Rates of autism spectrum disorders and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have risen steadily and sharply since the 1970s. The exact reasons for this are currently unknown, but there are various explanations – one of which is that the phenomenon can be traced back to environmental factors, such as the spread of plastics. the One plus A scientific study was recently published in a scientific journal showing for the first time the relationship between plastic materials and disorders of the nervous system development in children.
According to colleagues at Rowan Virtua and Rutgers University School of Medicine, children with autism and ADHD have been shown to have a reduced ability to excrete and eliminate BPA. This is why bisphenols and phthalates accumulate in children’s bodies.
The mentioned materials are additives widely used to increase the flexibility and heat resistance of plastic. BPA itself is one of the most widely produced compounds, with millions of tons produced annually. The health effects of this substance, also known as BPA, which causes hormonal changes, obesity, diabetes, and brain changes, have been known for many years, yet it is still used today. The European Union has banned its use in baby bottles since 2011, in other products made for children since 2018, and in ribbons used to print receipts since 2020.
When BPA enters the body, it is transported to the liver via the bloodstream, where a sugar molecule is added through a process called glucuronidation, making the molecule water-soluble and excreted through the kidneys in the urine. The effectiveness of this process can vary greatly from person to person, depending on genetics – and as a result, there are those whose tissues are exposed to the chemical for a longer period of time and in higher concentrations.
Thus, the role of bisphenol in a number of disorders can be proven. In this case, compared to the control group, the ability to add sugar molecules was 10% lower in children with autism, and 17% lower in children with ADHD.
Specialists at Rutgers Children’s Clinic in New Jersey examined glucuronidation in 66 people with autism, 46 with ADHD, and 37 healthy children.
This is the first strong evidence of a biochemical link linking BPA to the development of autism and ADHD. We were surprised to find the same deficit in BPA detoxification in ADHD
– said the lead author of the research, T. Peter Stein, who believes that further investigations are needed to determine whether the development of neurological disorders begins in the womb as a result of pollutants, or whether this only occurs after birth.
According to the researcher, other factors may also play a role in the development of the disorder, as not all affected children had problems metabolizing BPA. Regardless, according to Stein, BPA’s role must be important, otherwise it would not have been so clear in the not-so-large sample they examined.
