Autism Risk Increased With Prenatal Exposure to Banned Chemicals

“A class of compounds called organochlorines were banned from production in the United States in the 1970s, after they emerged as harmful to human health. A new study, however, reveals that exposure to these chemicals could still be high, and it could be putting children at significantly greater risk for autism.”

“The research was recently published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Organochlorines are chemicals – including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) – that were widely used as pesticides, lubricants, and insulators in the U.S. between the 1950s and 1970s.Use of DDT in the U.S. was banned in 1973, while production of PCBs was halted in 1977, after evidence mounted that the chemicals can harm wildlife, the environment, and human health.”

“With regard to the latter, exposure to the chemicals in pregnancy has been linked with impaired neurodevelopment in offspring, as well as abnormal thyroid hormone levels in both mother and child, which can impact fetal development.”

Read the full article: Autism risk increased with prenatal exposure to banned chemicals