Exposure to fine particulate air pollution before birth and through the first two years of life may increase a child’s risk of developing autism spectrum disorder, a study of families living in southwestern Pennsylvania suggests.
“Autism spectrum disorders are lifelong conditions for which there is no cure and limited treatment options, so there is an urgent need to identify any risk factors that we could mitigate, such as pollution,” says lead author Evelyn Talbott, professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh.
“Our findings reflect an association, but do not prove causality. Further investigation is needed to determine possible biological mechanisms for such an association.”
Dust, dirt, and smoke
For a new study, researchers performed a population-based, case-control study of families with and without ASD living in six southwestern Pennsylvania counties. They obtained detailed information about where the mothers lived before, during, and after pregnancy.
Using a model developed by coauthor Jane Clougherty, assistant professor of environmental and occupational health, researchers were able to estimate individual exposure to a type of air pollution called PM2.5.
This type of pollution refers to particles found in the air that are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, or 1/30th the average width of a human hair. PM2.5 includes dust, dirt, soot, and smoke. Because of its small size, PM2.5 can reach deeply into the lungs and get into the blood stream. Southwestern Pennsylvania has consistently ranked among the nation’s worst regions for PM2.5 levels, according to data collected by the American Lung Association.
“There is increasing and compelling evidence that points to associations between Pittsburgh’s poor air quality and health problems, especially those affecting our children and including issues such as autism spectrum disorder and asthma,” says Grant Oliphant, president of the Heinz Endowments, which funded the study.
“While we recognize that further study is needed, we must remain vigilant about the need to improve our air quality and to protect the vulnerable. Our community deserves a healthy environment and clean air.”
The 6 counties
Autism spectrum disorders affect one in 68 children and include a range of conditions characterized by social deficits and communication difficulties that typically become apparent early in childhood.
Reported cases of ASD have risen nearly eight-fold in the last two decades. While previous studies have shown the increase to be partially due to changes in diagnostic practices and greater public awareness of autism, this does not fully explain the increased prevalence. Both genetic and environmental factors are believed to be responsible.
For the study, published in Environmental Research, Talbott and colleagues interviewed the families of 211 children with ASD and 219 children without ASD born between 2005 and 2009. The families lived in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington, and Westmoreland counties in Pennsylvania. Estimated average exposure to PM2.5 before, during, and after pregnancy was compared between children with and without ASD.
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Based on the child’s exposure to concentrations of PM2.5 during the mother’s pregnancy and the first two years of life, the findings show that children who fell into higher exposure groups were at an approximate 1.5-fold greater risk of ASD after accounting for other factors associated with the child’s risk for ASD—such as the mother’s age, education, and smoking during pregnancy. This risk estimate is in agreement with several other recent investigations of PM2.5 and autism.
Earlier research showed an association between ASD and increased levels of air toxics, including chromium and styrene. Studies by other institutions using different populations also have associated pollutants with ASD.
“Air pollution levels have been declining since the 1990s; however, we know that pockets of increased levels of air pollution remain throughout our region and other areas,” Talbott says. “Our study builds on previous work in other regions showing that pollution exposures may be involved in ASD. Going forward, I would like to see studies that explore the biological mechanisms that may underlie this association.”
Source: University of Pittsburgh
