Environmental Exposure to Heavy Metals in Relation to Psychiatric Disorders in Children
Rania Mohamed Yousri Mohamed;
Abstract
Background: Heavy metals are, unfortunately, present in our air, water, soil, and food supply as a byproduct of our industrialized society. In fact, contamination is so pervasive in our environment that it is no longer a question of whether one has been exposed to toxins, but rather the level of exposure .Exposure to Lead and Manganese resulting in elevated levels in children is becoming increasingly highlighted in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism.
Objective: The aim of this work is to determine the level of blood Lead and blood Manganese in patients with ADHD and Autism and correlation of these levels to different environmental risk factors.
Subjects and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 100 children aged 2-13 years, 70 children previously diagnosed with psychiatric disorders (37 ADHD and 33Autism) coming for follow up in the Child Psychiatry departments of Ain Shams University and 30 children comparable for age, sex, education and socioeconomic levels as control. The 100 children were divided into 3 groups according to their diagnosis. Full medical history taking and examination was performed along with an interview questionnaire including personal, environmental, medical, psychiatric and social factors completed by parents.
Venous blood samples were taken from the studied population to determine blood Lead and Manganese using graphite furnace atomic absorption. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social
iv
Sciences) version 12 (SPSS, 2004).Chi-square test was performed to compare individual characteristics. Results were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (SD) and compare using t test. Significant values of P at less than 0.05 and 0.01 were considered highly significant.
Results: Statistical analysis revealed a higher percentage of high blood Lead levels applying past (10 μg/dl) and very recent (≥5 μg/dl) cut of values in group I and group II compared to controls and the difference is statistically significant ( P=0.01 and P=0.003respectively).
Statistical analysis also revealed a higher percentage of high blood Manganese level (≥ 15 µg/l) in group I and group II compared to controls and the difference is highly significant statistically (P=0.009)
Statistical analysis revealed a significant elevated mean blood Lead level (ADHD 8.7 µg/dl ± 3.6 SD, Autism 7.4 µg/dl ± 4.2 SD, Control 5.5 µg/dl ± 2.0 SD, P=0.002), and mean blood Manganese level (ADHD 13.3 µg/l ± 6.6 SD, Autism 10.7µg/l ± 6.3 SD, Control 8.8µg/l ± 2.8 SD, P=0.007), in children with ADHD and Autism versus the control group (P<0.01).
The type of feeding (during infancy) of 62 children from the three groups was correlated to their blood Manganese levels and results showed that there is a higher percentage of blood Manganese levels amongst patients and control who have been formula feed compared to subjects who have been breastfeed and the difference is statistically significant (P=0.05).
V
Results revealed a higher percentage of high blood Manganese levels among subjects with smoking family member compared to subjects with no smoking family member and the difference is statistically significant.
Conclusion: Statistically significant higher blood level of Lead and Manganese was found in patients with ADHD and Autism versus control. Manganese levels should be considered in formula fed children. Environmental pollution is an important factor when handling psychiatric illnesses.
Key words: Blood Lead level Blood manganese level ADHD
Autism
Objective: The aim of this work is to determine the level of blood Lead and blood Manganese in patients with ADHD and Autism and correlation of these levels to different environmental risk factors.
Subjects and Methods: This case-control study was performed on 100 children aged 2-13 years, 70 children previously diagnosed with psychiatric disorders (37 ADHD and 33Autism) coming for follow up in the Child Psychiatry departments of Ain Shams University and 30 children comparable for age, sex, education and socioeconomic levels as control. The 100 children were divided into 3 groups according to their diagnosis. Full medical history taking and examination was performed along with an interview questionnaire including personal, environmental, medical, psychiatric and social factors completed by parents.
Venous blood samples were taken from the studied population to determine blood Lead and Manganese using graphite furnace atomic absorption. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social
iv
Sciences) version 12 (SPSS, 2004).Chi-square test was performed to compare individual characteristics. Results were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (SD) and compare using t test. Significant values of P at less than 0.05 and 0.01 were considered highly significant.
Results: Statistical analysis revealed a higher percentage of high blood Lead levels applying past (10 μg/dl) and very recent (≥5 μg/dl) cut of values in group I and group II compared to controls and the difference is statistically significant ( P=0.01 and P=0.003respectively).
Statistical analysis also revealed a higher percentage of high blood Manganese level (≥ 15 µg/l) in group I and group II compared to controls and the difference is highly significant statistically (P=0.009)
Statistical analysis revealed a significant elevated mean blood Lead level (ADHD 8.7 µg/dl ± 3.6 SD, Autism 7.4 µg/dl ± 4.2 SD, Control 5.5 µg/dl ± 2.0 SD, P=0.002), and mean blood Manganese level (ADHD 13.3 µg/l ± 6.6 SD, Autism 10.7µg/l ± 6.3 SD, Control 8.8µg/l ± 2.8 SD, P=0.007), in children with ADHD and Autism versus the control group (P<0.01).
The type of feeding (during infancy) of 62 children from the three groups was correlated to their blood Manganese levels and results showed that there is a higher percentage of blood Manganese levels amongst patients and control who have been formula feed compared to subjects who have been breastfeed and the difference is statistically significant (P=0.05).
V
Results revealed a higher percentage of high blood Manganese levels among subjects with smoking family member compared to subjects with no smoking family member and the difference is statistically significant.
Conclusion: Statistically significant higher blood level of Lead and Manganese was found in patients with ADHD and Autism versus control. Manganese levels should be considered in formula fed children. Environmental pollution is an important factor when handling psychiatric illnesses.
Key words: Blood Lead level Blood manganese level ADHD
Autism
Other data
| Title | Environmental Exposure to Heavy Metals in Relation to Psychiatric Disorders in Children | Other Titles | علاقة التعرض البيئى للفلزات الثقيلة ببعض الإضطرابات النفسية فى الأطفال | Authors | Rania Mohamed Yousri Mohamed | Issue Date | 2015 |
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