A study has revealed shocking details about the role of plastics in developing autism. The study has found that exposure to a component of hard plastics – bisphenol A, or BPA – in the womb can increase the risk of boys developing this neurodevelopmental disorder.
The study suggests that BPA might have a role in oestrogen levels in infant and school-aged boys, which can then affect their chance of being diagnosed with autism.
BPA, a component of hard plastics, is found in plastics used for food and some drink containers. Reportedly, many people are exposed to low levels of BPA every day. As BPA can weakly mimic the effects of the hormone oestrogen in our body, there have been concerns over how it impacts our health.
Some countries have banned BPA in baby bottles, as a precaution; Australia is voluntarily phasing it out in baby bottles.
Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, can lead to varied issues like seizures, changes in motor function (for example, difficulties with fine motor coordination, such as holding a pencil or turning a key to open a door), anxiety, sensory issues, sleeping problems as well as gut upsets.
People with autism often face difficulties with social communication and repetitive and/or restrictive behaviours. other than genetics, environmental factors can also contribute to developing autism. The researchers of the study attempted to analyse another possible environmental factor: being exposed to BPA in the womb.
According to a report by ScienceAlert, the researchers looked at a group (or cohort) of 1,074 Australian children; roughly half were boys. They found 43 children (29 boys and 14 girls) had an autism diagnosis by age seven to 11 (average age nine years). The team of researchers found that a link between high maternal BPA levels and a greater risk of autism in boys with low aromatase activity.
Children with gene changes that might indicate lower levels of oestrogens were classified as having “low aromatase activity”. The team also studied the effect of mice being exposed to BPA in the womb.
It is noteworthy that although there is a between plastics and the development of autism, the study doesn’t say one causes the other. The study also highlighted that there could be a gene-environment interaction and babies with certain gene variations could be more susceptible to BPA effects and have an increased risk of autism. However, more research is needed to establish this interaction.
The findings of the study were published in the Nature Communications.