Perinatal Exposure to Trace Elements: The Dubious Culprit of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Children

Abstract

There is evidence that few trace elements in the environment work as hazardous materials in terms of their exposure in the perinatal period, causing autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, and avoiding these exposures in the environment can reduce the number of new cases. This perspective study provides preliminary evidence to consider a few trace elements as culprits for ASD. More studies with larger cohorts are needed, but meanwhile, as per available evidence, exposure to these hazardous materials must be warranted during pregnancy and early stages of life.

Keywords: autism; autistic spectrum disorder; children; environment; perinatal exposure; pregnancy; trace elements.