Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013
The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been rapidly rising in the past decade. The etiology of this disorder, however, is largely unknown, although the environmental relative to the genetic contribution is substantial. We conducted a scoping review to comprehensivel...
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doaj-2faae73adf6b40639add700abe9708e32020-11-25T01:12:47ZengPublic Health Agency of CanadaHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada2368-738X2017-01-0137112310.24095/hpcdp.37.1.01stringEnvironmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013Michelle Ng0Joanne G. de Montigny1Marianna Ofner2Minh T. Do3Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaInstitute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaThe number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been rapidly rising in the past decade. The etiology of this disorder, however, is largely unknown, although the environmental relative to the genetic contribution is substantial. We conducted a scoping review to comprehensively assess the current state of knowledge of the environmental factors present from preconception to early life associated with ASD, and to identify research gaps. Methods: We searched electronic databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO and ERIC for articles on potential risk factors or protective factors from the physical and social environments associated with ASD and its subclassifications published between 1 January, 2003, and 12 July, 2013. We categorized articles into broad themes: chemical, physiological, nutritional and social factors, based on environmental exposure. Results: We identified over 50 000 publications, but after ineligible studies were screened out, 315 articles remained. Most of these studies examined physiological factors, followed closely by chemical factors, and to a much lesser extent, nutritional and social factors, associated with ASD. Despite a vast literature and many heterogeneous studies, several risk factors emerged consistently: chemical factors such as traffic-related air pollutants; physiological factors including advanced parental age, preterm birth, low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia and clustering of pregnancy complications; and maternal immigrant status. Despite extensive research on vaccines, findings overwhelmingly demonstrate no support for an association with ASD. Conclusion: The lack of consistency, temporality and specificity of associations between environmental factors and ASD remains the largest barrier to establishing causal relationships. More robust research is required to resolve inconsistencies in the literature. Future research should explore underlying mechanisms of associations between the risk factors that we identified and ASD.https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-37-no-1-2017/environmental-factors-associated-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-scoping-review-years-2003-2013.htmlASD, autism spectrum disorder, autism, environmental exposure, etiology |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Michelle Ng Joanne G. de Montigny Marianna Ofner Minh T. Do |
spellingShingle |
Michelle Ng Joanne G. de Montigny Marianna Ofner Minh T. Do Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013 Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada ASD, autism spectrum disorder, autism, environmental exposure, etiology |
author_facet |
Michelle Ng Joanne G. de Montigny Marianna Ofner Minh T. Do |
author_sort |
Michelle Ng |
title |
Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013 |
title_short |
Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013 |
title_full |
Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013 |
title_fullStr |
Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013 |
title_full_unstemmed |
Environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013 |
title_sort |
environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: a scoping review for the years 2003-2013 |
publisher |
Public Health Agency of Canada |
series |
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
issn |
2368-738X |
publishDate |
2017-01-01 |
description |
The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been rapidly rising in the past decade. The etiology of this disorder, however, is largely unknown, although the environmental relative to the genetic contribution is substantial. We conducted a scoping review to comprehensively assess the current state of knowledge of the environmental factors present from preconception to early life associated with ASD, and to identify research gaps. Methods: We searched electronic databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO and ERIC for articles on potential risk factors or protective factors from the physical and social environments associated with ASD and its subclassifications published between 1 January, 2003, and 12 July, 2013. We categorized articles into broad themes: chemical, physiological, nutritional and social factors, based on environmental exposure. Results: We identified over 50 000 publications, but after ineligible studies were screened out, 315 articles remained. Most of these studies examined physiological factors, followed closely by chemical factors, and to a much lesser extent, nutritional and social factors, associated with ASD. Despite a vast literature and many heterogeneous studies, several risk factors emerged consistently: chemical factors such as traffic-related air pollutants; physiological factors including advanced parental age, preterm birth, low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia and clustering of pregnancy complications; and maternal immigrant status. Despite extensive research on vaccines, findings overwhelmingly demonstrate no support for an association with ASD. Conclusion: The lack of consistency, temporality and specificity of associations between environmental factors and ASD remains the largest barrier to establishing causal relationships. More robust research is required to resolve inconsistencies in the literature. Future research should explore underlying mechanisms of associations between the risk factors that we identified and ASD. |
topic |
ASD, autism spectrum disorder, autism, environmental exposure, etiology |
url |
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-37-no-1-2017/environmental-factors-associated-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-scoping-review-years-2003-2013.html |
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