Does perinatal exposure to endocrine disruptors induce autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders? Review
Abstract
Aim To provide an overview of studies on perinatal exposure in humans to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in relation to autism spectrum (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders. Methods A review of the literature (PubMed) was performed. Exposure-related keywords, including various chemicals, were matched with keywords describing outcome. Animal studies as well as publications not written in English were excluded. In total, 834 titles were retrieved. The final selection included 21 publications. Results Positive associations were found for ASD in relation to exposure to all chemicals investigated, which included hazardous air pollutants, pesticides and bisphenol A (BPA). Increased risks of ADHD or positive associations were found for exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dialkyl phosphate (DAP) and chlorpyrifos. BPA, polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and low molecular weight (LMW) phthalates were positively associated with externalizing behaviour. Five of 17 studies did not find any association between exposure and ADHD. Conclusion Perinatal exposure to EDCs appears to be associated with the occurrence of ASD as well as ADHD. Disruption of thyroid hormone function and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic mechanisms may offer an explanation for the observed relations; though, conclusive evidence in humans is limited.
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CPF has been linked to ADHD and other developmental neural disorders in children.
“CPF has been linked to ADHD and other developmental neural disorders in children, prompting the EPA to impose a ban on residential use in 2001 (22, 106, 107).”
From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [107]
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- Authors
- de Cock, M., Maas, Y. G. H., & van de Bor, M.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Venue
- Acta Paediatrica
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-05-07
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 811-818
- ISSN
- 0365-1436 (ISSN-L)
- 0803-5253
- 1651-2227
- OpenAlex
- W2109818577
- Cited by
- 198
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Acta Paediatrica (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- FP7 Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- endocrine disruptors, perinatal exposure, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bisphenol A, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, phthalates, chlorpyrifos, pesticides, hazardous air pollutants, dialkyl phosphates, externalizing problems, thyroid hormone disruption, GABAergic mechanisms
- MeSH terms
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Maternal Exposure, Endocrine Disruptors
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