The study is the result of a collaboration between Camila Esguerra’s group at NCMM and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. By combining data from a large cohort study on human breast milk in Norway and analysis in zebrafish models, they have identified a link between an environmental pollutant and the risk of developing autism.
The data was obtained as part of the Human Milk Study (HUMIS), led by Merete Eggesbø at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Here, about 1200 mother-child pairs participated in the study from birth and were followed up yearly until the children were aged 16.
One of the chemicals identified in the milk samples, β-Hexachlorocyclohexane (bHCH), was linked to a higher risk of developing autism spectrum disorder when present at high levels in the mothers’ breast milk. The association between bHCH and an increased risk of developing autism was confirmed using zebrafish as model systems.
bHCH derives from the broad-spectrum insecticide Lindane, which has been banned in the EU since 2008. Norway was one of the first to ban Lindane already in 1992. However, the chemical is very stable and can persist in both the environment and in tissue for long periods of time. Furthermore, it is still used in other parts of the world, where it may contaminate into the oceans.
The study highlights the need to prevent such environmental contamination, and awareness of the long-term effect pollutants can have in the population.
Invitation to EMBL Rome
Wietske van der Ent, co-author and member of the Esguerra group, presented the study at the Nordic EMBL Partnership meeting in September this year. Following this, Camila Esguerra has been invited to EMBL Rome to present the work in March 2024 for their Human Ecosystems Transversal Theme Seminar.
Publication
Desalegn, A. A., van der Ent, W., Lenters, V., Iszatt, N., Stigum, H., Lyche, J. L., Berg, V., Kirstein-Smardzewska, K. J., Esguerra, C. V., & Eggesbø, M. (2023). Perinatal exposure to potential endocrine disrupting chemicals and autism spectrum disorder: From Norwegian birth cohort to zebrafish studies. Environment international, 181, 108271.