Science Library Abstract
Published: 2018
SYNOPSIS
The offspring of mothers exposed to DDT and its metabolites during pregnancy are at increased risk for autism.
TITLE
Association of maternal insecticide levels with autism in offspring from a national birth cohort
Citation
Brown AS, Cheslack-Postava K, Rantakokko P, et al. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2018;175:1094-1101.
Summary
The study provides the first evidence based on biomarkers of an increased autism risk in the offspring of mothers exposed to certain insecticides during pregnancy. In this large national birth cohort study of Finnish children, the odds of autism plus intellectual disability were increased by greater than twofold in mothers measuring with the highest levels of a DDT metabolite.