Researchers at California's U.C. Davis say their study shows children with autism do not metabolize mercury differently.
"Children with autism and children with typical development have the same levels of mercury in their blood after we adjusted for variable intake, variable sources like fish consumption," said Irva Hertz-Picciotto, Ph.D., UC Davis MIND Institute.
The findings are part of an overall study designed to identify autism related factors and their origins. So far, mercury is being ruled out.
"The type of damage that we know that mercury does not result in autism, it results in other issues, but not in autism," said Max Wiznitzer, M.D. - Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital
Mercury is a heavy metal known to cause adverse developmental effects when consumed in excess amounts. Fish being a major source, but doctors say if eaten in moderation, fish is an important part of a healthy diet.
The amount of mercury exposure that you would get in comparison to the health benefits from the nutritional aspects of the fish clearly tilts the balance in favor of the nutritional aspect.
Researchers say the results of the study are just one piece of the puzzle. Other minerals and chemicals in the water, air and household products could hold clues to what causes autism.
"We need to cast a very wide net and really look broadly at all sorts of things that are in the environment," said Picciotto.
And with each study, researchers hope to unlock the mystery of autism.
Researchers also said kids who'd had vaccines containing mercury were no more likely than other kids to have elevated levels of mercury.
The study is published in the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives."
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