In a recent study involving 55 autistic children ages 5 to 16 and 44 healthy children of similar ages and genders, researchers at Arizona State University (ASU) found higher levels of toxic metals in the blood and urine of children with autism. They also found that levels of toxic metals “are strongly associated” with autism severity, especially mercury and cadmium. According to Healio.com, “the researchers said the reason for the higher burden of toxic metals among children with autism may stem from increased exposure to the toxic metals, increased absorptions as a result of intestinal permeability or decreased ability to excrete the toxic metals.”
Researchers measured toxic metal levels in participants’ whole blood, red blood cells and urine. They found significantly higher levels of lead in the autistic children’s red blood cells and urine, as well as higher urinary levels of thallium, tin and tungsten. According to an article about the study in ASU’s engineering newsletter Full Circle, “lead, thallium, tin, and tungsten are toxic metals that can impair brain development and function, and also interfere with the normal functioning of other body organs and systems.”
This study builds on previous research linking environmental factors to autism. Children can be exposed to toxic metals in the womb, which, according to the ASU study, may affect the severity of autism. In a paper written about the study, researchers hypothesized “that reducing early exposure to toxic metals may help ameliorate symptoms of autism, and treatment to remove toxic metals may reduce symptoms of autism.”
While this study suggests that prenatal exposure to toxic metals may affect the severity of autism, other research suggests that certain types of exposure may actually cause the disorder. For instance, research indicates that terbutaline, an asthma drug frequently used “off-label” to stop preterm labor, may adversely affect an unborn baby’s brain development by causing overstimulation of certain brain activity, which can lead to the development of autism. Prenatal exposure to drugs like terbutaline might also leave children especially susceptible to brain damage from exposure to environmental chemicals such as pesticides. Our cerebral palsy attorneys are currently investigating autism cases involving fraternal twins whose mothers took terbutaline during pregnancy.
Sometimes birth defects are a direct result of medical malpractice rather than environmental or genetic factors. In fact, many cases of cerebral palsy result from medical mistakes that cause an infant to suffer birth trauma. Medical errors during labor or delivery can lead to serious complications like fetal oxygen deprivation, which can result in brain injury and permanent neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy. If your child may have suffered a birth injury, contact an experienced cerebral palsy lawyer today to learn about your legal rights.
