A pilot study of several environmental endocrine disrupt ing chemicals in children with autism spectrum disorder in South China

Abstract

Abstract Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders. Evidences have implied that environmental pollutants are important factors related to ASD. In this study, several environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) including parabens, benzophenone-type ultraviolet (BP-type UV) filters, hydroxyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs), triclosan (TCS) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) were analyzed in blood plasma in ASD (n=34) and the control children (n=28). The results showed that parabens were the most concentrated chemicals (2.18 ng/mL, median value) in ASD children, followed by OH-PAHs (0.73 ng/mL), BP-type UV filters (0.14 ng/mL), TCS (0.13 ng/mL) and TBBPA (0.03 ng/mL). ASD children accumulated significantly lower 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP-3), 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HBP) and TCS, but higher 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OH-Phen) and TBBPA than the control children (0.02/0.09 ng/mL of BP-3, p < 0.05; 0.04/0.07 ng/mL of BP-1, p < 0.05; 0.03/0.04 ng/mL of 4-HBP, p < 0.05; 0.13/1.22 ng/mL of TCS, p < 0.01; 0.03 ng/mL/not detected of 2-OH-Phen, p < 0.05; 0.03/0.004 ng/mL of TBBPA, p < 0.05). Sex-dependent differences in certain EDCs were evident, and the differences more inclined to boys. Positive associations between BP-3 and TCS, and TBBPA and 2-OH-Phen were found in ASD boys. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the adjusted odds ratio (OR) value of 2-OH-Phen in ASD boys was 11.0 (1.45-84.0, p < 0.05). This is the first pilot study on multiple EDCs in children with ASD in China.