Are bad chemicals linked to ADHD in kids?
The association between environmental endocrine disruptors and the risk of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
PFAS exposure was linked to a reduced risk of ADHD in girls
PFAS are widely recognized as toxic and persistent environmental pollutants, often associated with negative health outcomes. An inverse association with a neurodevelopmental disorder contradicts typical expectations.
Practical Takeaways
Reduce use of plastic food containers and receipts (common sources of BPA) especially for children
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
PFAS exposure was linked to a reduced risk of ADHD in girls
PFAS are widely recognized as toxic and persistent environmental pollutants, often associated with negative health outcomes. An inverse association with a neurodevelopmental disorder contradicts typical expectations.
Practical Takeaways
Reduce use of plastic food containers and receipts (common sources of BPA) especially for children
Publication
Journal
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
Year
2025
Authors
Yuzhu Xu, Jie Xu, A. Aris, Chang Peng, Kai Pan, Chengxing Wang, Yingxi Zeng, Jie Yu
Related Content
Claims (5)
Kids who are exposed to certain harmful chemicals in the environment might be more likely to develop ADHD.
Chemicals that mess with hormones might be harming kids' brain development.
Kids who are exposed to certain chemicals in plastics might be more likely to have ADHD, according to a review of studies — but we can't say for sure that the chemicals cause it.
Boys might be more likely to develop ADHD if they're exposed to certain chemicals found in plastics and pollution, like BPA, phthalates, and PAHs.
Girls exposed to PFAS chemicals might actually have a lower chance of being diagnosed with ADHD, which is surprising because these chemicals are usually seen as harmful.