Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

Nowack, Nikola; Wittsiepe, Jürgen; Kasper-Sonnenberg, Monika; Wilhelm, Michael; Schölmerich, Axel

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0129906

Cited by 71Toxic Organic Pollutants ImpactEffects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

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Nowack, Nikola, Wittsiepe, Jürgen, Kasper-Sonnenberg, Monika, Wilhelm, Michael, Schölmerich, Axel·2015·PLOS ONE

DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0129906PMC PMC4466566

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are assumed to act as endocrine disruptor chemicals. Prenatal exposure to these pollutants might influence fetal steroid hormone levels, which are thought to be related to sex-typical development and autistic traits. OBJECTIVES: We examined associations of prenatal levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs with autism traits and sex-typical behaviour in childhood. METHODS: We measured levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in maternal blood samples during pregnancy using gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Sex-typical behaviour was assessed at 9 years of age (n = 96) and autistic traits at 10 years of age using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; n = 100). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between prenatal exposure and outcome variables. RESULTS: Blood concentrations (WHO2005-TEq) of ƩPCDD/Fs ranged from 2.93-46.45 pg/g lipid base (median = 12.91 pg/g lipid base) and concentrations of ƩPCBs were in the range of 1.24-25.47 pg/g lipid base (median = 6.85 pg/g lipid base) which is within the range of German background exposure. We found significant negative associations between PCDD/F levels in maternal blood and SRS scores in the whole group (β = -6.66, p < .05), in girls (β = -10.98, p < .05) and, in one SRS subscale, in boys (β = -6.86, p < .05). For PCB levels, associations with one SRS subscale were significant for the whole study group as were associations with two subscales in girls. We did not find significant associations between PCDD/F or PCB levels and sex-typical behaviour for either sex. CONCLUSIONS: In an earlier part of this study, prenatal exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs was found to be associated with lower testosterone levels, therefore, our findings are consistent with the idea that autism spectrum conditions are related to fetal androgen levels. Several possible mechanisms, through which PCDD/Fs and PCBs might influence autistic behaviour, are discussed.

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The weight of evidence from epidemiological studies supports a negative association between developmental exposure to PCBs and neuropsychological function in infancy and childhood.
“The weight of evidence from epidemiological studies supports a negative association between developmental exposure to PCBs and neuropsychological function in infancy and childhood [ 56 , 95–99 ].”
From DNA methylation: a mechanism linking environmental chemical exposures to risk of autism spectrum disorders? (2016) · cites this paper as [99]

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Possible association between the androgen receptor gene and autism spectrum disorder
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Gestational and lactational exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo--dioxin affects social behaviors between developing rhesus monkeys ()
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Maternal plasma polychlorinated biphenyl levels in cynomolgus monkeys ( Macaca fascicularis ) affect infant social skills in mother–infant interaction
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Persistent organic pollutants have dose and CAG repeat length dependent effects on androgen receptor activity in vitro
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Retrospectivein utero exposure assessment of PCBs using preserved umbilical cords and its application to case-control comparison
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Environmental risk factors for autism: an evidence-based review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Modabbernia, A., Velthorst, E., & Reichenberg, A. (2017) · Molecular Autism · doi:10.1186/s13229-017-0121-4 · Cited by 809 · see citing works
Sex differences in autism spectrum disorder: a review
Ferri, S. L., Abel, T., & Brodkin, E. S. (2018) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-018-0874-2 · Cited by 392 · see citing works
Risk for animal and human health related to the presence of dioxins and dioxin‐like PCBs in feed and food
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Neurotoxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls and related organohalogens
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DNA methylation: a mechanism linking environmental chemical exposures to risk of autism spectrum disorders?
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Evidence Implicating Non-Dioxin-Like Congeners as the Key Mediators of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Developmental Neurotoxicity
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The association of environmental toxicants and autism spectrum disorders in children
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Autism genes are selectively targeted by environmental pollutants including pesticides, heavy metals, bisphenol A, phthalates and many others in food, cosmetics or household products
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Severe dioxin-like compound (DLC) contamination in e-waste recycling areas: An under-recognized threat to local health
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Cumulative Impact of Polychlorinated Biphenyl and Large Chromosomal Duplications on DNA Methylation, Chromatin, and Expression of Autism Candidate Genes
Dunaway, K. W., Islam, M. S., Coulson, R. L., Lopez, S. J., Ciernia, A. V., Chu, R. G., Yasui, D. H., Pessah, I. N., Lott, P. C., Mordaunt, C. E., et al. (2016) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.11.058 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder?
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Perinatal Exposure to Environmental Endocrine Disruptors in the Emergence of Neurodevelopmental Psychiatric Diseases: A Systematic Review
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Flame retardants and neurodevelopment: an updated review of epidemiological literature
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In utero exposure to endocrine disruptors and developmental neurotoxicity: Implications for behavioural and neurological disorders in adult life
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Environmental pollutants as risk factors for autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
Duque-Cartagena, T., Dalla, M. D. B., Mundstock, E., Neto, F. K., Espinoza, S. A. R., de Moura, S. K., Zanirati, G., Padoin, A. V., Piñeros, J. G., Stein, A. T., et al. (2024) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-024-19742-w · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Dioxins as potential risk factors for autism spectrum disorder
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Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Dioxin-Related Health Hazards—Lessons from Yusho
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Gene × environment interactions in autism spectrum disorders
Keil, K. P., & Lein, P. J. (2022) · Current topics in developmental biology/Current Topics in Developmental Biology · doi:10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.11.001 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Intense/obsessional interests in children with gender dysphoria: a cross-validation study using the Teacher’s Report Form
Zucker, K. J., Nabbijohn, A. N., Santarossa, A., Wood, H., Bradley, S. J., Matthews, J., & VanderLaan, D. P. (2017) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health · doi:10.1186/s13034-017-0189-9 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Assessing the Relation between Plasma PCB Concentrations and Elevated Autistic Behaviours using Bayesian Predictive Odds Ratios
Bernardo, B. A., Lanphear, B. P., Venners, S. A., Arbuckle, T. E., Braun, J. M., Muckle, G., Fraser, W. D., & McCandless, L. C. (2019) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph16030457 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Sex-specific differences in effect of prenatal exposure to dioxin-like compounds on neurodevelopment in Japanese children: Sapporo cohort study
中島そのみ, Saijo, Y., Miyashita, C., Ikeno, T., Sasaki, S., Kajiwara, J., & Kishi, R. (2017) · Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.006 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Editor’s Highlight: Congener-Specific Disposition of Chiral Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Lactating Mice and Their Offspring: Implications for PCB Developmental Neurotoxicity
Kania‐Korwel, I., Lukasiewicz, T., Barnhart, C. D., Stamou, M., Chung, H., Kelly, K. M., Bandiera, S. M., Lein, P. J., & Lehmler, H. (2017) · Toxicological Sciences · doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfx071 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Fetal toxicology
van de Bor, M. (2019) · Handbook of clinical neurology · doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-64029-1.00002-3 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
The associations of prenatal exposure to dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls with neurodevelopment at 6 Months of age: Multi-pollutant approaches
Yim, G., Minatoya, M., Kioumourtzoglou, M., Bellavia, A., Weisskopf, M. G., Araki, A., Miyashita, C., & Kishi, R. (2022) · Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.112757 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Early-life exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and autistic traits in childhood and adolescence: a systematic review of epidemiological studies
Cunha, Y. G. D. O., do Amaral, G. C. B., Felix, A. A., Blumberg, B., & Amato, A. A. (2023) · Frontiers in Endocrinology · doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1184546 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Prenatal dioxin exposure and neuropsychological functioning in the Seveso Second Generation Health Study
Ames, J., Warner, M. L., Siracusa, C., Signorini, S. G., Brambilla, P., Mocarelli, P., & Eskenazi, B. (2019) · International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health · doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.12.009 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Perinatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and child neurodevelopment: A comprehensive systematic review of outcomes and methodological approaches
Balalian, A. A., Stingone, J. A., Kahn, L. G., Herbstman, J. B., Graeve, R. I., Stellman, S. D., & Factor-Litvak, P. R. (2024) · Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2024.118912 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Association of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Related Gene Variants with the Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Fujisawa, T. X., Nishitani, S., Iwanaga, R., Matsuzaki, J., Kawasaki, C., Tochigi, M., Sasaki, T., Kato, N., & Shinohara, K. (2016) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00184 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Associations of prenatal and early childhood mercury exposure with autistic behaviors at 5years of age: The Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study
Ryu, J., Ha, E., Kim, B., Ha, M., Kim, Y., Park, H., Hong, Y., & Kim, K. (2017) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.227 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Sex differences in effects of gestational polychlorinated biphenyl exposure on hypothalamic neuroimmune and neuromodulator systems in neonatal rats
Bell, M. R., Dryden, A., Will, R. G., & Gore, A. C. (2018) · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.taap.2018.06.002 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Perinatal dioxin exposure and neurodevelopment of 2-year-old Vietnamese children in the most contaminated area from Agent Orange in Vietnam
Pham, N. T., Nishijo, M., Pham, T. T., Tran, N. N., Lê, V. Q., Tran, H. A., Phan, H. A. V., Nishino, Y., & Nishijo, H. (2019) · The Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.425 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Evolutionary perspective on sex differences in the expression of neurological diseases
Geary, D. C. (2018) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2018.06.001 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Levels and patterns of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and polychlorinated biphenyls in foodstuffs of animal origin from Chinese markets and implications of dietary exposure
Sun, S., Cao, R., Lu, X., Zhang, Y., Gao, Y., Chen, J., & Zhang, H. (2020) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116344 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Effects of Low-Dose Gestational TCDD Exposure on Behavior and on Hippocampal Neuron Morphology and Gene Expression in Mice
Gileadi, T. E., Swamy, A. K., Hore, Z. L., Horswell, S. D., Ellegood, J., Mohan, C., Mizuno, K., Lundebye, A., Giese, K.-P., Stockinger, B., et al. (2021) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp7352 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Species and Sex Differences in the Morphogenic Response of Primary Rodent Neurons to 3,3′-Dichlorobiphenyl (PCB 11)
Sethi, S., Keil, K. P., & Lein, P. J. (2017) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics6010004 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Independent Maternal and Fetal Genetic Effects on Midgestational Circulating Levels of Environmental Pollutants
Traglia, M., Croen, L., Lyall, K., Windham, G. C., Kharrazi, M., DeLorenze, G. N., Torres, A., & Weiss, L. A. (2017) · G3 Genes Genomes Genetics · doi:10.1534/g3.117.039784 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Environmental Risk Factors for Autism
Mathew, L., Kauffman, E. M., Schmidt, R. J., Hertz‐Picciotto, I., & Lyall, K. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-91280-6_102054 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals is associated with altered DNA methylation in cord blood
Mattonet, K., Nowack, N., Vogel, V., Moser, D., Tierling, S., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Wilhelm, M., Scherer, M., Walter, J., Hengstler, J. G., et al. (2021) · Epigenetics · doi:10.1080/15592294.2021.1975917 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
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Influence of low-level prenatal exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on empathizing, systemizing and autistic traits
Nowack, N., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Wilhelm, M., & Schölmerich, A. (2015) · Dokumentenrepositorium der RUB (Ruhr University Bochum)
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RESEARCH ARTICLE Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study
Nowack, N., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Wilhelm, M., Schölmerich, A., Sonnenberg, M., Wilhelm, M., & Schölmerich, A. (2016)
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Possible association of prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors with sex-typical development and autism traits – Results from the Duisburg birth cohort study
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INFLUENCE OF THE PRENATAL PCDD/F AND PCB EXPOSURE ON ADRENARCHE AND GENDER SPECIFIC ROLE BEHAVIOUR - RESULTS FROM THE DUISBURG BIRTH COHORT STUDY
Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Wittsiepe, J., Rennert, A., Cramer, C., Ranft, U., Winneke, G., Fürst, P., Binder, G., & Wilhelm, M. (2011) · ISEE Conference Abstracts · doi:10.1289/isee.2011.01449
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Behavioral Sexual Dimorphism in School-Age Children and Early Developmental Exposure to Dioxins and PCBs: A Follow-Up Study of the Duisburg Cohort
Winneke, G., Ranft, U., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Fürst, P., Krämer, U., Seitner-Sorge, G., & Wilhelm, M. (2013) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp.1306533 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Self-citation

Authors: Nowack, N., Wittsiepe, J., Kasper-Sonnenberg, M., Wilhelm, M., & Schölmerich, A.
Affiliations: Ruhr University Bochum (DE)
Corresponding author: Nowack, Nikola
ORCID: Kasper-Sonnenberg, Monika
Wilhelm, Michael
Venue: PLOS ONE
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published: 2015-06-12
Volume: 10
Issue: 6
Pages: e0129906
ISSN: 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129906
PMC: PMC4466566
OpenAlex: W656997998
Cited by: 71
References: 120
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 6
FWCI: 6.69
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (vor)
Locations: PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders: Umweltbundesamt
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords: prenatal exposure, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, autistic traits, empathizing-systemizing theory, endocrine disruptors, maternal blood, Social Responsiveness Scale
MeSH terms: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins, Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated, Adult, Benzofurans, Child, Environmental Pollutants, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects

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Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

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