Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai investigated how the timing of early exposure to toxic metals affects childhood brain development and behavior. Using baby teeth from 489 children ages 8 to 14, they measured nine metals—including lead, copper, magnesium, and zinc—in tooth layers representing weeks from the second trimester of pregnancy to 40 weeks after birth.
The team assessed 395 children for symptoms related to anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, and attention. They found that metal exposures during two key windows—between four and eight weeks after birth and between 32 and 42 weeks of age—were associated with a higher risk of these symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging of 191 children also showed that excessive metal exposures during specific periods were more likely to affect brain structure and connectivity. Notably, exposures in the 19 weeks before birth were linked to reduced brain connectivity.
The findings, published in Science Advances, highlight increased vulnerability to toxic metals during rapid brain development and underscore the importance of preventing excessive early-life metal exposures to reduce potential mental health impacts.