儿童自闭症的环境危险因素研究进展

Advances on the research of the environmental risk factors of children autism

自闭症是一种儿童中枢神经系统发育障碍性疾病，其症状主要表现为社会功能和语言沟通缺陷、异常狭窄的兴趣和行为，可持续终身。自闭症的发病和病理机制尚不明确，难以防治，已成为全球性的公共健康问题。随着自闭症的患病率增加，环境因素在自闭症发生过程中的作用，引起了人们的关注。本文结合了近期人群流行病学调查资料和动物试验证据，从空气污染物、重金属和农药等三方面的环境暴露，探讨环境危险因素与儿童白闭症的关系，结果发现空气污染物、重金属和农药的暴露可能与自闭症的患病率增加有关。并提出未来应进一步加强环境危险因素对自闭症发生的相关机制研究，以期为预防、治疗和控制提供启示。

Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by social interaction and communication impairments, accompanied by repetitive behaviors. Little is known about the causes and contributing factors for autism. It is difficult to prevent and cure, and has become a globe public health problem. With the development in the prevalence of autism, the idea how the environmental factors cause the autism, gains all attentions. Summarizing latest epidemiological studies and experimental evidence, this review is focused on the effect of environmental factors, including air pollutant, heavy metal and pesticides, and discussed the relation between environmental risk factors and autism. The results showed that risks of autism in children may increase following in prenatal exposure to air pollutants, heavy metal and pesticides. It is needed to do the research on the mechanism of environmental risk factor and autism for more prevention, treatment and control suggestions.