Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidence
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants found in various consumer products, such as drinking water, infant formula, and food, as well as in human biospecimens, including blood, urine, breastmilk, and cerebrospinal fluid. Previous evidence indicates that P...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008644 |
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| author | Keyue Wu Aoxue Tang Xing Zhang Shun Zhou Nana Wu Junyan Tao Yun Chen Guanghong Yang Hao Zhou Mingdan You |
| author_facet | Keyue Wu Aoxue Tang Xing Zhang Shun Zhou Nana Wu Junyan Tao Yun Chen Guanghong Yang Hao Zhou Mingdan You |
| author_sort | Keyue Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants found in various consumer products, such as drinking water, infant formula, and food, as well as in human biospecimens, including blood, urine, breastmilk, and cerebrospinal fluid. Previous evidence indicates that PFAS exposure poses significant neurotoxic risks, owing to their ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and bioaccumulate in neural tissue. The developing brains of fetuses and infants are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of environmental pollutants because of their incomplete barrier and immune system development. This narrative review synthesizes current epidemiological and experimental evidence on the neurodevelopmental effects of PFAS exposure, with a primary focus on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The available data, from both cross-sectional and prospective cohort surveys, indicate a potential link between PFAS exposure and the development of ADHD or ASD. Additionally, experimental studies demonstrate that PFAS exposure disrupts neurotransmitter regulation, induces oxidative stress and chronic neuroinflammation, and alters gut microbiota, all of which reflect key pathological features observed in both clinical and preclinical models of ADHD and ASD. The present narrative review also discusses current challenges and research directions aimed at elucidating the causal links between PFAS insults and the onset of ADHD or ASD. Notably, this review highlights the need for molecular epidemiological approaches and realistic exposure models in animal research to deepen our understanding of causal associations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1df54147f2aa41cb8a4f1076773ce249 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-1df54147f2aa41cb8a4f1076773ce2492025-08-20T03:41:17ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130211851910.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118519Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidenceKeyue Wu0Aoxue Tang1Xing Zhang2Shun Zhou3Nana Wu4Junyan Tao5Yun Chen6Guanghong Yang7Hao Zhou8Mingdan You9School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, ChinaSchool of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, ChinaDepartment of Health Toxicology, College of Naval Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, ChinaSchool of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, ChinaSchool of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, ChinaDepartment of toxicology, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, ChinaDepartment of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou 550002, ChinaGuizhou Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou 550004, ChinaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, China; Corresponding author at: Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China.School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, China; Corresponding author at: School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 561113, China.Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental contaminants found in various consumer products, such as drinking water, infant formula, and food, as well as in human biospecimens, including blood, urine, breastmilk, and cerebrospinal fluid. Previous evidence indicates that PFAS exposure poses significant neurotoxic risks, owing to their ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and bioaccumulate in neural tissue. The developing brains of fetuses and infants are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of environmental pollutants because of their incomplete barrier and immune system development. This narrative review synthesizes current epidemiological and experimental evidence on the neurodevelopmental effects of PFAS exposure, with a primary focus on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The available data, from both cross-sectional and prospective cohort surveys, indicate a potential link between PFAS exposure and the development of ADHD or ASD. Additionally, experimental studies demonstrate that PFAS exposure disrupts neurotransmitter regulation, induces oxidative stress and chronic neuroinflammation, and alters gut microbiota, all of which reflect key pathological features observed in both clinical and preclinical models of ADHD and ASD. The present narrative review also discusses current challenges and research directions aimed at elucidating the causal links between PFAS insults and the onset of ADHD or ASD. Notably, this review highlights the need for molecular epidemiological approaches and realistic exposure models in animal research to deepen our understanding of causal associations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008644Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substancesAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderAutism spectrum disorderNeurotransmitterOxidative stressGut microbiota |
| spellingShingle | Keyue Wu Aoxue Tang Xing Zhang Shun Zhou Nana Wu Junyan Tao Yun Chen Guanghong Yang Hao Zhou Mingdan You Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidence Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Autism spectrum disorder Neurotransmitter Oxidative stress Gut microbiota |
| title | Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidence |
| title_full | Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidence |
| title_fullStr | Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidence |
| title_short | Relationship between PFAS and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder: Epidemiological and experimental evidence |
| title_sort | relationship between pfas and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder epidemiological and experimental evidence |
| topic | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Autism spectrum disorder Neurotransmitter Oxidative stress Gut microbiota |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325008644 |
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