Autistic features linked to prenatal exposure to fire retardants, phthalates

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-03/tes-afl022715.php

Public Release: 5-Mar-2015
The Endocrine Society

Exposure during pregnancy to a combination of fire retardant chemicals and phthalate chemicals--both present in the average home--can contribute to autistic-like behaviors in the offspring, according to an animal study to be presented Thursday at the Endocrine Society's 97th annual meeting in San Diego.

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Phthalates and brominated fire retardants are known endocrine disruptors, substances that can impair processes controlled by hormones. Past studies have suggested that exposure in the womb to either phthalates or flame retardants can affect mental and motor development and can provoke attention deficit. However, pregnant women are likely to come into contact with both chemicals simultaneously. They are common additives in many household plastic products, and flame retardants are on most furniture foam cushions.

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Many environmental factors and genes likely cause autism spectrum disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These disorders affect boys more often than girls.

"Our research finds that the developing brain is extremely sensitive to chemical additives found in our daily environment, and these chemical can contribute to the development of autism," Degroote said. "The good news is that these exposures are avoidable, contrary to genetic risk factors, which are almost always not modifiable."