A study that ARI helped fund, "Biomarkers of Environmental Toxicity and Susceptibility in Autism,"  (citation below) has added more evidence in confirming the long-suspected link between mercury and autism.

The study is hailed as landmark research on several counts:

* It shows a direct relationship between the severity of the autistic symptoms and the levels of urinary porphyrins associated with mercury intoxication.
* Similarly, a direct relationship is demonstrated between mercury intoxication and glutathione levels (specifically, increased levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and decreased plasma levels of reduced glutathione (GSH).
* In more general terms, the study, published in the "Journal of Neurological Sciences," provides scientific evidence of the effects of mercury intoxication on those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), as compared with the control group. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18817931