Comparison of concentrations of some trace, bulk, and toxic metals in the hair of normal and dyslexic children.

Hair from dyslexic children, analyzed by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry, showed significantly higher concentrations of magnesium and copper than did hair from control subjects. The hair from dyslexic children also contained significantly higher concentrations of aluminum and cadmium than that from control children; the cadmium concentration exceeded the normal acceptable range. There were no significant differences in the case of lead, calcium, selenium, or mercury. Our results indicate that excessive cadmium burden could be implicated in this form of learning disorder.