Toxicity biomarkers among US children compared to a similar cohort in France: A blinded study measuring urinary porphyrins

Janet K. Kern, David A. Geier, Francoise Ayzac, James Adams, Jyutika A. Mehta, Mark R. Geier

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this blinded study was to evaluate potential environmental toxicity in a cohort of neurotypical children (n = 28) living in a suburban area of north-central Texas in the United States (US) with a comparable age- and gender-matched cohort of neurotypical children (n = 8) living in a suburban area of southeastern France using urinary porphyrin testing: uroporphyrin (uP), heptacarboxyporphyrin (7cxP), hexacarboxyporphyrin (6cxP), pentacarboxypor-phyrin (5cxP), precoproporphyrin (prcP), and coproporphyrin (cP). Results showed significantly elevated 6cxP, prcP (an atypical, mercury-specific porphy-rin), and cP levels, and increasing trends in 5cxP levels, among neurotypical children in the USA compared to children in France. Data suggest that in US neurotypical children, there is a significantly increased body-burden of mercury (Hg) compared to the body-burden of Hg in the matched neurotypical children in France. The presence of lead contributing to the higher levels of cP also needs to be considered. Further, other factors including genetics can not be completely ruled out.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)396-405
Number of pages10
JournalToxicological and Environmental Chemistry
Volume93
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Toxicity biomarkers among US children compared to a similar cohort in France: A blinded study measuring urinary porphyrins'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this