Professionally Applied Indoor Chemicals and Early-Life Exposures Found to Pose Significant Neurodevelopmental Hazards
New research utilizing data from the CHARGE study highlights the significant neurodevelopmental risks associated with prenatal and early life exposure to household insecticides, particularly in relation to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study found a strikingly elevated risk of ASD—over twofold—linked to professional indoor insecticide applications, likely due to these chemicals’ persistence and neurotoxic properties. Additionally, consumer-grade insecticides used outdoors during a child’s first two years also posed substantial risks, emphasizing the pervasiveness of this hazard. The study underscores sex-specific vulnerabilities, with male children showing stronger associations, and points to potential mechanisms such as neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modifications. The findings call for stricter regulations, safer practices, and increased monitoring of residential insecticide use to safeguard vulnerable populations and reduce ASD risks, advancing public health policy and intervention strategies.
