High exposure to some organophosphate esters (OPEs) during pregnancy was associated with higher scores for increased autism-related traits and greater odds of an autism diagnosis in children, according to research from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program led by Jennifer Ames, PhD, and Lisa Croen, PhD of Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Overall, the study found generally small associations between three OPEs and child autism-related outcomes.
OPEs, often called “regrettable replacements,” replaced polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the mid-2000s as flame retardants and plastic softeners, and are now found in furniture, electronics, construction materials, textiles, and infant products. Despite their widespread use, little is known about their effects on child development.
In this study, ECHO researchers analyzed urine samples from 4,159 pregnant mothers for nine OPE biomarkers and assessed children’s autism-related traits using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), along with autism diagnoses.
Key findings include:
- High exposure to bis(butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP) was associated with higher autism-related trait scores and greater odds of an autism diagnosis, particularly among boys.
- Bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP) exposure was linked to higher autism-related trait scores.
- High exposure to bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCETP) was associated with lower odds of an autism diagnosis.
“Organophosphate esters are widely used, but their potential effects on neurodevelopment are understudied. Our findings highlight the need for further research to understand their long-term effects on child neurodevelopment,” said Dr. Ames.
The study included children born from 2006 to 2020 at 15 ECHO Cohort sites across the United States.
This collaborative research, titled “Exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers during pregnancy and autism-related outcomes in the ECHO Cohort,” is published in Environmental Health Perspectives.