Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Neurodevelopment and endocrine disruption.

Theo Colborn1

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. colborn@tds.net

Environmental Health Perspectives
|June 17, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Environmental contaminants may be linked to rising rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. Prenatal exposure to thyroid-disrupting chemicals is a key concern, with evidence from animal and human studies.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Is it time to reassess current safety standards for glyphosate-based herbicides?

Journal of epidemiology and community health·2017
Same author

Minireview: Endocrine Disruptors: Past Lessons and Future Directions.

Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.)·2016
Same author

Concerns over use of glyphosate-based herbicides and risks associated with exposures: a consensus statement.

Environmental health : a global access science source·2016
Same author

Correction to New Look at BTEX: Are Ambient Levels a Problem?

Environmental science & technology·2015
Same author

New Look at BTEX: Are Ambient Levels a Problem?

Environmental science & technology·2015
Same author

Regulatory decisions on endocrine disrupting chemicals should be based on the principles of endocrinology.

Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)·2013

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Neurodevelopmental Toxicology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Increasing prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and neurodevelopmental disorders in developed nations.
  • Established sensitivity of embryonic and fetal development to thyroid hormone disruption.
  • Documented human in utero exposure to environmental contaminants with potential to interfere with thyroid function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the hypothesis that environmental contaminants contribute to the rise in neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • To examine the role of thyroid disruption during prenatal development.
  • To present evidence from human, wildlife, and animal models linking chemical exposures to developmental issues.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on environmental contaminants and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Discussion of the biological mechanisms of thyroid disruption in sensitive developmental stages.
  • Presentation of correlational data from epidemiological studies, wildlife observations, and laboratory animal research.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to certain contaminants can disrupt thyroid function.
  • Animal and wildlife studies show associations between chemical exposures and developmental abnormalities.
  • Challenges in directly linking specific prenatal chemical exposures to human neurodevelopmental outcomes are acknowledged.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental contaminants are a plausible contributing factor to the increasing prevalence of ADHD, autism, and related disorders.
  • Thyroid disruption during critical prenatal periods is a significant pathway for contaminant-induced neurodevelopmental harm.
  • Further research using diverse models is necessary to elucidate causal links and inform preventative strategies.

Related Experiment Videos