Evaluation on Mercury, Cadmium, and Lead in the Hair Sample as an Indicator of Autism for Children

Abstract

Adequate knowledge is required to determine the toxicity degree of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury in the human body causing adverse effects and chronic diseases like autism for kids. Microwave-assisted digestion, hair sampling using HNO3 solution combined with H2O2 hydrogen peroxide and the measurement by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) were used for the element determination. A study conducted on hair samples of 40 individuals ranging from 5 years - to 17 years (school age) living in Malang in 2017 aimed to determine the level of heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Hg) across autism and normal children technique (ICP-MS). The results of replicate analysis shows the following mean concentrations (μg/g), Autsim cd 4.34 ± 0.06, Pb 44.75 ± 0.56 Hg 1.70 ± 0.078 and Normal Cd 2.63 ± 0.04, Pb 48.49 ± 0.80 Hg, 1.54 ± 0.13, indicating a higher concentration compared to the standard certified value GBW07601. The higher concentration of all the heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Hg) occurred in both normal children and children with autism disease. The comparison noted that cadmium percentage was higher than elemental mercury in children with autism and vice versa in normal children. Yet, the concentration of both elements was higher in children with autism. Nonetheless, lead was found higher in normal children. It is also supported by several studies confirming the relationship between organic mercury and nervous system including autism disease. On the other hand, in this study, we found no statistically significant differences in the concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Hg,) between the normal children and children with autism disease.