A comparative study of the typical toxic metals in serum by patients of schizophrenia and healthy controls in China.

•Toxic metals may contribute to the development of schizophrenia.•We recruited 109 patients with schizophrenia (cases) and 106 healthy controls.•Six toxic metals in their fasting blood samples were measured.•Only three metals (Sb, Ag, and U) had acceptable detection rates of >80%.•Serum concentrations of Sb and U were positively correlated with schizophrenia risk.