Relationship between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pesticides: A Systematic Review of Human and Preclinical Models

Judit Biosca-Brull, Cristian Pérez-Fernández, Santiago Mora, Beatriz Carrillo, Helena Pinos, Nelida Maria Conejo, Paloma Collado, Jorge L. Arias, Fernando Martín-Sánchez, Fernando Sánchez-Santed and Maria Teresa Colomina
Additional contact information
Judit Biosca-Brull: Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Cristian Pérez-Fernández: Department of Psychology, Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Santiago Mora: Department of Psychology, Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Beatriz Carrillo: Department of Psychobiology, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), National Distance Education University (UNED), 28015 Madrid, Spain
Helena Pinos: Department of Psychobiology, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), National Distance Education University (UNED), 28015 Madrid, Spain
Nelida Maria Conejo: Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
Paloma Collado: Department of Psychobiology, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), National Distance Education University (UNED), 28015 Madrid, Spain
Jorge L. Arias: Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
Fernando Martín-Sánchez: National Scholl of Public Health, Institute of Health Carlos III, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Fernando Sánchez-Santed: Department of Psychology, Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Maria Teresa Colomina: Department of Psychology, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-30

Abstract: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex set of neurodevelopmental pathologies characterized by impoverished social and communicative abilities and stereotyped behaviors. Although its genetic basis is unquestionable, the involvement of environmental factors such as exposure to pesticides has also been proposed. Despite the systematic analyses of this relationship in humans, there are no specific reviews including both human and preclinical models. The present systematic review summarizes, analyzes, and discusses recent advances in preclinical and epidemiological studies. We included 45 human and 16 preclinical studies. These studies focused on Organophosphates (OP), Organochlorine (OC), Pyrethroid (PT), Neonicotinoid (NN), Carbamate (CM), and mixed exposures. Preclinical studies, where the OP Chlorpyrifos (CPF) compound is the one most studied, pointed to an association between gestational exposure and increased ASD-like behaviors, although the data are inconclusive with regard to other ages or pesticides. Studies in humans focused on prenatal exposure to OP and OC agents, and report cognitive and behavioral alterations related to ASD symptomatology. The results of both suggest that gestational exposure to certain OP agents could be linked to the clinical signs of ASD. Future experimental studies should focus on extending the analysis of ASD-like behaviors in preclinical models and include exposure patterns similar to those observed in human studies.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; sociability; pesticide; organophosphate; carbamates; organochlorine; chlorpyrifos (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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