Pyrethroid Pesticide Metabolite in Urine and Microelements in Hair of Children Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Preliminary Investigation

Valentina F. Domingues, Cinzia Nasuti, Marco Piangerelli, Luísa Correia-Sá, Alessandro Ghezzo, Marina Marini, Provvidenza M. Abruzzo, Paola Visconti, Marcello Giustozzi, Gerardo Rossi and Rosita Gabbianelli
Additional contact information
Valentina F. Domingues: REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Cinzia Nasuti: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Marco Piangerelli: Computer Science Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Luísa Correia-Sá: REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Alessandro Ghezzo: DIMES, School of Medicine, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy and Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, 20162 Milan, Italy
Marina Marini: DIMES, School of Medicine, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy and Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, 20162 Milan, Italy
Provvidenza M. Abruzzo: DIMES, School of Medicine, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy and Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, 20162 Milan, Italy
Paola Visconti: IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences-Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Marcello Giustozzi: Laboratorio NovEra srl, 62012 Civitanova Marche, Italy
Gerardo Rossi: Laboratorio NovEra srl, 62012 Civitanova Marche, Italy
Rosita Gabbianelli: School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: The number of children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is dramatically increasing as well as the studies aimed at understanding the risk factors associated with the development of ASD. Since the etiology of ASD is partly genetic and partly environmental, factors ( i.e. , heavy metals, pesticides) as well as lifestyle seem to have a key role in the development of the disease. ASD and Control (CTR) children, aged 5–12 years, were compared. Gas chromatography coupled with trap mass detector was used to measure the level of 3-PBA, the main pyrethroid metabolite in urine in a group of ASD patients, while optical emission spectrometry analysis was employed to estimate the level of metals and microelements in hair in a different group of ASD children. The presence of 3-PBA in urine seems to be independent of age in ASD children, while a positive correlation between 3-PBA and age was observed in the control group of the same age range. Urine concentration of 3-BPA in ASD children had higher values than in the control group, which were marginally significant ( p = 0.054). Mg results were significantly decreased in ASD with respect to controls, while V, S, Zn, and Ca/Mg were marginally increased, without reaching statistical significance. Results of Principal Component (PC) analysis of metals and microelements in hair were not associated with either age or health status. In conclusion, 3-PBA in urine and Mg in hair were changed in ASD children relative to control ones.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder; urine metabolites; 3-phenoxybenzoic acid; hair metals and microelements (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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