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Association of phthalate exposure with autistic traits in children

Johanna Inhyang Kim1, Jung Lee2, Kyung-Shin Lee3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Environment International
|July 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to certain phthalates is linked to autistic traits in young children, while childhood exposure is associated with traits in older boys. These findings highlight critical exposure periods for neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals linked to neurotoxicity.
  • Previous studies on phthalate exposure and autistic traits in children yielded inconsistent results.
  • This study investigates phthalate exposure during pregnancy and childhood concerning autistic traits over time.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between prenatal and childhood phthalate exposure and autistic traits.
  • To identify sex-specific differences and susceptible time windows for phthalate exposure.
  • To analyze phthalate metabolite levels and their correlation with social communication questionnaire (SCQ) scores.

Main Methods:

  • Measured five phthalate metabolites in 547 mother-child pairs during mid-pregnancy and at child ages 4, 6, and 8 years.
  • Assessed children's autistic traits using the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) at each time point.
  • Analyzed the relationship between phthalate metabolites and SCQ scores, considering exposure windows and sex.

Main Results:

  • Increased prenatal levels of MEHHP and MEOHP were associated with higher SCQ scores at age 4.
  • Childhood MEHHP levels at ages 4 and 8 were linked to increased SCQ scores at age 8.
  • Associations between phthalate exposure and autistic traits were stronger in boys than in girls.

Conclusions:

  • Phthalate exposure during pregnancy is linked to autistic traits in early childhood.
  • Exposure during early childhood is associated with autistic traits in school-aged children, especially boys.
  • The study identifies distinct susceptible windows for phthalate exposure impacting neurodevelopment.
Abstract

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorderChild developmentCohort studyCritical periodDiethylhexyl phthalateMaternal exposure

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