Same mercury for kids with/without autism

DAVIS, Calif., Oct. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers compared children developing typically and children with autism and found they had similar levels of mercury in their blood streams.

The researchers looked at a wide variety of sources of mercury in the participants' environments, including fish consumption, personal-care products -- such as nasal sprays or earwax removal products that may contain mercury -- and the types of vaccinations they received.

The study also examined whether children who have dental fillings made of the silver-colored mercury-based amalgam and who grind their teeth or chew gum. Children who both chew gum and have amalgams did have higher blood-mercury levels, the study found.

Of the 452 participants included in the research, 249 were diagnosed with autism, 143 were developing typically and 60 had other developmental delays, such as Down syndrome.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, found children with autism appeared to have significantly lower blood-mercury levels than typically developing children. However, children with autism tend to be picky eaters and, in this study, ate less fish.

When adjusted for their lower levels of fish consumption, the blood-mercury concentrations were roughly the same as those of children with typical development, the study said.