Background: There has been much debate and inquiry surrounding the nature of the increase in prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are many environmental risk factors that have been postulated to be associated with the development of ASD. Cosmetic products are widely used in daily life. The aim of this study was to clarify whether maternal cosmetics usage is a risk factor of ASD. Patients and Methods: The present work was a cross sectional case-control study. Fifty eight mothers with children, who have been diagnosed with ASD by meeting the DMS-5 criteria, were compared with 49 mothers with neurotypical children. The mothers were asked to complete a short questionnaire comprised their use of cosmetics outside of pregnancy and changes in use during pregnancy. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between cases and controls as regard the overall usage of cosmetics. Indoors usage of makeup was significantly higher among mothers with autistic children than mothers of controls (p = 0.36). The duration of cosmetics usage was significantly higher among the mothers of controls than mothers with autistic children (p = 0.011). Eyes and lips makeup were the most frequent of makeup type among mothers with autistic children and controls while hair protein or keratin were the least frequent of makeup type among both groups. The number of women who reported the usage of lips makeup was significantly higher among the mothers of controls than those with autistic children (p = 0.024). The number of mothers with autistic children who reported “no change” as regard the usage pattern during pregnancy was significantly higher than those of the controls (p = 0.042). Conclusions: According to our results, cosmetics could not be considered as a risk factor for ASD. Further understanding of this issue requires future studies with different designs.
KeywordsAutismASDCosmeticsPersonal Care ProductsEndocrine Disruptors
Sanchack, K.E. and Thomas, C.A. (2016) Autism Spectrum Disorder: Primary Care Principles. American Family Physician, 94, 972-979.
McCarthy, M. (2014) Autism Diagnoses in the US Rise by 30%, CDC Reports. BMJ, 348, g2520. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g2520
Geetha, B., Sukumar, C., Dhivyadeepa, E., Reddy, J.K. and Balachandar, V. (2018) Autism in India: A Case-Control Study to Understand the Association between Socio-Economic and Environmental Risk Factors. Acta Neurologica Belgica, 119, 393-401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-018-01057-4
Matelski, L. and Van de Water, J. (2016) Risk Factors in Autism: Thinking outside the Brain. Journal of Autoimmunity, 67, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2015.11.003
Zafeiriou, D.I., Ververi, A., Dafoulis, V., Kalyva, E. and Vargiami, E. (2013) Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Quest for Genetic Syndromes. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 162, 327-366. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.32152
Hallmayer, J., Cleveland, S., Torres, A., Phillips, J., Cohen, B., Torigoe, T., et al. (2011) Genetic Heritability and Shared Environmental Factors among Twin Pairs with Autism. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68, 1095-1102. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.76
Moussa, H.N., Srikrishnan, A., Blackwell, S.C., Dash, P. and Sibai, B.M. (2016) Fetal Origins of Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Non-Associated Maternal Factors. Future Science OA, 2, FSO114. https://doi.org/10.4155/fsoa-2015-0001
Croen, L.A., Grether, J.K., Yoshida, C.K., Odouli, R. and Hendrick, V. (2011) Antidepressant Use during Pregnancy and Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorders. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68, 1104-1112. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.73
Christensen, J., Gronborg, T.K., Sorensen, M.J., Schendel, D., Parner, E.T., Pedersen, L.H., et al. (2013) Prenatal Valproate Exposure and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Childhood Autism. JAMA, 309, 1696-1703. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.2270
Quaak, I., Brouns, M.R. and Van de Bor, M. (2013) The Dynamics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Neurotoxic Compounds and Neurotransmitters Interact. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 10, 3384-3408. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10083384
Noor, R., Zerin, N., Das, K.K. and Nitu, L.N. (2015) Safe Usage of Cosmetics in Bangladesh: A Quality Perspective Based on Microbiological Attributes. Journal of Biological Research (Thessalon), 22, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40709-015-0033-4
Union E. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on Cosmetic Products 2009. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32009R1223
Juhasz, M.L. and Marmur, E.S. (2014) A Review of Selected Chemical Additives in Cosmetic Products. Dermatologic Therapy, 27, 317-322. https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.12146
Witorsch, R.J. and Thomas, J.A. (2010) Personal Care Products and Endocrine Disruption: A Critical Review of the Literature. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 40, 1-30. https://doi.org/10.3109/10408444.2010.515563
Dodson, R.E., Nishioka, M., Standley, L.J., Perovich, L.J., Brody, J.G. and Rudel, R.A. (2012) Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated Chemicals in Consumer Products. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120, 935-943. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104052
Bocca, B., Pino, A., Alimonti, A. and Forte, G. (2014) Toxic Metals Contained in Cosmetics: A Status Report. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 68, 447-467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.02.003
Marie, C., Cabut, S., Vendittelli, F. and Sauvant-Rochat, M.P. (2016) Changes in Cosmetics Use during Pregnancy and Risk Perception by Women. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13, 383. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13040383
Safety IPoC (2002) Global Assessment on the State of the Science of Endocrine Disruptors. World Health Organization, Geneva. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/67357
Mari-Bauset, S., Donat-Vargas, C., Llopis-Gonzalez, A., Mari-Sanchis, A., Peraita-Costa, I., Llopis-Morales, J., et al. (2018) Endocrine Disruptors and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Pregnancy: A Review and Evaluation of the Quality of the Epidemiological Evidence. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 5, 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/children5120157
Haraux, E., Braun, K., Buisson, P., Stephan-Blanchard, E., Devauchelle, C., Ricard, J., et al. (2016) Maternal Exposure to Domestic Hair Cosmetics and Occupational Endocrine Disruptors Is Associated with a Higher Risk of Hypospadias in the Offspring. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14, 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14010027
American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th Edition, Washington DC.
Schopler, E., Reichler, R.J. and Renner, B.R. (1986) The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS): For Diagnostic Screening and Classification of Autism. Irvington, New York, 63 p.
Hu, V.W. (2013) From Genes to Environment: Using Integrative Genomics to Build a “Systems-Level” Understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Child Development, 84, 89-103. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2012.01759.x
LaSalle, J.M. (2013) Epigenomic Strategies at the Interface of Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors for Autism. Journal of Human Genetics, 58, 396-401. https://doi.org/10.1038/jhg.2013.49
Ronald, A., Pennell, C.E. and Whitehouse, A.J. (2010) Prenatal Maternal Stress Associated with ADHD and Autistic Traits in Early Childhood. Frontiers in Psychology, 1, 223. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2010.00223
Braun, J.M., Kalkbrenner, A.E., Just, A.C., Yolton, K., Calafat, A.M., Sjodin, A., et al. (2014) Gestational Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Reciprocal Social, Repetitive, and Stereotypic Behaviors in 4- and 5-Year-Old Children: The HOME Study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 122, 513-520. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1307261
Thabane, L., Ma, J., Chu, R., Cheng, J., Ismaila, A., Rios, L.P., et al. (2010) A Tutorial on Pilot Studies: The What, Why and How. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 10, 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-10-1
Shu, B.C., Lung, F.W. and Chang, Y.Y. (2000) The Mental Health in Mothers with Autistic Children: A Case-Control Study in Southern Taiwan Region. The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences, 16, 308-314.
El-Baz, F., Ismael, N.A. and El-Din, S.M.N. (2011) Risk Factors for Autism: An Egyptian Study. Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 12, 31-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmhg.2011.02.011
Park, G.H., Nam, C., Hong, S., Park, B., Kim, H., Lee, T., et al. (2018) Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Cosmetic Usage Patterns. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 28, 242-250. https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2017.20
Tarrahi, M.-J., Bahmani, M., Mohadesi, H., Hajigholizadeh, G.H. and Nazari, E. (2016) Studying the Status of Cosmetics Consumption among Women and Girls in Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Northwest of Iran. Austin Journal of Neurological Disorders & Epilepsy, 3, 1021.
Benova, L., Campbell, O.M., Sholkamy, H. and Ploubidis, G.B. (2014) Socio-Economic Factors Associated with Maternal Health-Seeking Behaviours among Women from Poor Households in Rural Egypt. International Journal for Equity in Health, 13, 111. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-014-0111-5
Alanzi, M.E., Alghamdi, R.A., Alsharif, O.M., Alghamdi, K.S. and El Sayed, S.M. (2018) Health Knowledge, Cosmetic Interests, Attitude, and the Need for Health Education Regarding the Use of Topical Bleaching Agents among Women in West Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Cosmetic Science, 69, 101-120.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (2007) A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipstick. Safe Cosmetics Action Network. http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/regulations/us-laws/lead-in-lipstick
Brown, V.J. (2013) Metals in Lip Products: A Cause for Concern? Environmental Health Perspectives, 121, A196. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.121-a196
Liu, S., Hammond, S.K. and Rojas-Cheatham, A. (2013) Concentrations and Potential Health Risks of Metals in Lip Products. Environmental Health Perspectives, 121, 705-710. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1205518
De Caluwe, J.P. (2009) Lead Poisoning Caused by Prolonged Use of Kohl, an Underestimated Cause in French-Speaking Countries. Journal Francais d’ophtalmologie, 32, 459-463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfo.2009.06.005
Iwegbue, C.M.A., Bassey, F.I., Obi, G., Tesi, G.O. and Martincigh, B.S. (2016) Concentrations and Exposure Risks of Some Metals in Facial Cosmetics in Nigeria. Toxicology Reports, 3, 464-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2016.04.004
Godt, J., Scheidig, F., Grosse-Siestrup, C., Esche, V., Brandenburg, P., Reich, A., et al. (2006) The Toxicity of Cadmium and Resulting Hazards for Human Health. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology (London, England), 1, 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6673-1-22
Mendelsohn, E., Hagopian, A., Hoffman, K., Butt, C.M., Lorenzo, A., Congleton, J., et al. (2016) Nail Polish as a Source of Exposure to Triphenyl Phosphate. Environment International, 86, 45-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2015.10.005
Du, Z., Zhang, Y., Wang, G., Peng, J., Wang, Z. and Gao, S. (2016) TPhP Exposure Disturbs Carbohydrate Metabolism, Lipid Metabolism, and the DNA Damage Repair System in Zebrafish Liver. Scientific Reports, 6, Article No. 21827. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep21827
Zhang, Q., Ji, C., Yin, X., Yan, L., Lu, M. and Zhao, M. (2016) Thyroid Hormone-Disrupting Activity and Ecological Risk Assessment of Phosphorus-Containing Flame Retardants by in Vitro, in Vivo and in Silico Approaches. Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex: 1987), 210, 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.11.051
Barrett, E.S., Sathyanarayana, S., Janssen, S., Redmon, J.B., Nguyen, R.H., Kobrosly, R., et al. (2014) Environmental Health Attitudes and Behaviors: Findings from a Large Pregnancy Cohort Study. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, 176, 119-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.02.029