Did a chemical accident affect kids' brain development?
Exploring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) in children exposed to polybrominated biphenyl
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Early-life exposure led to much higher chemical levels than prenatal exposure, yet neither was linked to ADHD or autism.
Scientists often assume early development (especially in utero) is the most vulnerable period. But here, kids with far higher exposure from eating contaminated food didn’t show increased neurodevelopmental risk.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t assume chemical exposure automatically leads to ADHD or autism—even in high-risk groups.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Early-life exposure led to much higher chemical levels than prenatal exposure, yet neither was linked to ADHD or autism.
Scientists often assume early development (especially in utero) is the most vulnerable period. But here, kids with far higher exposure from eating contaminated food didn’t show increased neurodevelopmental risk.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t assume chemical exposure automatically leads to ADHD or autism—even in high-risk groups.
Publication
Journal
Environmental Epidemiology
Year
2024
Authors
G. Christensen, Metrecia L. Terrell, B. D. Pearce, Robert B. Hood, Hillary Barton, Melanie A. Pearson, Michele Marcus
Related Content
Claims (6)
Kids who are exposed to certain harmful chemicals in the environment might have a harder time controlling their impulses or stopping themselves from doing something they shouldn't.
In a group of moms and kids in Michigan, being exposed to a chemical called PBB-153 during pregnancy didn’t seem to increase the chances of the child being diagnosed with autism — the numbers even leaned slightly toward lower risk, but the results weren’t strong enough to be sure.
People who were exposed to a chemical called PBB-153 as babies or before birth — because of a pollution incident in Michigan in 1973 — were no more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD as kids or adults than those with less exposure.
Kids who ate contaminated food in the 1970s had much higher levels of a flame retardant in their bodies than babies who were exposed before birth through their mothers.
Women in Michigan who were exposed to a chemical called PBB years ago report having ADHD more often than usual—about 1 in 9—so researchers wonder if the exposure might be linked to more ADHD cases or if they're just more aware of it.