Autistic Features Associated With Prenatal Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors
SAN DIEGO — Exposure during pregnancy to a combination of fire retardant chemicals and phthalate chemicals, which are present in the average home, may contribute to autistic-like behaviors in offspring, according to a Canadian study presented at ENDO 2015.
The research only involved animal models but it points to potentially preventable causes of autism. Today, autism remains a diagnosis with enormous social costs and limited solutions. In addition, the rates appear to be steadily rising in North America.
“Our study is the first to evaluate the combined effect of two very common groups of endocrine disruptors, at doses relevant to human exposure, on the behavior of developing mammals concerning autistic features,” said lead study author Stephanie Degroote, MSc, a PhD student at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada.
“The clinical implications are major because these findings identify preventable risk factors for one of the major public health concerns for which we have no prevention and no cure. The exploding prevalence of autism over the years as well as the high sex ratio (5 boys for 1 girl) point to an important role of the environment, and according to our findings, to endocrine disruptors.”
Phthalates and brominated fire retardants are known endocrine disruptors. Degroote said the findings from her study show that it may be important to now consider the combined effect of these numerous substances, even when present at low doses that are considered safe for each of the chemicals.
