Microplastics as a Silent Threat to Child Neurodevelopment: Evidence and Perspectives on Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is caused by an interaction of both environment and genetics. Recently, there has been an increased focus on how environmental toxins may alter a child's biological systems. Microplastics and nanoplastics are of great interest to researchers due to their ubiquitous nature and potential to interact with the human body. Through ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact, humans can consume both sizes of particles, which may enter the blood stream and under some circumstances pass the blood-brain barrier impacting the central nervous system. Studies on exposure to microplastics indicate an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation as well as a decline in attention and memory. Smaller, nanoplastic particles appear to be able to bypass biological barriers and elicit more drastic responses. In this review, studies ranging from 2020 to 2025 focusing on microplastics exposure and neurodevelopment including the potential for impact on ASD were sought and selected based on defined criteria, of which six studies ultimately met the criteria. Currently, there is no evidence for a causal relationship between microplastic particles and ASD; however, it appears to be a potential environmental factor influencing neurodevelopment. These findings highlight the necessity for more clinical study and long-term research in this area.