Investigating Autism Spectrum Disorder through Environmental Contaminants : Effects of Lead Exposure on Zebrafish Development

Abstract

Lead is an extremely toxic heavy metal that is known to causes curvature in zebrafish larvae neurodevelopmental damage. Lead exposure can impair neurodevelopment and is correlated to an increased prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism Spectrum Disorder is a development disorder that primarily affects social and community interactions. Lead has been previously used in paint, piping, and in children’s toys. Today lead is still present from its earlier uses and can be found in soil and runoff water. Though it has been shown that lead causes damage, the amount of lead required, and the exact biological method of damage is currently unknown. Zebrafish are used in this study as a model organism because they have transparent embryos and have a highly analogous genome to humans. These features allow easy identification of visible developmental phenotypes in zebrafish. The zebrafish were exposed to varying concentrations of lead acetate trihydrate during early development to find the concentrations of no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) and lowest observable adverse effect level (LOAEL).