Link between autism and heavy metals?

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A very short article on the New Scientist web site (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg1 ... utism.html) makes a link between autism and heavy metals: "Autism is thought to have a number of unknown genetic and environmental causes. Richard Lathe of Pieta Research in Edinburgh, UK, says he has found one of these factors."

I have never heard that to be true. Makes me a little nervous, because I am entering a career field (geology) in which I might be working with heavy metals.

Tim

I know it's true! Austism and Heavy Metal FOREVER!! !! !! Bang your head! \m/ \m/




Edit: I know you're talking about elements. I'm just kidding in the above message.

Mom told me to turn all that Black Sabbath down. Maybe I should have listened to her instead.

I knew/suspected that.
I list three possible causes for my AS.
1. Heavy metals, in the tooth fillings from my mom.
2. Most likely, lack of oxygen at birth plus being pulled out with a suction device (=possible brain damage)
3. Early vaccinations (also high doses of heavy metals among all the other nastu stuff...)
It could be genetic as well, since my mom migh have ADHD and my dad might actually have AS as well.

My mom is NT. My dad has AS. I have AS. I have no brothers or sisters. But (the real kicker here), my grandfather has AS too. Genetic much?

I don't know about autism, but I think Aspergers is genetic...not due to heavy metals. But my dad did listen to Black Sabbath a lot when he was younger. Maybe that's what it was. Rock out!

-Ann-

There is also the possibility that it could be both for some people. A certain level of exposure to heavy metals at a certain point in development COULD have the potential to exacserbate the AS. OR in my son's case I have wondered about it causing him to be HFA instead of AS. But it is known anyway that exposure to mercury can cause autism like symptoms which is why so many autism groups jumped on the mercury connection bandwagon. That is why I don't know about these studies being so groundbreaking when they already know that mercury can be toxic. So I think there is the potential for it affecting some that way - but not like how some of the groups tout that they have "found" the cause of autism and that it is mercury poisoning. I talk to plenty of other parents who insist this is the cause and who wholeheartedly deny that there is any genentic history in their families. But that is really a personal observation of which there really is no way to confirm or deny whether they are being objective. But - between my issues and that I have two cousins with children who have autism it doesn't really apply.

I thought it was "a link between AS and heavy metal" and I was like "Yeah!! !"...