Autism in boys linked to common plastic exposure in the womb

New Atlas ^ | August 8, 2024 | Paul McClure

[Red Badger]

Prenatal exposure to higher levels of bisphenol A, a plastic commonly found in water bottles and packaging and known to leach into our foods and drinks, has been linked to autism spectrum disorder in boys, according to a new study that also identified the biological mechanism underlying this link.

The risks of exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), an industrial chemical used in plastic manufacturing and found in a wide variety of plastic products, are well-documented. Known to leach out of plastics and into the foods and beverages we consume, studies have linked BPA to health issues primarily because it mimics the structure and function of the hormone estrogen, disrupting body processes such as growth, cell repair, fetal development, energy levels, and reproduction.

It's also been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD and autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a new study, researchers from The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health (The Florey) in Melbourne, Australia, have found a possible link between autism and exposure to BPA in the womb.

“Exposure to plastic chemicals during pregnancy has already been shown in some studies to be associated with subsequent autism in offspring,” said Professor Anne-Louise Ponsonby, head of Florey’s neuroepidemiology research group, who jointly led the study with research fellow Dr Wah Chin Boon. “Our work is important because it demonstrates one of the biological mechanisms potentially involved.”

[UnwashedPeasant]

BPA is sometimes used in thermal-printed receipts like the receipts from cash registers. I avoid touching them.