Concentration of zinc and lead in the blood of patients with autism and their relationship with disease accurrence in Thi-Qar province, south of Iraq

الملخص EN

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of heavy elements (zinc and lead) in blood of autistic patients to demonstrate the disease's association with these elements.

This study was conducted on (60) autistic patients, aged (1-15) years, in the city of Al-Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar province, southern Iraq.

Patient and sample data were collected during 2019, from the Autism Center in the Health Department in Dhi Qar Governorate, the official center in the city and another community center.

The results showed that the heavy elements examined can be one of the causes of the disease, which increases the appearance of symptoms of the disease.

The concentrations of all these elements were high compared to control and were at the next level (zinc 106 μg/dL, lead 13.2 μg/dL).

As well as the incidence of sex (5: 1) males: females, and may be the cause of the high rate of infection in males compared to females might be due to sex–affected or from environmental impacts and hormonal effects.