Toxicity biomarkers among US children compared to a similar cohort in France: a blinded study measuring urinary porphyrins.
The purpose of this blinded study was to evaluate potential environmental toxicity in a cohort of neurotypical children (n= 28) living in a suburban area of north-central Texas in the United States (US) with a comparable age- and gender-matched cohort of neurotypical children (n= 28) living in a suburban area of southeastern France using urinary porphyrin testing: uroporphyrin (uP), heptacarboxyporphyrin (7cxP), hexacarboxyporphyrin (6cxP), pentacarboxyporphyrin (5cxP), precoproporphyrin (prcP), and coproporphyrin (cP). Results showed significantly elevated 6cxP, prcP (an atypical, mercury-specific porphyrin), and cP levels, and increasing trends in 5cxP levels, among neurotypical children in the USA compared to children in France. Data suggest that in US neurotypical children, there is a significantly increased body-burden of mercury (Hg) compared to the body-burden of Hg in the matched neurotypical children in France. The presence of lead contributing to the higher levels of cP also needs to be considered. Further, other factors including genetics can not be completely ruled out.
Genetic Consultants of Dallas, 408 North Allen Drive, Allen, TX 75013, USA ; Autism Treatment Center, 10503 Metric Drive, Dallas, TX 75243, USA ; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Janet K
JK
Kern
CoMeD, Inc. and Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA.
David A
DA
Geier
Autism Research Institute, 4182 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116, USA.
Françoise
F
Ayzac
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Arizona State University, 7001 East Williams Field Road, Mesa, AZ 85212, USA.
James B
JB
Adams
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Texas Woman's University, 304 Administration Drive, Denton, Texas 76204, USA.
Jyutika A
JA
Mehta
Autism Spectrum Disorder Centers, LLC, 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA.
Mark R
MR
Geier
biomarkers; heavy metal; lead; mercury; porphyrins; toxicity; xenobiotic