Autism Spectrum Disorders

A Research Strategy to Discover the Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. - Editorial explores ongoing research, both genetic and environmental studies, to identify the potentially preventable causes of neuro-develop-mental disorders (NDDs). Genetic research has demonstrated that austism spectrum disorder (ASD) and certain other NDDs have a strong hereditary component. Exploration of the environmental causes of autism and other NDDs has been catalyzed by growing recognition of the exquisite sensitivity of the developing human brain to toxic chemicals. Landrigan P.J., L. Lambertini and L.S. Birnbaum. Environ Health Perspect. April 2012 120: a258-a260.

Autism: Transient in utero hypothyroxinemia related to maternal flavonoid ingestion during pregnancy and to other environmental antithyroid agents - Suggests that pesticides that interfere with thyroidal activity may produce morphological brain changes leading to autism - including 2,4-D, acetochlor, aminotriazole, amitrole, bromoxynil, pendamethalin, mancozeb, and thioureas. [Román, G, C. 2007. Journal of the Neurological Sciences; 262(1-2), pp 15-26]

Household Pesticide Use in Relation to Autism - Shows that pet shampoos containing insecticides may trigger autism spectrum disorders (ASD)..  [Hertz-Picciotto, et al. Oral Presentation at the International Meeting for Autism Research (ORAL 2899). London, England, May 15, 2008)]

Identification of chemicals that mimic transcriptional changes associated with autism, brain aging and neurodegeneration - Brandon L. Pearson, Jeremy M. Simon, Eric S. McCoy,Gabriela Salazar, Giulia Fragola & Mark J. Zylka

Maternal Residence Near Agricultural Pesticide Applications and Autism Spectrum Disorders among Children in the California Central Valley. - Study shows that children born to mothers living near agricultural fields where organochlorine pesticides, specifically endosulfan and dicofol, were applied during their first trimester of pregnancy were six times more likely to have children that develop autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). compared to mothers who did not live near the fields. Roberts EM, English PB, Grether JK, Windham GC, Somberg L, Wolff C 2007. Environ Health Perspect 115:1482-1489

Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity - Philippe Grandjean MD,Philip J Landrigan MD. The Lancet Neurology, Volume 13, Issue 3, Pages 330 - 338, March 2014  doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70278-3

Neurodevelopmental Delay Diagnosis Rates Are Increased in a Region with Aerial Pesticide Application - Steven D. Hicks, Ming Wang, Katherine Fry, Vignesh Doraiswamy and Eric M. Wohlford

The Rise in Autism and the Role of Age at Diagnosis. - Due to seven- to eight-fold increase in the number children born in California with autism since 1990,  suggest that research should shift from genetics to the host of chemicals and infectious microbes in the environment that are likely at the root of changes in the neurodevelopment of  children, including pesticides and household chemicals.[Hertz-Picciotto, I. and Delwiche, L. 2009. Epidemiology:20(1) - pp 84-90 doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181902d15]

Tipping the Balance of Autism Risk: Potential Mechanisms Linking Pesticides and Autism. - Conclusive replicated findings have yet to appear on any specific exposure; however, mounting evidence suggests gestational pesticides exposures are strong candidates. [Shelton, J.F., Hertz-Picciotto, I. and Pessah, I.H. 2012. Environ Health Persp. 120 (7): 944-951.]