Environmental pollution as a risk factor for autism spectrum disorders in children and adolescents

Abstract

Abstract Autism spectrum disorders caused, inter alia, by environmental pollutions have been in focus of public health leaders, doctors (paediatricians, perinatologists, nutrition experts). Based on the data from 2016 Demographic Yearbook, it has been established that among children and adolescents in the age below 17, the population of boys is 3155000 and girls 3994000. In USA in recent decades the CDC studies have shown that the incidence of ASD has increased from 1 case per 150 children in 2000 to 1 case per 59 children in 2014 i.e. it more than doubled. Three groups of factors modifying the risk of ASD development in children and adolescent populations, being more common in boys population, were identified: the declining environmental chemical pollution by POP, probably reduces the inflammation status of microglia cells in the central nervous system. Significant gender distinction of the microglia cells of the mouse brain, caused probably by steroid hormones at the transcriptome level, results in a different behaviour of the microglia in female individuals. The microglia cells of this gender reduce the level of microglia damage caused by acute focal ischemia. It seems likely that the lower prevalence of ASD in girls may be due to the effective protective activity of female sex hormones, at this level. Meanwhile the elimination of chemical pollutants from the discussed substances on the gastrointestinal tract - white part of the brain axis strengthens the proper functioning of the intestinal microbiome - brain axis. Demographic data, it has been estimated that the number of boys at risk of ASD in Poland may be approximately 30000 and girls fourfold less, i.e. approximately 7500. A definite absence of epidemiological data collected through representative studies on the prevalence of ASD in children aged 3-17 years in Poland indicates a need for a proper diagnosis in order to develop a more effective health care system for population in question compared to the existing one. Key messages The female sex hormones protect the majority of girls against ASD, probably at a brain microglia level. Brain microglia, may be key to mitigation of the risk of asd health disorder in the population of girls and women.