Prenatal organophosphate pesticide exposure not linked to autism traits
Prenatal organophosphate pesticide (OP) exposure is not associated with autism-related traits in childhood, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in JAMA Pediatrics.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics on August 24, 2026, found no link between prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and autism-related traits in children. Researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, led by Haleigh M. Cavalier, M.P.H., Ph.D., analyzed data from 3,339 mother-child pairs in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes cohort.
Parents of the children reported autism-related traits using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), which was administered at a mean age of 6.4 years. The study's findings remained consistent across various analyses, including sex-stratified models, sensitivity analyses, quantile and logistic regressions, and adjustments for dietary confounders.
While organophosphate pesticides are known to potentially harm the developing brain, the study suggests that their exposure at relatively low levels does not appear to be a significant factor in the development of autism-related characteristics. Cavalier emphasized that these results do not imply that organophosphate pesticides are safe or rule out potential risks at higher exposures or among more vulnerable groups.
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