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ERIC Number: EJ1467332
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Apr
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1087-0547
EISSN: EISSN-1557-1246
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Investigating the Association between Heavy Metals and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children: An Exploratory Study
Journal of Attention Disorders, v29 n6 p423-436 2025
Exposure to heavy metals has been associated with affecting children's neurodevelopment, particularly increasing the risk of developing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The current exploratory study aims to investigate potential associations between presence of 15 different heavy metals in urine and ADHD. A total of 190 urine samples of participants from clinical and non-clinical population (non-ADHD = 66; ADHD = 124) aged between 6 and 15 years from Barcelona and Tarragona (Spain) were analysed. Logistic regressions adjusted by sex, age, SES, BMI and diet quality were performed. Highest quartiles (3rd and 4th) of Pb (lead) (aOR 5.33; CI [1.89, 14.98]), Cd (cadmium) (aOR 3.69, CI [1.38, 9.83]), Cu (copper) (aOR 16.46, CI [4.66, 58.14]) and Sb (antimony) (aOR 3.04, CI [1.12, 8.23]) were significantly associated with increased odds of ADHD DSM-5 diagnosis. Additionally, Cu and Cd were associated with higher scores of inattention symptoms. Whereas, Cu and Sb were associated with hyperactivity-impulsivity severity. This exploratory study provides preliminary valuable evidence, suggesting potential associations between environmental factors, such as metal exposure, with ADHD in school-aged children. These findings highlight the importance of further research to support these associations and, if confirmed, explore strategies to mitigate the potential impacts of these toxicants on children's health.
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Spain (Barcelona); Spain
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Conners Rating Scales; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain; 2Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain; 3Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Reus, Spain; 4IU-RESCAT, University Research Institute on Sustainable, Climate Change and Energy Transition, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain; 5Department of Psychology and Education Studies, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain; 6Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department of Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of Barcelona, Spain; 7Children and Adolescent Mental Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Santa Rosa, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; 8Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain