation in this study is the lack of longitudinal measurements that could address
toxicokinetics. Even with a one-time measurement, however, this case-control study still represents
the most rigorous examination to date of differences in circulating blood Hg associated with autism.
Numerous strengths distinguish this from previous reports, such as: confirmation of diagnoses;
collection of detailed data on multiple dietary, home, and medical sources of Hg; control of numerous
confounders; and statistical adjustment for self-selection towards higher educated parents, especially in
population-based controls. These aspects of the design, data collection and analysis support validity
and generalizability of the results.
This report did not address the role of prenatal or early life Hg exposures in etiology of autism.
Analysis of specimens that pre-date the autism diagnosis would be required to answer that question