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What causes autism? Exploring the environmental contribution.
1Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Environmental Health Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA. phil.landrigan@mssm.edu
Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|January 21, 2010
Summary
Environmental factors may contribute to autism development, alongside genetics. Research is needed to identify specific chemical exposures that could impact neurodevelopment in children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Environmental Health
- Genetics
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with known genetic underpinnings.
- Genetic factors alone do not fully explain the increasing prevalence or specific features of ASD.
- This suggests a significant role for early environmental exposures in ASD etiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the hypothesis that environmental factors contribute to the causation of autism.
- To examine indirect and direct evidence linking environmental exposures to ASD.
- To propose a strategy for future research into environmental causes of ASD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on genetic and environmental factors in autism.
- Analysis of studies on neurodevelopmental sensitivity to environmental toxins.
- Examination of evidence linking specific prenatal exposures to autism.
Main Results:
- Genetic mutations, deletions, and copy number variants are implicated but account for a small fraction of ASD cases.
- Studies show the developing brain is sensitive to environmental toxins like lead, ethyl alcohol, and methyl mercury.
- Strong evidence links prenatal exposures to thalidomide, misoprostol, valproic acid, maternal rubella, and chlorpyrifos with increased autism risk.
- No credible evidence supports vaccines causing autism.
Conclusions:
- Expanded research into environmental causes of autism is crucial.
- A significant number of synthetic chemicals pose potential neurodevelopmental risks, yet few have been adequately tested.
- A targeted discovery strategy combining toxicological screening, neurobiological research, and epidemiological studies is proposed to identify environmental contributors to ASD.
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