Prenatal exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and the risk of autism spectrum disorders in children aged 16–37 months: A prospective cohort study

IF 7.3 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Environmental Pollution Pub Date : 2025-06-21 DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126700

Fallah Hashemi , Lori Hoepner , Hassan Hashemi , Mohammad Hoseini , Elma Omeragić , Farahnaz Soleimani Hamidinejad , Daniela Haluza , Magdalena Mititelu , Cui Guo

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Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a neurological disorder can result from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors such as air pollution and exposure to chemical pollutants. This study tested the hypothesis that living in areas near petrochemical industries and exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) may adversely affect maternal and fetal health and increase the risk of autism. We conducted a prospective cohort study from 2019 to 2024, following 110 pregnant women divided into exposure and control groups, along with 145 children born during the study [exposure group (n = 80) and control group (n = 65)]. Prenatal urinary BTEX concentrations were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The MCHAT-R/F screening tool was used to track the child's behavior in terms of the occurrence of autism spectrum symptoms. The results showed that the mean concentration of prenatal BTEX urine concentration in the exposed group (557 ng/l) was significantly higher than that in the control group (258 ng/l). The M-CHAT-R/F screening indicated moderate ASD risk in six exposure group children and three control group children; and high ASD risk for four exposure group children and one control group child. The findings in the exposure group revealed a higher incidence of ASD among boys compared to girls (4:2 in medium risk and 3:1 in high risk). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the prevalence of autism in the exposed group was significantly associated with exposure to benzene (OR, 2.10; 95%CI, 1.93–2.17; P_value<0.05) and toluene (OR, 1.7; 95%CI, 1.62–1.81; P_value<0.05). Living in industrial areas and perinatal exposure to BTEX compounds may increase the risk of ASD. Therefore, health impact assessment studies focusing on the health of vulnerable groups before the construction of petrochemical industries, as well as the monitoring of relevant health indices during the operational phase, should be prioritized.

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产前暴露于苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯（BTEX）与16至37月龄儿童自闭症谱系障碍的风险：一项前瞻性队列研究

自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）作为一种神经系统疾病，可能是遗传和环境因素（如空气污染和暴露于化学污染物）相互作用的结果。这项研究验证了一个假设，即居住在石化工业附近的地区，接触苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯（BTEX）可能会对母婴健康产生不利影响，并增加患自闭症的风险。我们从2019年到2024年进行了一项前瞻性队列研究，将110名孕妇分为暴露组和对照组，以及在研究期间出生的145名儿童[暴露组（n=80）和对照组（n=65）]。采用气相色谱-质谱联用（GC/MS）法测定产前尿BTEX浓度。使用MCHAT-R/F筛选工具跟踪儿童在自闭症谱系症状发生方面的行为。结果显示，暴露组产前BTEX尿浓度平均浓度（557 ng/l）显著高于对照组（258 ng/l）。M-CHAT-R/F筛查结果显示，暴露组6例患儿和对照组3例患儿存在中度ASD风险；四名接触组儿童和一名对照组儿童的自闭症风险较高。暴露组的研究结果显示，与女孩相比，男孩的ASD发病率更高（中等风险为4:2，高风险为3:1）。多因素logistic回归分析显示，接触组自闭症患病率与苯接触显著相关(OR, 2.10；95%置信区间,1.93 - -2.17;Pvalue<0.05)和甲苯(OR, 1.7；95%置信区间,1.62 - -1.81;Pvalue< 0.05)。生活在工业区和围产期接触BTEX化合物可能会增加患ASD的风险。因此，应重点开展石化产业建设前针对弱势群体的健康影响评价研究，以及运营阶段相关健康指标的监测。

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来源期刊

Environmental Pollution 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

16.00

自引率

6.70%

发文量

2082

审稿时长

2.9 months

期刊介绍： Environmental Pollution is an international peer-reviewed journal that publishes high-quality research papers and review articles covering all aspects of environmental pollution and its impacts on ecosystems and human health. Subject areas include, but are not limited to: • Sources and occurrences of pollutants that are clearly defined and measured in environmental compartments, food and food-related items, and human bodies; • Interlinks between contaminant exposure and biological, ecological, and human health effects, including those of climate change; • Contaminants of emerging concerns (including but not limited to antibiotic resistant microorganisms or genes, microplastics/nanoplastics, electronic wastes, light, and noise) and/or their biological, ecological, or human health effects; • Laboratory and field studies on the remediation/mitigation of environmental pollution via new techniques and with clear links to biological, ecological, or human health effects; • Modeling of pollution processes, patterns, or trends that is of clear environmental and/or human health interest; • New techniques that measure and examine environmental occurrences, transport, behavior, and effects of pollutants within the environment or the laboratory, provided that they can be clearly used to address problems within regional or global environmental compartments.