07/05/2024
Interesting. For years I have been one of those people who won’t microwave using plastic containers, bought my kids glass baby bottles and metal drink bottles, bought food in glass jars, and generally try to limit plastic (although there is still a massive amount of plastic!). I often wondered about a link between plastics such as bisphenol A (BPA) and neurodivergence. Recent research published in PLOS ONE found that children with ADHD and autism cannot efficiently clear BPA via the process of glucuronidation which is the chemical process used by the body to clear toxins within the blood through urine. This means that the body is more exposed to the effects of plastics which stick around in the body. The data does not show that plastics “cause” ADHD or autism, however, it certainly suggests that neurodivergent children may be more sensitive to the effects of plastics.
Stein, T.P., et al. (2023). Bisphenol-A and phthalate metabolism in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. PLoS ONE 18(9)
