title: Parental occupational exposures and autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: Both self-report and industrial hygienist (IH) assessed parental occupational information were used in this pilot study in which 174 families (93 children with ASD and 81 unaffected children) enrolled in the Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment study participated. IH results indicated exposures to lacquer, varnish, and xylene occurred more often in the parents of children with ASD compared to the parents of unaffected children. Parents of children with ASD were more likely to report exposures to asphalt and solvents compared to parents of unaffected children. This study was limited by the small sample size, but results suggest that workplace exposures to some chemicals may be important in the etiology of ASD and deserve further investigation.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Rd., Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: McCanlies
authors.forename: Desta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fekedulegn
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mnatsakanova
authors.forename: Cecil M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Burchfiel
authors.forename: Wayne T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.forename: Luenda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: Irva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hertz-Picciotto
mesh_terms: D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010290:Parents; D010865:Pilot Projects