Prenatal mercury exposure and features of autism: a prospective population study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mercury (Hg) has been suspected of causing autism in the past, especially a suspected link with vaccinations containing thiomersal, but a review of the literature shows that has been largely repudiated. Of more significant burden is the total quantity of Hg in the environment. Here, we have used the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to test whether prenatal exposure from total maternal blood Hg in the first half of pregnancy is associated with the risk of autism or of extreme levels of autistic traits. This is the largest longitudinal study to date to have tested this hypothesis and the only one to have considered early pregnancy.

Methods

We have used three strategies: (1) direct comparison of 45 pregnancies resulting in children with diagno

SUBMITTER: Golding J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5914043 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature