Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Psychiatry and Behavioral Science Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2022 Aug;29(38):57287-57295. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-19933-1. Epub 2022 Mar 29.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a type of neurodevelopmental disorder characterized mainly by qualitative deficiencies in social communication skills, accompanied by repetitive and restricted behavior patterns. This study was conducted to investigate the associations between the risk of ASD development in children and exposure to trace elements (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn)). Two groups of children, including 44 ASD and 35 typically developing (TD) children, were selected, and their fasting urine samples were obtained. The concentration levels of trace elements were assayed using ICP-MS. The results showed that as compared to the TD group, the concentration levels of As (p = 0.002) and Pb (p < 0.001) and also Cr (p < 0.001), Cu (p = 0.001), and Ni (p < 0.001) were significantly higher among ASD children. In terms of gender, boys with ASD showed elevated levels of Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb, whereas the urine levels of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb were markedly higher among girls when compared to the non-ASD children. Under the logistic regression model, the risk difference for As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn remained significant when adjustment was applied for age and gender confounders.
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种神经发育障碍，主要表现为社交沟通技能的定性缺陷，伴有重复和受限的行为模式。本研究旨在探讨儿童自闭症发展风险与微量元素（砷（As）、镉（Cd）、铬（Cr）、钴（Co）、铜（Cu）、铅（Pb）、镍（Ni）和锌（Zn））暴露之间的关系。选择了两组儿童，包括 44 名自闭症儿童和 35 名典型发育（TD）儿童，采集他们的空腹尿液样本。使用 ICP-MS 测定微量元素的浓度水平。结果表明，与 TD 组相比，自闭症儿童的 As（p = 0.002）和 Pb（p < 0.001）浓度水平以及 Cr（p < 0.001）、Cu（p = 0.001）和 Ni（p < 0.001）浓度水平显著升高。就性别而言，与非自闭症儿童相比，自闭症男孩的 Cr、Cu、Ni 和 Pb 水平升高，而女孩的 As、Cr、Cu、Ni 和 Pb 尿液水平明显升高。在逻辑回归模型中，当调整年龄和性别混杂因素时，As、Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb 和 Zn 的风险差异仍然显著。
