Pollution, the thyroid and neurodevelopment

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Global incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficits, and hyperactivity, is rising.
• Current genetic explanations are insufficient to account for the rapid increase in these conditions.
• Environmental factors are increasingly suspected as contributors to the neurodevelopmental disease epidemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential role of environmental factors, specifically chemical pollutants, in the rising prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders.
• To explore the link between thyroid hormone disruption and abnormalities in fetal and child neurological development.

Main Methods:

• This study reviews existing literature on environmental toxins and their impact on thyroid hormone metabolism.
• It examines epidemiological data on the rise of neurodevelopmental disorders.
• The review synthesizes findings on the mechanisms by which chemical substances interfere with thyroid hormone (TH) function.

Main Results:

• Numerous environmental pollutants are identified as endocrine disruptors, interfering with thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism.
• Evidence suggests a correlation between exposure to these pollutants and adverse outcomes in neurological development.
• Disruption of TH metabolism during critical developmental windows can lead to lasting neurodevelopmental abnormalities.

Conclusions:

• Environmental chemical pollutants that disrupt thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism are a significant, under-recognized factor in the increasing rates of neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Further research is warranted to identify specific pollutants and elucidate the precise mechanisms linking them to conditions like autism and ADHD.
• Public health strategies should consider environmental toxin reduction to mitigate the risk of neurodevelopmental diseases.