Could prenatal plastic exposure trigger autism in boys?

A study by the Florey Institute has found children of pregnant women with high levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone-disrupting plastic often used in food packaging, were 3.5 times more likely to show autism symptoms by the age of two. Specifically, BPA disrupted the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone to neuroestrogen, considered vital for the foetal male brain. The findings will be used by public safety regulators reassessing chemical exposure recommendations during pregnancy.