Banned Chemicals Linked To Autism May Still Be Potent After Decades

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Banned chemicals linked to autism back in the 1970’s as a common ingredient in pesticides and used as an insulating material may still be leeching through ordinary household items or food products.

Banned chemicals linked to autism still present

It may still be a component of any insulated material that was purchased back then, or from reused containers that were exposed to it, the presence of this sinister chemical compound called organochlorine may still rear its ugly head.

Scientists believe that even children who were once born and exposed to this chemical are still roughly 80 percent more likely to be diagnosed with symptoms of autism.

The problem is, organochlorine does not break down easily and even when it was banned back in 1977, it could still remain in the environment and still be potent enough to contaminate livestock for human consumption and lead to exposure

Increases further risk for autism

Kristen Lyall, an assistant professor at the Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Autism Institute who is the study lead, points out that organochlorine can cross through the placenta during pregnancy and greatly impact the neurodevelopment of the fetus.

“There’s a fair amount of research examining exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy in association with other outcomes, like birth weight—but little research on autism, specifically,” says Lyall. “To examine the role of environmental exposures in risk of autism, it is important that samples are collected during time frames with evidence for susceptibility for autism—termed ‘critical windows’ in neurodevelopment. Fetal development is one of those critical windows.”

The findings were recently published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Study on risk factors

Lyall and her team analyzed data taken from Southern California based on a population sample of 1,144 children covering the periods between 2000 to 2003, sourced from data of mothers enrolled in California’s Expanded Alphafetoprotein Prenatal Screening Program.

This undertaking was initiated to provide data for study specifically on detecting possible birth defects during pregnancy.

The participants were grouped into three where 545 were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, 181 with intellectual disabilities but have no signs of autism and 418 with none of the two conditions.

Blood samples were taken for testing during the second trimester of the pregnancy of mothers to help determine the level of exposure to two classes of organochlorine substances called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) used as a primary ingredient for auto coolants, lubricants and insulators for electronic and consumer products and organochlorine pesticide (OCP) found in DDT.

“There’s a fair amount of research examining exposure to these chemicals during pregnancy in association with other outcomes, like birth weight—but little research on autism, specifically,” says Lyall . “To examine the role of environmental exposures in risk of autism, it is important that samples are collected during time frames with evidence for susceptibility for autism—termed ‘critical windows’ in neurodevelopment. Fetal development is one of those critical windows.”

Lyall points out that their findings could help medicine regarding autism research and help determine causes of autism and how it may soon provide good insights and knowledge regarding therapy or diagnosis early on.

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