Down Syndrome (DS) is a serious autosomal chromosome aberration compatible with post-natal survival. It is the most common live-born birth defect in humans. Recent findings suggested that different environmental factors are responsible for DS birth. A possible relationship has been found between the etiology of DS and potential role of heavy metal, especially arsenic, but this complicated association is mostly unknown. The aim of our present study was to examine levels of arsenic in hair of DS child and also to establish a possible relationship between DS and arsenic. A case control study was conducted with sixty DS cases and their Parents in and around Kolkata, India. DS children participated in the study were confirmed after performing karyotyping. The level of arsenic in hair samples were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. It had been found that the parents of DS child had body burden level and toxic level of arsenic. Most of the DS child had high concentration of arsenic in the hair. Thus it can be concluded from our study that parents possessing high arsenic concentration (both body burden and toxic level) may give birth to DS baby and hence high levels of arsenic in the body of parents may be an etiological factor for DS cases.
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