Polychlorinated Biphenyl and Organochlorine Pesticide Concentrations in Maternal Mid-Pregnancy Serum Samples: Association with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Background:Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are neurodevelopmental toxicants, but few studies have examined associations with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Objectives:We aimed to determine whether prenatal exposure to PCBs and OCPs influences offspring risk of ASD and intellectual disability without autism (ID).Methods:We conducted a population-based case–control study among Southern California births, including children with ASD (n = 545) meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV-TR) criteria and ID (n = 181), as well as general population (GP) controls (n = 418). Concentrations of 11 PCB congeners and 2 OCPs measured in banked second-trimester serum samples were compared between the diagnostic groups. Logistic regression was used to calculate crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for associations with ASD, and separately for ID, compared with GP controls, by quartiles of analyte concentrations in primary analyses.Results:Geometric mean levels of several PCB congeners were higher in the ASD group than in the ID and GP groups. ASD risk was elevated for a number of PCB congeners, particularly for the highest vs. lowest quartile of PCB138/158 (AOR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.71) and PCB153 (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.10, 3.02), and for highest deciles of other congeners in secondary analyses. PCB138/158 was also associated with increased ID (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.18, 4.91), though no trend was suggested. OCPs were not associated with increased risk of ASD in primary analyses, whereas nonmonotonic increases in risk of ID were found with p,p´-DDE.Conclusions:Our results suggest higher levels of some organochlorine compounds during pregnancy are associated with ASD and ID.Citation:Lyall K, Croen LA, Sjödin A, Yoshida CK, Zerbo O, Kharrazi M, Windham GC. 2017. Polychlorinated biphenyl and organochlorine pesticide concentrations in maternal mid-pregnancy serum samples: association with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Environ Health Perspect 125:474–480; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP277

Maternal Exposures Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Jamaican Children

“…Some of these studies reported positive associations between residential proximity to pesticides during the first trimester (Roberts et al, 2007) or any point during pregnancy, especially the third trimester (Shelton et al, 2014). In contrast, studies using maternal biological markers to assess exposures have reported no association between pesticides and ASD (Lyall et al, 2017b) or autistic behaviors (Millenson et al, 2017). Another study using self-reported pesticide exposure data attempted to correct for exposure misclassification and found that the association varied when corrected for different degrees of exposure misclassification, leading the authors to suggest future validation studies to be conducted (Keil, Daniels, & Hertz-Picciotto, 2014).…”

Autism genes are selectively targeted by environmental pollutants including pesticides, heavy metals, bisphenol A, phthalates and many others in food, cosmetics or household products

“…During the revision of this paper, high serum levels of PCB-153 and PCB-138 in banked maternal second trimester serum samples were shown to be related to increased autism risk [107]. Both are enriched in ASG's (Fig 4).…”

“…High serum levels of PCB's in banked second trimester maternal samples associated with an increased risk of autism (particularly so for PCB138/158 and PCB153 ) [107]. Prenatal use in the first trimester associated with autism development in boys [120].…”

Independent Maternal and Fetal Genetic Effects on Midgestational Circulating Levels of Environmental Pollutants

“…Two additional variables for total PBDEs and PCBs were created by summing the individual concentrations of congeners with detection rates >60% (Sum PBDE and Sum PCB), as previously described (Lyall et al 2015, 2016). We also examined the sum of congeners with detection rates >80% but we did not find any differences compared with the less stringent criteria.…”