Abstract

Repetitive behavior, impairment in reciprocal social interaction, difficulty communicating, and sensory sensitivities are all symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD's etiology has been linked to both environmental and genetic factors. Gene-environment interaction research may shed light on the complexities of ASD's etiology and point the way toward potential ways to prevent it. SNPs from a wide range of targeted genes have only been used in a few studies to investigate how genes and environments affect autism risk. Due to their small size, higher absorption rates, rapid growth, development of cellular structures, and diminished capacity for detoxification of exogenous chemicals, the fetus, neonate, and young child are more susceptible to exposures. A few surveys refer to recreated discoveries that ecological variables are related with ASD.

Additionally, occupational exposures to parents have been found to be linked to ASD; in particular, working with solvents by parents. Solvents are metabolized into toxic secondary substances like methyl-butyl ketone and n-hexane, which are linked to abnormal white matter, smaller corpus callosum volume, and cerebellar atrophy. Solvents can be absorbed through the skin or the lungs. Cognitive delays, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, delayed speech, and motor function are all seen in infants born to mothers who were exposed to solvents. Further supporting the link between solvents and the risk of ASD, mothers who were occupationally exposed to solvents were 1.5 times more likely to have a child with ASD than a child who was normally developing. Similarly, despite the overwhelming evidence from decades of genetic research that links ASD to multiple genes on virtually every chromosome, the majority of ASD cases cannot be explained. Causal pathways likely involve interactions between environmental, chemical, and physical agents that influence immune, endocrine, and neuro-developmental processes, as they do with the majority of complex diseases. Epigenetic changes, which are themselves influenced by environmental factors, are also linked to an increased risk of neurocognitive or behavioral impairments, according to increasing evidence.