Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in relation to autism and developmental delay: a case-control study

Abstract

BackgroundPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants used widely and in increasing amounts in the U.S. over the last few decades. PBDEs and their metabolites cross the placenta and studies in rodents demonstrate neurodevelopmental toxicity from prenatal exposures. PBDE exposures occur both via breastfeeding and hand-to-mouth activities in small children.MethodsParticipants were 100 children from the CHARGE (CHildhood Autism Risk from Genetics and the Environment) Study, a case-control epidemiologic investigation of children with autism/autism spectrum disorder, with developmental delay and from the general population. Diagnoses of autism were confirmed by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Autism Diagnostic Inventory-Revised, and of developmental delay using the Mullen's Scales of Early Learning and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Typically developing controls were those with no evidence of delay, autism, or autism spectrum disorder. Eleven PBDE congeners were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry from serum specimens collected after children were assessed. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between plasma PBDEs and autism.ResultsChildren with autism/autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay were similar to typically developing controls for all PBDE congeners, but levels were high for all three groups.ConclusionsPlasma samples collected post-diagnosis in this study may not represent early life exposures due to changes in diet and introduction of new household products containing PBDEs. Studies with direct measurements of prenatal or infant exposures are needed to assess the possible causal role for these compounds in autism spectrum disorders.

Mass spectrometry as a tool for studying autism spectrum disorder

“…For example, blood mercury levels were found to be unaltered relative to controls in children 2–5 years old with autism or ASD (with developmental delay) relative to controls [82] (n = 249, n = 60, n = 143, respectively). Possible presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in children with autism and developmental delay were also assessed in 100 subjects from this study using GC-MS. No differences were observed in the plasma levels of PBDEs in children with autism or ASDs/developmental delay in this study [83]. This report again emphasizes the utility of MS methods for assessing the presence of possible environmental toxins in individuals with ASDs.…”

Environmental Endocrine Disruptor Affects Voluntary Physical Activity in Mice

“…Pregnant female mice were administered a gavage treatment of either a control substance (100µl of sesame oil) or BBP (500 mg·kg −1 ·day −1 in a vehicle of 100µl of sesame oil; 6) on gestation days 9–16 when organ system development and testosterone production occurs (30). While the BBP dosage we used was based on previous studies (6, 30), it is estimated that fetuses are exposed to 1/100–1/1000 of the mother’s dose of BBP (27). Thus, we estimate that the fetuses were exposed to ≈ 0.5–5 mg·kg −1 ·day −1 which places these exposure rates slightly above the US EPA safe dose for humans of 0.2 mg·kg −1 ·day −1 (38).…”

Insights into spatially and temporally co-occurring polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sediments of the East China Sea

“…for humans (Darnerud et al, 2001), and some low brominated PBDEs may even result in subtle developmental, immunological and endocrinological effects on children (Herbstman et al, 2010;Gascon et al, 2011;Hertz-Picciotto et al, 2011). Therefore, the distribution levels and compositions of PBDEs in environments could be carefully inspected to estimate their environmental and ecological security.…”