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Developmental Neurotoxicity of Traffic-Related Air Pollution: Focus on Autism

  • Mechanisms of Toxicity (JR Richardson, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Epidemiological and animal studies suggest that air pollution may negatively affect the central nervous system (CNS) and contribute to CNS diseases. Traffic-related air pollution is a major contributor to global air pollution, and diesel exhaust (DE) is its most important component.

Recent Findings

Several studies suggest that young individuals may be particularly susceptible to air pollution-induced neurotoxicity and that perinatal exposure may cause or contribute to developmental disabilities and behavioral abnormalities. In particular, a number of recent studies have found associations between exposures to traffic-related air pollution and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which are characterized by impairment in socialization and in communication and by the presence of repetitive and unusual behaviors. The cause(s) of ASD are unknown, and while it may have a hereditary component, environmental factors are increasingly suspected as playing a pivotal role in its etiology, particularly in genetically susceptible individuals.

Summary

Autistic children present higher levels of neuroinflammation and systemic inflammation, which are also hallmarks of exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Gene-environment interactions may play a relevant role in determining individual susceptibility to air pollution developmental neurotoxicity. Given the worldwide presence of elevated air pollution, studies on its effects and mechanisms on the developing brain, genetic susceptibility, role in neurodevelopmental disorders, and possible therapeutic interventions are certainly warranted.

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Acknowledgements

Research by the authors is supported by grants from NIEHS (R01ES22949, P30ES07033, P42ES04696, T32ES07032) and NICHD (U54HD083091) and by funds from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington.

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  1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt, Suite No. 100, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Lucio G. Costa, Yu-Chi Chang & Toby B. Cole

  2. Center on Human Development and Disability, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Toby B. Cole

  3. Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy

    Lucio G. Costa

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  1. Lucio G. Costa
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Correspondence to Lucio G. Costa.

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This review article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors. Studies with animals by the authors and reported elsewhere are referred to. These studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Review Board.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Mechanisms of Toxicity

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Costa, L.G., Chang, YC. & Cole, T.B. Developmental Neurotoxicity of Traffic-Related Air Pollution: Focus on Autism. Curr Envir Health Rpt 4, 156–165 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-017-0135-2

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