"A large new study published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health provides evidence that exposure to certain workplace chemicals among parents may influence the severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms and contribute to behavioral, cognitive, and adaptive challenges in their children. The findings suggest that occupational exposures—especially to plastics, ethylene oxide, phenols, and pharmaceutical agents—may have broader developmental effects beyond autism diagnosis alone."

"The effects of parental occupational exposures on autism spectrum disorder severity and skills in cognitive and adaptive domains in children with autism spectrum disorder" https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S143846392...

The person leading this study, Erin C. McCanlies, was forced out of the CDC, her division eliminated and she went into early retirement from the CDC. https://www.psypost.org/scientist-who-linked-autism-to-chemi...

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"The findings suggest that workplace exposures to several specific chemical classes were associated with worse outcomes in children with ASD. One of the strongest and most consistent patterns involved plastics and polymer chemicals. Fathers’ exposure to plastics was associated with lower scores across all cognitive and adaptive skill domains, including language, motor coordination, daily living skills, and overall functioning. When both parents were exposed, the deficits appeared to compound.

“I was surprised how strongly and consistently plastics and polymers stood out as being linked with multiple developmental and behavioral outcomes including irritability, hyperactivity, and daily living,” McCanlies told PsyPost.

Exposure to ethylene oxide—commonly used in hospital sterilization—was also linked to more severe autism symptoms, lower expressive language abilities, and poorer adaptive functioning. Similarly, parental exposure to phenol (used in construction, automotive, and some consumer products) and pharmaceuticals was associated with increased ASD severity and more pronounced behavioral challenges, especially hyperactivity and stereotyped behavior.

While the results do not imply that all children exposed to these chemicals will develop more severe symptoms, the patterns suggest that early life exposure to workplace toxicants may amplify certain developmental difficulties in children who already meet criteria for ASD. The study provides one of the most detailed looks to date at how parental occupation may relate not just to diagnosis, but to variation in how autism is expressed.

“Our findings suggest that certain parental workplace exposures may be related not just to autism, but to worse symptoms and autism behaviors,” McCanlies explained."