Pittsburgh — Yet another study has found a possible link between air pollutants and the increasing number of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the US. The study, which was led by Dr. Evelyn Talbot of the University of Pittsburgh, suggests that man-made toxins present in the atmosphere may be contributing to the rapidly growing number of children with ASD.
The research focused on about 217 children, the majority of whom had been closely monitored since birth for conditions related to ASD; as well as two control groups from areas identified as highly congested by air pollutants.
The research conducted by Dr. Talbot’s group suggests that children in the polluted neighborhood have increased risk in developing autism by as much as two percent. Both the mothers and the children were tested for chemicals found in industrial wastes, as well as car emissions such as arsenic, chromium, cyanide, methanol, methylene chloride, and styrene. These chemicals are commonly found in quantities that usually pose no harm to the mother.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network has estimated that about 15 out of 1000 children were born with ASD; and about 17 out of 100 of those who were born between the years 2006 to 2008 have developmental disabilities.
The study was published in a press release by Heinz Endowments as well as the American Association of Aerosol Research.
The original article by Jim Donahue on the Liberty Voice website can be read here
Contributed by Althea Estrella Violeta