Association Between Exposure to Pesticides and ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Tessari, Luca; Angriman, Marco; Díaz‐Román, Amparo; Zhang, Junhua; Conca, Andreas; Cortese, Samuele

doi:10.1177/1087054720940402

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 70 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…The findings in this study were also in line with the hypothesis that girls are more vulnerable to ADHD from DPHP exposure. This new study strengthens the suggestive conclusion of a review included in the current paper on possible effects of pesticide exposure during pregnancy on neurodevelopment in childhood [ 37 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Based on results from a review and meta-analysis including six studies where pesticide exposure was assessed during childhood [ 18 ] and another review with 12 studies with studies on both prenatal and postnatal pesticide exposure [ 36 ] the evidence for an association between the exposure to pesticides and ADHD was low ( Table 2 ). However, the evidence from a review with 15 studies on ADHD suggested a possible link between pesticides and ADHD [ 37 ]. More specifically, the included studies suggested that exposure to a number of (but not all) pesticides in different periods of pregnancy or in infancy/childhood may affect behavior and neurodevelopment in childhood.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, serotonergic and dopaminergic systems are possible targets through which BPA may exert its neurological effects in humans [ 28 ]. Pesticides may also target neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin, and the role of the cholinergic system has also been studied [ 37 ]. Many metals, e.g., Pb, Hg, Cd, have been implicated, and they may have a common mechanism of action in relation to ADHD, possibly via interfering with calcium channels in neurotransmitter regulation and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) [ 18 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Association between ADHD and Environmental Chemicals—A Scoping Review

Moore

Paalanen

Melymuk

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The role of environmental chemicals in the etiology of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been of interest in recent research. This scoping review aims to summarize known or possible associations between ADHD and environmental exposures to substances selected as priority chemicals of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU). Literature searches were performed in PubMed to identify relevant publications. Only meta-analyses and review articles were included, as they provide more extensive evidence compared to individual studies. The collected evidence indicated that lead (Pb), phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are moderately to highly associated with ADHD. Limited evidence exists for an association between ADHD and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), flame retardants, mercury (Hg), and pesticides. The evidence of association between ADHD and cadmium (Cd) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) based on the identified reviews was low but justified further research. The methods of the individual studies included in the reviews and meta-analyses covered in the current paper varied considerably. Making precise conclusions in terms of the strength of evidence on association between certain chemicals and ADHD was not straightforward. More research is needed for stronger evidence of associations or the lack of an association between specific chemical exposures and ADHD.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Association between ADHD and Environmental Chemicals—A Scoping Review

Moore

Paalanen

Melymuk

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…Moreover, maternal DETP concentration was the lowest among the OP pesticide metabolite family. OP pesticides are neurotoxic and there are several studies pointing towards the deleterious associations between prenatal concentrations of their metabolites and neurodevelopment in humans (reviewed in Sapbamrer and Hongsibsong, 2019 ; and Tessari et al, 2020 ). Nevertheless, few epidemiological studies have explored their potential effects on child behaviour.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal exposure to a wide range of environmental chemicals and child behaviour between 3 and 7 years of age – An exposome-based approach in 5 European cohorts

Jedynak

Maitre

Guxens

et al. 2021

Science of The Total Environment

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Background Studies looking at associations between environmental chemicals and child behaviour usually consider only one exposure or family of exposures. Objective This study explores associations between prenatal exposure to a wide range of environmental chemicals and child behaviour. Methods We studied 708 mother-child pairs from five European cohorts recruited in 2003–2009. We assessed 47 exposure biomarkers from eight chemical exposure families in maternal blood or urine collected during pregnancy. We used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to evaluate child behaviour between three and seven years of age. We assessed associations of SDQ scores with exposures using an adjusted least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) considering all exposures simultaneously and an adjusted exposome-wide association study (ExWAS) considering each exposure independently. Results LASSO selected only copper (Cu) as associated with externalizing behaviour. In the ExWAS, bisphenol A [BPA, incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.06, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.01;1.12] and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP, IRR: 1.06, 95%CI: 1.00;1.13) were associated with greater risk of externalizing behaviour problems. Cu (IRR: 0.90, 95%CI: 0.82;0.98), perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA, IRR: 0.92, 95%CI: 0.84;0.99) and organochlorine compounds (OCs) were associated with lower risk of externalizing behaviour problems, however the associations with OCs were mainly seen among women with insufficient weight gain during pregnancy. Internalizing score worsen in association with exposure to diethyl thiophosphate (DETP, IRR: 1.11, 95%CI: 1.00;1.24) but the effect was driven by the smallest cohort. Internalizing score improved with increased concentration of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS, IRR: 0.92, 95%CI: 0.85;1.00), however the association was driven by the two smallest cohorts with the lowest PFOS concentrations. Discussion This study added evidence on deleterious effects of prenatal exposure to BPA and MnBP on child behaviour. Other associations should be interpreted cautiously since they were not consistent with previous studies or they have not been studied extensively.

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“…Deux revues systématiques (31,32) confirment que les différentes perturbations neurodéveloppementales sont le plus souvent associées avec l'exposition prénatale. Une fenêtre de plus grande sensibilité durant les mois de grossesse (début, milieu, fin) n'est pas vraiment identifiée.…”

Section: Données éPidémiologiquesunclassified

Pesticides and neurodevelopment in children

Etiemble¹,

Cordier²

2022

Environnement Risques Santé

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L'exposition aux pesticides a été associée aux effets néfastes sur le neurodéveloppement des enfants de populations travaillant ou vivant dans des zones agricoles. Dans les études longitudinales récentes menées en zone rurale et urbaine, l'évaluation de l'exposition par la mesure de biomarqueurs urinaires et sanguins chez les enfants et les mères pendant la grossesse permet d'associer les effets à une famille chimique ou un pesticide particulier. L'exposition aux insecticides persistants organochlorés comme le dichlorodiphényltrichloroéthane (DDT) et le dichlorodiphényldichloroéthylène (DDE) pendant la période prénatale est associée à des retards développementaux et possiblement à une augmentation du risque de troubles du spectre autistique (TSA) en zone agricole. En Guadeloupe, des altérations de la motricité fine chez de jeunes enfants en particulier les garçons ont été associées aux concentrations maternelles pendant la grossesse de chlordécone (insecticide organochloré persistant utilisé autrefois dans les bananeraies). Dans des cohortes d'enfants de plusieurs pays, des études décrivent diverses atteintes du neurodéveloppement associées aux concentrations les plus élevées de métabolites d'insecticides organophosphorés et de chlorpyrifos chez la mère pendant la grossesse. Il s'agit de perturbations du développement psychomoteur, d'altérations des fonctions visuelles, de déficits cognitifs et de l'attention, de comportements évocateurs de troubles autistiques. L'exposition prénatale et postnatale aux pyréthrinoïdes, insecticides plus récents, est associée à des altérations du développement social et émotionnel, à des déficits cognitifs, du langage, de la motricité et une possible augmentation de risque de TSA. Un éventuel effet d'herbicides comme le glyphosate sur le neurodéveloppement de l'enfant reste encore à établir. Des études expérimentales chez les rongeurs et les poissons exposés aux insecticides, décrivent des effets sur le comportement, la locomotion, les fonctions cognitives, compatibles avec les associations mentionnées dans les études épidémiologiques et les modifications observées dans différentes zones cérébrales. Les modes d'action tels que le stress oxydant, les altérations des systèmes de neurotransmission, la neuro-inflammation, les modifications de l'expression de gènes et la diversité des cibles moléculaires peuvent rendre compte de la variété des effets décrits.

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Association Between Exposure to Pesticides and ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Cited by 18 publications

References 70 publications

The Association between ADHD and Environmental Chemicals—A Scoping Review

The Association between ADHD and Environmental Chemicals—A Scoping Review

Prenatal exposure to a wide range of environmental chemicals and child behaviour between 3 and 7 years of age – An exposome-based approach in 5 European cohorts

Pesticides and neurodevelopment in children

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