Association between pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl exposure during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder among children: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The effect of exposure to environmental factors on autism spectrum disorders (ASD), especially during pregnancy, is unclear. PURPOSE: This meta-analysis investigated the association between exposure to pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during pregnancy and ASD risk among children. METHODS: We searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest for articles published through September 2019. Random-effects models were used to examine the association among studies using pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). I(2) tests were used to measure interstudy heterogeneity. RESULTS: The pooled OR indicated a significant association between PCB and pesticide exposure during pregnancy and ASD risk among children (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.26–2.34; and OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02–1.39), respectively. CONCLUSION: Findings of the present study indicate that exposure to pesticides and PCBs during pregnancy may affect the risk of ASD among children.