The Effects of Parental Occupational Exposures on Autism Spectrum Disorder Severity and Skills in Cognitive and Adaptive Domains in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Details

• Journal Article:
  International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
• Personal Author:
  McCanlies, Erin C. ; Gu, Ja K. ; Ma, Claudia C. ; Sanderson, Wayne T. ; Ludeña-Rodriguez, Yunin J. ; Hertz-Picciotto, Irva
• Description:
  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurobehavioral disorders characterized by poor social and communication skills, and repetitive behaviors (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). However, the severity of these core symptoms can be highly variable. Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the etiology of ASD and may modulate the phenotypic expression (Gialloreti et al., 2019). Although studies have linked parental occupational exposure (e.g. paints, xylene, solvents, exhaust and combustion products, pesticides) to ASD, to our knowledge there are no studies that have evaluated if parental occupational exposures are associated with common co-occurring behaviors or cognitive and adaptive skills in their children with autism (McCanlies et al., 2012, 2019; Schmidt et al., 2014; Windham et al., 2009, 2013; Windham et al., 2009). Diagnostic criteria for ASD include persistent deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, in nonverbal communicative behaviors, and in understanding, developing and maintaining relationships (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). They include repetitive and restrictive patterns of behavior and interests, and sensory dysfunction, such as sensitivity to touch or sounds. Individuals with ASD often have difficulty adjusting to changing social situations as well as appropriately responding to social cues (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). They are often inflexible and can become extremely distressed if their routine is disrupted, and may or may not have intellectual impairment, language impairment, or other neurodevelopmental or behavioral disorders. ASD symptoms may be apparent in children prior to the age of two, but this varies depending on the severity of their symptoms. ASD severity is based on specific symptoms including impaired social response, deficits in nonverbal and verbal communication, and restricted and/or repetitive interests or patterns of behavior (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Besides genetic factors, research has demonstrated the importance of environmental exposures in the etiology of ASD, and related behaviors or cognitive and adaptive skills (Gialloreti et al., 2019; Kalkbrenner et al., 2014; Hertz-Picciotto et al., 2018; Philippat et al., 2015). Studies evaluating pharmacokinetics indicate that the fetus and child can't clear toxicants as efficiently as adults, potentially affecting neurodevelopment, disrupting immune processes or endocrine hormones, or resulting in epigenetic changes (Ginsberg, 2004; Kalkbrenner et al., 2014; Mordaunt et al., 2019). Bisphenol A (BPA) levels were associated with the severity of social responsiveness in children with ASD (Rossignol et al., 2014). Metals measured in air pollution, diet, and dental amalgams during pregnancy suggested that chromium, mercury, and nickel exposure may be associated with ASD or ASD severity (Kalkbrenner et al., 2014). Rossignol et al. (2014) conducted a systematic review looking at environmental toxicants and the severity of ASD behaviors (Rossignol et al., 2014). These studies suggested that lead and mercury were associated with ASD severity or poor ASD outcomes (Rossignol et al., 2014). Similarly, p-cresol (4-methylphenol) measured in the urine of children with ASD compared to control children was associated with more severe ASD symptoms (Persico and Napolioni, 2013). Lead and mercury measured in the urine and red blood cells of children with ASD were associated with worse scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) (Adams et al., 2013; Alabdali et al., 2014). Braun et al. (2014) measured endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in urine and plasma of pregnant mothers. Both polybrominated diphenyl ether-28 and trans-Nonachlor were associated with higher SRS scores, indicating more severe autistic behaviors. Braun et al. (2017) also showed that prenatal urinary levels of BPA in the mothers were associated with higher Social Responsiveness Scale(TM)-2 (SRS-2) scores, and with boys more internalizing and somatizing behaviors measured using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2). Although these were not studies of parental occupational exposures, these chemicals can be found in occupational environments such as automotive, paint manufacturing, construction, and appliance industries, or hospitals and in most cases, are likely to occur at higher concentrations than in the environmental setting. Thus, it is plausible that workplace exposures may be associated with more severe ASD. Previously we found that parental occupational exposure to solvents may be associated with ASD (McCanlies et al., 2019), however our findings for parental occupational exposure to metals, pesticides, or pharmaceuticals in association with an ASD diagnosis were null, contrary to prior research (Kalkbrenner et al., 2014; McCanlies et al., 2019). We also did not evaluate the association between parental occupational exposures and ASD severity or other co-occurring developmental characteristics. Nor, to our knowledge, has this been investigated by others. Therefore, the aim of the current investigation is to fill this gap and determine if parental occupational exposures are associated with ASD severity, aberrant behaviors, or skills in cognitive and adaptive domains in their children with ASD. Corrigendum https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2026.114788: We have identified substantial print errors in Table 6 in the manuscript named above. The errors are the result of some of the grey areas not printing in the software, and the data being shifted across and within the cells where there were intentional blanks in the row. This completely shifted the data, so that the data representing outcomes are no longer aligned with the correct corresponding exposure and/or parent. The updated table is presented in the corrigendum.
• Subjects:
  Autism Spectrum Disorder Child Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Autism spectrum disorders; ASDs; Occupational exposure; Cognitive function; Behavior; Children; Neurophysiological effects; Population based studies
• Source:
  Int J Hyg Environ Health 2025 Jul; 268:114613
• ISSN:
  1438-4639
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  West Virginia ; Kentucky ; California ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; Birmingham Region [OSHA] ; San Francisco Region [OSHA]
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  18 pdf pages
• Volume:
  268
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071396
• Email:
  Emac3417@gmail.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Resource Number:
  6927ZKGZ
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f18683edb0e4a1d600f638301a7fc61eb8ea1c6245350afd00e956db6901988b10d2fb3075fe6f7cf60841a240cd8eb29a78f10e0f32eaa186bb8e75962da1c8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/258996/cdc_258996_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 10.96 MB ]