Abstract
Hair samples of mildly mentally retarded (LR), moderately mentally retarded (MR), severely mentally retarded (SR) and normal children were collected and measured, using neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence to determine the concentrations of Al, Sb, As, Ca, Cu, I, Fe, Pb, Mg, Mn, Hg, K, Sr, S, V and Zn. The groups of children were of ages between 5 and 13. Difference in the mean concentration of each element between groups was tested by Student"s t-test. No trend, either decreasing or increasing, has been established as the degree of severity increased from normal to SR children, except for the case of Cu. The present work may shed some light in the interpretation of findings on the effects of trace elements on neurobehavioral functions.
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Man, C.K., Zheng, Y.H. Analysis of trace elements in scalp hair of mentally retarded children. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 253, 375–377 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020405100202
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020405100202