Work at UC Davis suggests a correlation between parental employment and elevated autism rates in offspring.
UC Davis researchers have found connections between various occupational exposures and the severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, particularly focusing on parental workplace exposure to chemicals such as those involved with plastics and polymers, pesticides, cleaning agents, and pharmaceuticals.
The study, which involved more than 500 families, leverages data from the large CHARGE study and uses advanced assessments like the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2) to correlate workplace chemical exposures with autism severity.
According to Irva Hertz-Picciotto, director of UC Davis' environmental health sciences center, a parent's exposure to workplace chemicals during fetal development can impact the severity of autism. The strongest and most consistent association was found with workplace exposures related to plastics and polymers, which showed links to multiple behavioral outcomes in children, including hyperactivity and language development issues.
Exposure to pesticides and cleaning agents was also studied and found among other factors possibly linked with autism-related developmental challenges. The exposure window identified as critical was from three months before pregnancy through birth, emphasizing a potential impact on fetal development.
Both maternal and paternal occupational exposures were linked to children's autism severity and cognitive outcomes. Hertz-Picciotto suggested that employers could assign jobs to different parts of the workplace to reduce exposure. Increasing use of protective gear, such as masks and gloves, could help reduce exposure to workplace chemicals.
The specific workplace chemicals highlighted by the UC Davis research as linked to increased autism risk and severity in children include: - Chemicals related to plastics and polymers (strongest association) - Pesticides - Cleaning agents - Pharmaceutical agents
The study at UC Davis is examining factors related to parents' jobs in the development of autism disorders. The results of the study could lead to new regulations that make workplaces safer for expecting parents. Scientists say there now needs to be more research into how chemical exposure could affect fetal development.
Federal occupational health experts participated in the study at UC Davis. Hertz-Picciotto and her team are conducting a new study on the causes of autism in children, aiming to delve deeper into the potential impacts of workplace chemicals on fetal development and the subsequent risk of autism.
The study at UC Davis reveals a correlation between workplace chemical exposures and the severity of autism in children, with the strongest link found to chemicals associated with plastics and polymers. Research also implicates pesticides, cleaning agents, and pharmaceuticals as potentially contributing factors in autism-related developmental challenges.
The CHARGE study's data and advanced assessments, like the ADOS-2, are used to identify these connections, particularly focusing on parental workplace exposure during fetal development.
Both maternal and paternal occupational exposures are linked to children's autism severity and cognitive outcomes, suggesting a need for employers to reconsider job assignments and implement the use of protective gear to reduce employee exposure.
In light of these findings, federal occupational health experts are collaborating with UC Davis researchers to further investigate the potential impacts of workplace chemicals on fetal development and the subsequent risk of autism. As the study continues, there is a growing emphasis on the importance of exploring the role of chemical exposure in mental health and environmental science.
