AUTISM AND ENVIRONMENT: The astonishing rise in autism in California cannot be explained by better diagnosis or changes in reporting, according to a new study.
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California's sevenfold increase in autism cannot be explained by changes in doctors' diagnoses and most likely is due to environmental exposures, University of California scientists reported Thursday.
The scientists who authored the new study advocate a nationwide shift in autism research to focus on potential factors in the environment that babies and fetuses are exposed to, including pesticides, viruses and chemicals in household products.
"It's time to start looking for the environmental culprits responsible for the remarkable increase in the rate of autism in California," said Irva Hertz-Picciotto, an epidemiology professor at University of California, Davis who led the study.
Throughout the nation, the numbers of autistic children have increased dramatically over the past 15 years. Autistic children have problems communicating and interacting socially; the symptoms usually are evident by the time the child is a toddler.
More than 3,000 new cases of autism were reported in California in 2006, compared with 205 in 1990. In 1990, 6.2 of every 10,000 children born in the state were diagnosed with autism by the age of five, compared with 42.5 in 10,000 born in 2001, according to the study, published in the journal Epidemiology. The numbers have continued to rise since then.
To nail down the causes, scientists must unravel a mystery: What in the environment has changed since the early 1990s that could account for such an enormous rise in the brain disorder?
For years, many medical officials have suspected that the trend is artificial--due to changes in diagnoses or migration patterns rather than a real rise in the disorder.
But the new study concludes that those factors cannot explain most of the increase in autism.
Hertz-Picciotto and Lora Delwiche of the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences analyzed 17 years of state data that tracks developmental disabilities, and used birth records and Census Bureau data to calculate the rate of autism and age of diagnosis.
The results: Migration to the state had no effect. And changes in how and when doctors diagnose the disorder and when state officials report it can explain less than half of the increase.
Dr. Bernard Weiss, a professor of environmental medicine and pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center who was not involved in the new research, said the autism rate reported in the study "seems astonishing." He agreed that environmental causes should be getting more attention.
The California researchers concluded that doctors are diagnosing autism at a younger age because of increased awareness. But that change is responsible for only about a 24 percent increase in children reported to be autistic by the age
"A shift toward younger age at diagnosis was clear but not huge," the report says.
Also, a shift in doctors diagnosing milder cases explains another 56 percent increase. And changes in state reporting of the disorder could account for around a 120 percent increase.
Combined, Hertz-Picciotto said those factors "don't get us close" to the 600 to 700 percent increase in diagnosed cases.
That means the rest is unexplained and likely caused by something that pregnant women or infants are exposed to, or a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
"There's genetics and there's environment. And genetics don't change in such short periods of time," Hertz-Picciotto, a researcher at UC Davis' M.I.N.D. Institute, a leading autism research facility, said in an interview Thursday.
Many researchers have theorized that a pregnant woman's exposure to chemical pollutants, particularly metals and pesticides, could be altering a developing baby's brain structure, triggering autism.
Many parent groups believe that childhood vaccines are responsible because they contained thimerosal, a mercury compound used as a preservative. But thimerosal was removed from most vaccines in 1999, and autism rates are still rising.
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84 Comments
Add CommentThe new microbe they mention, and would put dollars to bet on it, is lyme disease which is paralleling the autism epidemic, and not just a tick bite, mothers can have it and pass it on placentally, breast milk, and is ST'd. The microbe can cause profound glutathione loss, leaky gut and brain, allowing other toxins to enter the brain no problem. And you put toxins in that child? Fluoride, causes brain damage and IQ loss, MSG, high glutamate brain causing the brain to swell, and other toxins like mothers amalgams, VIRAL VACCINES, and other viruses, ARE the cause to autism rise.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe new microbe they mention, and would put dollars to bet on it, is lyme disease which is paralleling the autism epidemic, and not just a tick bite, mothers can have it and pass it on placentally, breast milk, and is ST'd. The microbe can cause profound glutathione loss, leaky gut and brain, allowing other toxins to enter the brain no problem. And you put toxins in that child? Fluoride, causes brain damage and IQ loss, MSG, high glutamate brain causing the brain to swell, and other toxins like mothers amalgams, VIRAL VACCINES, and other viruses, ARE the cause to autism rise.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisEnter Your CoScientific American reports, "Many parent groups believe that childhood vaccines are responsible because they contained thimerosal, a mercury compound used as a preservative. But thimerosal was removed from most vaccines in 1999, and autism rates are still rising."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt should be noted that in 1999, the health officials asked, but did not require, manufacturers to remove mercury from children's vaccines. No vaccines were ever recalled and it took years for manufacturers to reduce mercury to "trace" amounts.
Furthermore, the argument over vaccines is about more than just the mercury. Other neurotoxins are present, plus the MMR contains three live viruses given at once. The vaccine schedule more than tripled since 1983, yet there's never been a study to determine the effect of so many vaccines so soon on the health of a child.
Finally, it should be noted that a top U.S. top is sounding the alarm over the vaccine schedule. Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of the National Institutes of Health interviewed on CBS Evening News on May 12. She challenged the credibility of the CDC and admonished officials for refusing to investigate a susceptible subgroup of children who unable to eliminate the toxins in vaccines. This admission that there hasn't been enough research and that epidemiological studies are not proof is a major step toward public recognition about what's happened to our children.
CBS News Exclusive: Former Head Of NIH Says Government Too Quick To Dismiss Possible Link
SEE VIDEO http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/12/cbsnews_investigates/main4086809.shtml
Healy said that officials have been too quick to dismiss a link between vaccines and autism without ever studying the group that got sick. There never have been studies done on the kids that developed symptoms of autism within a few weeks of being vaccinated. She furthermore pointed out that the Institute of Medicine which produced the cumulative study on vaccines and autism in 2004 refused to 'pursue susceptibility groups.' In other words, they didn't want to find any evidence that linked vaccines to autism. She left us with the haunting statement: 'The question has not been answered.'
In the December 11, 2008 issue of U.S. News and World Report, A Government Call for Vaccine Research, Dr. Healy again called for more research into vaccine safety. http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/childrens-health/2008/12/11/a-government-call-for-vaccine-research.html
Scientific American has a responsibility to report all the facts in this critical controversy.
mment Here.
Could someone explain the line “In the 1970s, autism rates increased due to the rubella virus. “?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIs that an error? If not, and 9.4% of women are susceptible to rubella, could shedding by vaccinated 1st born be an issue for pregnant women and the 2nd child?
I am a father of an autistic child, mild autism I may say. I don't think environment is related, it could be a trigger, but it has to be genetic. The reason I am saying this is because I got twins, and only one diagnose with the condition. So, what about the other? It's development is normal, as many other children of their age.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow about GM food. We don't know the 'long-term' effects on people. Our reproductive cycle is longer than say butterflies. It is known that GM corn effects their reproductive abilities. I'm afraid there is more to it than we now know.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI believe a lot of illnesses are genetic, but the cause is the environment. The same one we are destroying. Because scientist think they are wiser, better and more clever than nature itself.
<<The surge in autism is similar to the rise in childhood asthma, which has reached epidemic proportions for unexplained reasons. Medical officials originally thought that, too, might be due to increased reporting of the disease, but now they acknowledge that many more children are asthmatic than in the past. Experts suspect that environmental pollutants or immune changes could be responsible.>>
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAcetaminophen use is most likely the culprit here, since acetaminophen is known to deplete glutathione. Without glutathione, the body's ability to detoxify itself is greatly impaired, leading to oxidative stress. Glutathione is critically important to both bowel and lung function. Note when autism and asthma started spiking...it was after they linked aspirin to Reye's Syndrome and Tylenol became much more widely used. Babies are often given Tylenol before vaccination, and pregnant women are told that the only "safe" drug to take is acetaminophen.
I am the parent of two autistic boys...one vaccinated...one not vaccinated. After the unvaccinated child started showing symptoms, I knew it had to be more than just the vaccines. Tylenol was used pretty regularly during my pregnancies due to severe headaches. There are preliminary studies that are beginning to link acetaminophen use with both the rise of autism and asthma. Could acetaminophen possibly be that "smoking gun?" This parent thinks so!
Wow, now THAT is a serious breakthrough! Wow!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisjess
www.online-privacy.cz.tc
It is urgent that scientists closely examine the role that prenatal ultrasound may be playing in causing autism. Although it is considered both safe and non-invasive, there are virutally no safety studies to support these beliefs since the early 1990s, when the FDA allowed an eight-fold increase in acoustic power. Animal studies have shown that neurological, behavioral and immunological changes can result from prenatal ultrasound. Today's pregnant often have several routine ultrasound scans throughout their pregnancies, sometimes as early as five weeks of gestation, when the embryo is smaller than a grain of rice. These scans expose developing tissue to thermal effects that can potentially affect gene expression. The many variables that are present at every ultrasound exam, such as the skill of the operator, amount "dwell time" of the transducer over tissue, the acoustic output, the exact moment of development, etc., almost guarantee that not all ultrasound scans are safe for fetuses. For more information, visit midwiferytoday.com.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt would not be surprising that the various petroleum based chemicals, especially those related to testosterone would have some effect. Consider the case of the Indian reservation in southern Ontario that is surrounded by much of Canada's chemical industry and where the ratio of boys born has declined in the past decades to only about 25% of births. Consider also the effects of hormone-similar chemicals on fish, alligators and amphibians. Considering that there are tens of thousands of chemicals that we've been releasing, many of which have effects on hormones (not to mention other effects) and that are untested individually and in combination and that boys are more likely to develop autism spectrum disorders and seem to be more vulnerable to the chemicals, this is a serious possibility. Of course this is a much scarier prospect than a single simple, but less likely culprit such as a vaccine ingredient, and also a source (or sources) that will be harder to find and correct, especially as there may have to be a combination of toxins in interaction with a bunch of genes in combination (we are talking about a spectrum of syndromes). As a father of a 7 year old boy with ASD and ADHD, I can only hope that enough attention will be devoted to the question to see what can be done so that if and when my son will have children that he and his kids won't have to deal with that added challenge.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTom H
Sometimes simple solutions prove to be correct. The science of epidemiology virtually began during a 1855 London cholera outbreak when John Snow traced deaths to a single water pump tainted with sewage. A few years earlier in Hungary, Ignác Semmelweis discovered that when doctors simply washed their hands before delivering babies, the death rate of mothers decreased from as high as 30 percent to no more than 2 percent. While scientists searching for the cause of autism currently believe it is triggered by a complex interplay of genes and environmental factors, there is significant scientific evidence to suspect that the real culprit is ultrasound, with the damage done not in homes via chemical toxins or pesticides but in obstetrical offices and diagnostic centers throughout the world.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have an eleven year old son with autism. My husband and I adopted him at 4 months of age due to severe neglect and resulting illnesses. At the time we adopted him I was full-term with my fourth child. I was made entirely aware of the horendous environment in which this baby had endured for months. Yet, my greatest concern was the glazed-over appearance of his eyes. However, the shellshock of bedazzled sibblings brought our son quickly from his glaziness.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHowever, because I was raised with the birth mother and know all details to her pregnancy, delivery, and failed attempt at parenting, I have often questioned the severely compromized environment which our son was conceived amidst. I do believe environment to be a substantial factor in health factors. I hope more relative studies are done.
The real reason for autism increase probably a lack of Omega-3. Pregnant women were told to avoid fish because of the mercury and so do not get nearly enough Omega-3. Important building block of brain is Omega-3. Babies likely get autism due to insufficient Omega-3. The huge increase in Soybean and corn feed has made standard beef, eggs and chicken Omega-3 'free' for your health inconvenience. Post-partum depression is clearly linked to depletion of Omega-3 (to make baby brain). Lack of Omega-3 is clearly linked to depression and poor circulatory health (not good for brain either). So, if you are pregnant, for goodness sakes take an Omega-3 supplement.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn Japan, autism rates in communities went UP when they told women to NOT eat fish when pregnant to reduce exposure to mercury (since it was linked autism). Japanese vaccines were supposed to be thimersol-free.
Robin
Substantive questions have been raised about the Hertz-Picciotto study. See: http://autismnaturalvariation.blogspot.com/2009/01/mind-institutes-second-attempt-more-of.html
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWouldn't it be ironic if, as an earlier commenter suggested, there really had been a true rise in the incidence of autism (I'm not convinced of this) and it turned out to be attributable to a virus or bacterium, against which a vaccine could be developed? And all this time the most vituperative of the "autism activists" have been lashing out against vaccines.
Would a more obvious cause be increased intake of folic acid periconceptually and around the time of neuralation in order to avoid spina bifida. This was a discovery in my university and women regularly take folic acid suppliments now as a result. Folic acid is invoved in gene silencing through methylation and surely this is an obvious cause of an environmental impact on genetics and neural development worthy of discussion
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOmega 3. Funy enough, as a pharmacist I have often wondered should we be supplimenting kids of 2 years + with omega 3 or the smart fats . Breastmilk is full of these types of fats as are artificial baby milks but as the child learns to eat solids its source of fatty acids must be abruptly cut off
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI would be curious to know about chemicals that exist in pregnant women's bodies as a result of food additives, artificial nutritional supplements, cosmetics, fake tans that are sprayed on or from ingested chemicals, plastic surgery such as implants, or injectable procedures i.e. botox or non-human collagen. I mean, look at the link, California, all the aforementioned, hmmm. Just saying, I would be very curious.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisEpigenetics guy-
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have supplemented my children with Omega-3 since they were very young 2-3.
The nasty part of the process is that the body uses Omega-3 as a structural element in the brain which is literally on average 8% by weight Omega-3. If Omega-3 is in short supply, it will substitute Omega-6 in for the Omega-3. These problematic Omega-6 structures are not automatically replaced by Omega-3 with later supplementation. New structures and replacement structures (nerve connections) only are built with the Omega-3. This means that problems due to dearth of Omega-3 are semi-permanent and will take months or years to change with supplementation - especially the early developmental functions and may never be changed out. There is also a 'functional' Omega-3 usage that is affected more quickly by supplementation - but that's probably not as important. In contrast, circulatory structural and functional systems changes are effected much more rapidly by supplementation. This explains why short term studies show dramatic circulatory effects but not particularly amazing effects on mental function. I can't understand why the medical community doesn't conduct 1-2+ year studies of Omega-3 supplementation - seems like a fundamental aspect of any experiment in that area.
Well, what's the one environmental factor that has expanded exponentially since the early 90's? How about wireless communication devices? All those EM waves at various frequencies penetrating every square inch of our bodies, especially those of pregnant women and fetuses may have an effect on some that are predisposed to that condition. Especially in California, being the most populous state in the country, that is a lot of people with cell phones and Bluetooth devices. IMHO.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWell, what's the one environmental factor that has expanded exponentially since the early 90's? How about wireless communication devices? All those EM waves at various frequencies penetrating every square inch of our bodies, especially those of pregnant women and fetuses may have an effect on some that are predisposed to that condition. Since California is the most populous state in the nation, that is a lot of cell phones, Wi-Fi, and bluetooth devices emitting EM radiation. Combined with other factors such as chemical exposure or something in the food we eat nowadays that might weaken the immune system or cause an alteration body chemistry. Might be something to consider IMHO.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJason D.
Valley Falls, NY
Many interesting ideas and theories raised here, some probably warranting furthur study. But my thoughts follow a different pathway. I'm a school nurse and my school has a classroom of developmentally delayed children. Of 11 children four have a definite diagnsis of a genetic diorder such as Down's Syndrome or microcephaly. Two have a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy (brain damage that occurs during the birth process.) The rest, who have a wide range of IQs and level of function are all diagnosed as autistic. Their teacher and I have often observed that when we were beginning our careers in the early 80s, these children would have been diagnosed as simply MR or EMR(educational mentally retarded.) Autism was in the textbooks then but I never saw achild or adult given that as a diagnosis when I did a student rotation in a developmental preschool. I also saw several adolescents with symptoms that would now be decribed as autism, but at that time they were diagnosed as schizophrenic or manic depressive.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisRain Man brought a huge increase in awareness of autism among lay people, but also psychologists. Not many years after that movie came out, i began to see children being given that diagnosis here and there. But sometime in the last decade it became the fall back diagnosis for any undifferentiated childhood mental or emotional disorder. In other words, if a child is mentally delayed and no medical diagnosis is obvious, they are given the autism label. This has proably led to better treatment and educational opportunities for these kids, but many of us who have been around a few years believe that a large part of the increase in this diagnosis is just a relabeling of symptoms previously called other things.
is simply is
The comments left on this article are a great reminder for why legitimate scientific research is so important in these complex medical issues. Without proper data gathering and analysis from the professionals, all we are left with is hundreds of laymen "health experts" and legions of credulous "I-read-it-on-the-internet" parents spreading all kinds of baseless nonsensical pseudoscience about the causes of Autism and of course the "cures".
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey've blamed everything from Thimoseral or other miscellaneous "toxins" in vaccines, to artificial sugars and ketchup ingredients, to not enough sunlight, to "leaky gut" syndrome, to autoimmune reactions brought on by GM crops, to dye in clothing, etc etc etc... It's madness!
I understand the frustration worried parents have, and I sympathize with parents who have autistic children. However, grasping at straws and listening to these cranks who are just out for a profit is not only counterproductive, but can be very dangerous to our children.
I don't know what causes Autism, but we have to let the scientific process work.
Older paternal age is a robust cause of non-familial autism, (childhood schizophrenia), adult schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and many other genetic disorders. This cause should be made public. Men should try to father their babies before the age of 33 to avoid this. http://autism-prevention.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFinally, a dose of common sense! To learn how to protect your children from chemicals lurking in common products visit www.holler4health.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFinally, a dose of common sense! Keep your family safe from chemicals lurking in common products. Visit www.holler4health.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs the father of an autistic child I disagree that it is environmental as in pesticides and household cleaners ect. Environmental factors may be a trigger for an underlying genetic problem. Or they may be a contributer from other things like the MMR vaccines and other junk the CDC wants to pump into our children without fully understanding the effects. My son was developmentally delayed until he was 2 years old. He still made eye contact and wanted to be the center of attention like any kid does. Then he went infor his 2 year old immunizations. He was sick for about two weeks and over that two weeks I watched helplessly as the lights went out. That was in 2002 so they can't convince me they removed all the junk that is supposed to "preserve" these vaccines.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThank you for publishing this article. Are there any other autism studies outside the US? I have had arguments with parents who blame vaccinations but refuse to examine other causes or rates of autism outside the US.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe comments about Tylenol interest me. Though none of my children are on the spectrum it has been suggested, by some health professionals and educators, that a few of them peak around the edges. When my children were babies I was always reluctant to give Tylenol after vaccinations. More and more I am beginning to think of this as a fortuitous move. For what it's worth I've a husband who is allergic to Tylenol. Has it in any form and his mouth and tongue blister.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI also believe that antibiotics are a factor.
But the worst environmental offender, I cannot help but think, is that stuff with the skull and crossbones on the bottle that gets injected into our babies via their vaccines.
With all the different post here with their own theories shows that nobody knows anything yet. However the one correlation that could probably be looked into is the multiple vaccines provided to children in rich nations that actually have cleaner environments, because they can afford to clean it up, VS the Poorer nations that give fewer vaccines but often have higher environmental pollution because there governments don't mind making a buck off of our trash, an example would be china. I Believe that it's not the mercury in the vacinnes but the quantity of vaccines per shot and there is no reason they couldn't give people the choice of separating the vaccines, in fact the companies could charge a premium for the separate shots.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere is an intriguing article on Autism and Vitamin D:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WN2-4R00FVK-2&_user=489293&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000022698&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=489293&md5=8f957f479ace61d738a0c8b7f3f6111a
I am not sure that the link I posted before works for members of the public.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA better reference by the same author is <a href="http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health/autism/">http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health/autism/</a>.
amdachel and others argue that suspicion over the role of vaccines and autism has not yet been fully eliminated, but the key point to keep in mind, is that there is no valid evidence that vaccines have ANYTHING to do with autism. It is wild speculation. I would support more studies to make sure, but the avoidance of vaccines by parents because of this tenuous connection is shocking. The diseases that these vaccines protect our children from are hideous.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOSHA claims not to have responsibility over website MSDSs (Material Data Safety Sheets), so don't trust an MSDS to identify chemical compounds. Too many chemical distributors hide their chemicals and the risks under the "trade secret" description (or no mention whatsoever). Further, many chemical companies make up their own definition of "hazardous" such that they claim their products are nonhazardous when most of us, who use the OSHA definition, know they are hazardous. This is a bipartison problem.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisScientific American isn't helping the public mis-perception of children with autism by ignorantly publishing a photo of a child with what appears to cerebral palsy (because of the obviously unhealthy state of the child?) and referring to all sufferers as "autistic children".
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisChildren with autism are more different from each other than are typical children and, more importantly, possess wildly diverse gifts, abilities and disabilities. "Autistic" fails to define any one of them. This is why people who understand the character of the disorder refer to one diagnosed as, "a child with autism". This is not PC mumbojumbo. It's accuracy and kindness. It's also more 'Scientific'.
Just a thought...I understand that there is a very high incidence of Autism amongst computer professional's children...California equals silicon valley and thus, perhaps there is a link that is genetic on this basis at least. Do any of the studies attempt linkages to the parent's talents or work?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think it may be due to Pt dust in the environment from catalytic mufflers or Hg dut to increased coal burning.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe connection has also been made to Princeton professors of the Sciences. The incidence of autism among their children is higher than the nat'l average, suggesting it may be genetic.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOne way to view the alarming increase is in tandem with the increase in technological progress. One could argue that evolution is leaping ahead to stay apace of the demands of the times; many people with high functioning autism tend to easily understand the technology we all have adopted in the past 2 decades but that we barely understand.
AT LAST! THANK GOD! We who have known this in our own lives and experience for almost twenty years have waited in despair as our petrochemical lobbies continued to poison our children and our world. The European Union rejected US imports bearing these chemicals in 2000.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere was a previous study done over a seven year period that established autism and ADHD were tied to the mothers being exposed to petrochemicals, specifically those used for synthetic scents.
Every time I see a commercial about room deodorizers that release a "puff of scent every six, ten or fifteen minutes!" I wonder what illnesses that family will endure--and more, what acts of violence will occur as the direct result of the neurotoxins in those scents.
check out book, Fruitless Fall by Jacobsen! Bayer refuses to do synergistic tests and FDA, and other agencies do not have manpower or will since Clinton and now Bush to enforce even the little regs we have. Systemic pesticides replaced organophosphates and are just as bad even with sublethal doses.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThink you might find an article from the BBC, UK mentions exactly that fact
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisabout fathers working in the Engineering field seem to be more prone to having children with Autism. My sons father is a Software Engineer and his father was a Chemical Engineer both obviously very intelligent where maths are concerned. The BBC claim there is a link between these facts. Our Son has mild Autism, I just hope that these fathers do not start to blame themselves for thier childrens condition.
With reference to Autism it is not clear if study is being done into maternity hospital equipment? Such as aluminium and other metal instruments and
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisequipment in contact with the birth process?
Secondly there are reports of improvement in Autistic young people by massaging the head with essential Oil of Corriander. A form of "Chelation".
Have any controlled studies beeen attempted?
Mostyn
Having spent many years heavily involved in a medical support group (thyroid problems), I am interested to see the commonality of responses and approach to autism. "The doctors are wrong". "There is a conspiracy of silence". "There is this one obvious, overwhelming cause that is being ignored and talked down that definitely, absolutely caused my case - generally because there was some correlation in time". The Sci Am's Skeptic's discussion on patternicity is definitely something that should be read by those engaged in this debate. The comments that there should be more research on environmental causes are appropriate especially examining whether there is a susceptible group and what they are susceptible to. I agree with Tom H that in the end it will be some fairly complicated interaction of genetic and environmental factors. If it were some simple link to one or a few factors even doctors would have worked it out by now.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI suspect fuel additives.I believe California mandated it's use first.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDidn't Star Buck$ start up in California just prior to the increase?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn Canada, thimerosal was removed from many vaccines as early as the late 60's and was eliminated from ALL childhood vaccines in 1994 (excepting Hep B which is not on the routine childhood schedule) yet our autism rates have increased hand-in-hand with those of the U.S.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA more likely cause of increased mercury is the typical dietary consumption of fish. This can result in fetal or infant mercury exposure far exceeding those from thimerosal-containing vaccines as it crosses the placenta and is excreted in breast milk. The U.S. EPA estimates that 7% of U.S. women of childbearing age consume >= 0.1 �g/kg per day of mercury from fish harvested in high risk areas.
Furthermore, rates of autism are increasing in tandem in countries with few or no vaccines so the idea of other agents contained within the vaccines as the culprit is not well supported. The proposal of vaccines being to blame more likely stems from it being more easily resolved than the reality that we live in a toxic world with little hope for a timely solution.
Yes there are studies, studies that prove just about every notion put forth from the valid to the crackpot however time is a-wasting chewing over this old nugget of poisonous vaccines. I wish the researches well in their worthy search for a cause but in the meanwhile I will continue to rigorously espouse early diagnosis and interventions. Amazing advances have been made in this field and "miracles" become almost commonplace as our children move from silent wraiths moving in unceasing circles about the room to vivacious active peers! How about publishing a few articles on EVIDENCE-BASED practices for children with ASD?!
Final note... my son was diagnosed with severe autism at 14 months having received NO mercury containing vaccines and well before the much maligned MMR. He was self-injurious, a fountain of stereo typical stims and mute until 30 months. Today he attends grade one with shared support of an Educational Assistant and tests as mildly autistic. I celebrate every day.
Andrea Q - founder/facilitator of the Autism Parenting Network
Further to my comment on possible metal contamination getting into the
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisyoung brain (INCLUDING BEFORE BIRTH), an idea fairly widely held, does anyone know if any studies been done comparing the on-set of apparant Austism with HOME or HOSPITAL births?? (Of course someone has first to find a repeatable non-intrusive method of Brain metals measurement)
The data must be out there...(are there any countries without reported cases?)
On my second point I dont see anyone having suggested possible "Non-Standard Model" treatments...such as identified by me?
If some have found things that seem to work this would be a good place
to assist others...or identify where such "testimonials" can be seen?
Mostyn
I am a 50 year old woman with autism. I remember eating the paint on my window seal when I was age three to five years old. Then my mom had to take me to a doctor to see why her daughter was flapping her hands and arms every where. I still have this problem and it will not go away. Maybe it is LEAD and has been all along. Remember all the LEAD paint from CHINA ! Thats what i have come up with !! From some one who has autism.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisShame on you! The title of this article, "Research links autism to the environment" strongly suggests that evidence has been found through multiple studies of multiple environmental agents. But no: the article cites just one published study of just one environmental chemical (and provides no title or author for that study). That is all. All other "links" mentioned in the article are speculation by researchers to fill a gap suggested by multivariate statistical analysis of epidemiological data , which is a very weak linkage, indeed, and is considered completely inadequate by epidemiologists as stand-alone evidence for establishing causation. Please, there may be real links here, and autism is a tragic condition with implications across families and society, but even the scientists quoted in this article are only encouraging researchers to look for linkages; they did not claim that linkages have been definitively found. The title of the article should not make that claim, either. That sort of inaccuracy ultimately undermines confidence in genuine scientific findings as the public tires of claims later found to be invalid.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDoes anybody know. what causes increase in the USA and EUROPE, some minority from East/AFRICA/Somalia had diagnosed a lot of ( AUTISM).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt is wonderful that scientists are addressing the causal agents of this marked increase of autism. What is required of us as humans to stimulate studies of a similar caliber regarding the varied causes of cancers in our environment? Isn't the rate of cancer related deaths rising steadily, too? If it is wrong to manufacture products that harm children and fetuses, isn't it also wrong for our government and organizations in charge of regulating the quality of foods, medicines, etc. to allow the horrifying prevalence of cancer-causing chemicals in every-day consumer goods? Why is proactivity in this "fight against cancer" pushed aside for the seemingly vain hunt for quick fixes? I fear, some would say irrationally, that money lies behind this slow and silent mass homocide; more sick or disabled individuals equals more money in the pockets of health care organizations and prescription companies... Are we really okay with allowing our fellow humans (plus helpless creatures such as pets and wildlife) , both young and old, to be subjected to this kind of inhumane treatment?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHopeful,
One Conscientious Object
Autism represents less than 1% of children. So, if it were environmental wouldn't it be much higher than 1%. Also, we clearly have lots of speculation with little evidence. However, I wonder could it be that Autism is a by product of children not being exposed to some normal childhood disease. Maybe children with Autism have a natural immunity to a disease that they would normally have been exposed to .
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAlso, Autism has been around for awhile. Remember, Boo Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird. They just used to be called deaf mutes and worked performing repetitive tasks.
What's changed since 1990? Rate of cell phone usage...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAny correlation with an increase in applications for Social Security benefits? Having a "disabled" child may entitle parents to money and sometimes even a "free" private education. Wouldn't surprise me if sometime in the near future almost every child is defined as having some sort of disability that entitles their parents to money or the equivalent.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm not saying that autism is not real or that the environment might not be a factor, but that financial considerations should not be ruled out.
Electromagnetic fiels are alos part of the environment and the proliferation of cell phones and towers has increased the levels drastically. Microwaves are known to permeate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), see research by Lennart Hardell, allowing neuorotoxins directly into the brain. In sufferers of multiple chemical sensitivity, researchers like Bodo Kuklinski have found a permanently broken down BBB, thus very low levels of chemicals can paradoxically have the same effect as high loadings. George Carlo and Robert C. Kane have found evidence for link between environmental neurotoxins and EMF and autism.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe studies done independent of those sponsered by the Big Pharma and their todies in the goverment show a marked improvement in the brain function of the Autisum child by repairing their intestinal processes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAstma is a specific deficiency of the essential fatty acids/magnesium and manganese, the minerals as trace mineral co factors couple with the EFA's to produce short term hormones that control the constriction and relaxation of the bronci. When you run short of them you have an astma attack.These were deficient in the mother and the baby foods on the market have nothing but profit in the bottle, no useful nutrition for a growing baby.
The studies done independent of those sponsered by the Big Pharma and their todies in the goverment show a marked improvement in the brain function of the Autisum child by repairing their intestinal processes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAstma is a specific deficiency of the essential fatty acids/magnesium and manganese, the minerals as trace mineral co factors couple with the EFA's to produce short term hormones that control the constriction and relaxation of the bronci. When you run short of them you have an astma attack.These were deficient in the mother and the baby foods on the market have nothing but profit in the bottle, no useful nutrition for a growing baby.
The studies done independent of those sponsered by the Big Pharma and their todies in the goverment show a marked improvement in the brain function of the Autisum child by repairing their intestinal processes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAstma is a specific deficiency of the essential fatty acids/magnesium and manganese, the minerals as trace mineral co factors couple with the EFA's to produce short term hormones that control the constriction and relaxation of the bronci. When you run short of them you have an astma attack.These were deficient in the mother and the baby foods on the market have nothing but profit in the bottle, no useful nutrition for a growing baby.
The studies done independent of those sponsered by the Big Pharma and their todies in the goverment show a marked improvement in the brain function of the Autisum child by repairing their intestinal processes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAstma is a specific deficiency of the essential fatty acids/magnesium and manganese, the minerals as trace mineral co factors couple with the EFA's to produce short term hormones that control the constriction and relaxation of the bronci. When you run short of them you have an astma attack.These were deficient in the mother and the baby foods on the market have nothing but profit in the bottle, no useful nutrition for a growing baby.
The studies done independent of those sponsered by the Big Pharma and their todies in the goverment show a marked improvement in the brain function of the Autisum child by repairing their intestinal processes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAstma is a specific deficiency of the essential fatty acids/magnesium and manganese, the minerals as trace mineral co factors couple with the EFA's to produce short term hormones that control the constriction and relaxation of the bronci. When you run short of them you have an astma attack.These were deficient in the mother and the baby foods on the market have nothing but profit in the bottle, no useful nutrition for a growing baby.
The enzyme levels of both the mother and the child need to be evaluated. All processses of the body are in part affected by the enzymes built in the pancreas and the ones we are supposed to get from our diet. There are no live enzymes in the (SAD) Standard American Diet.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAuto imune response from the build up of CIC's from undigested food products being circulated in the blood stream cause inflamation and and the attacking of your own cells from them being reconized as either damaged or being an invading agent. As the brain is the consumer of most of the energy a sslight deficiency of any of the essential nutrients will cause malfunction.
Genetically modified organisms were slipped into our food supply in the 90's. http://www.seedsofdeception.com One of the most honest scientist on GMOs, Arpad-Pusztai recently acknowledged the potential gmo /autism link at http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2008/05/monsanto-
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisgmos-arpad-pusztai-looks-at.html Check out his research paper too which can be gotten from that site. Check out Mothers for Natural Law site for their research.
I encourage you to consider Arpad Pusztai studies and questions and response regarding a link to autism re: GMO foods consumed by pregnant mothers and transference. and the ability to be able of the child to process both GMO foods and vaccines. http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2008/05/
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thismonsanto-gmos-arpad-pusztai-looks-at.html and
The Dangers From Consumption of Foods Containing Transplanted DNA by Hugh S. Lehman, Ph.D. email: hughslehman@hotmail.com or on website: http://www.saynotogmos.org/ud2006/uapr06.php
What about the psychological traumas?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy autism? Autism is so symbolically stricking: refusal of the environment.
(Such is asthma, too). Refusal of the bio-chemico-physico-psycho stresses. How understandable is autism, knowing the world's disturbances! Particularly with the overload on TV etc.
As such, autism may be reversible thanks to a harmonious envirnment, with clear logical explainations to the child, coherence, and protection.
The brain has infinite potentials.
What about the psychological traumas?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy autism? Autism is so symbolically stricking: refusal of the environment.
(Such is asthma, too). Refusal of the bio-chemico-physico-psycho stresses. How understandable is autism, knowing the world's disturbances! Particularly with the overload on TV etc.
As such, autism may be reversible thanks to a harmonious envirnment, with clear logical explainations to the child, coherence, and protection.
The brain has infinite potentials.
What about the psychological traumas?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy autism? Autism is so symbolically stricking: refusal of the environment.
(Such is asthma, too). Refusal of the bio-chemico-physico-psycho stresses. How understandable is autism, knowing the world's disturbances! Particularly with the overload on TV etc.
As such, autism may be reversible thanks to a harmonious envirnment, with clear logical explainations to the child, coherence, and protection.
The brain has infinite potentials.
I sincerely hope and trust that the Brains Trust who are hopefully seriously investigating this huge increase of up to 700% in cases of autism are considering chemicals like the highly toxic Fluoride in their studies.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt seems ridiculous that the best brains on the planet can't find the answer.
TAW
I hope they are including chemicals like the highly toxic FLUORIDE in their investigations.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI always am skeptical about any particular study. I always suspect environmental wackoism at work and/or academic advancement. Let someone reproduce their results before you jump on the bandwagon. California's air is cleaner than it used to be; perhaps cleaner air is responsible. (that's sarcasm, btw)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thissome people think that it is related to a vitamin D deficiency since the increase in autism varies by where you live (northern or rainy areas much higher rates) and the dramatic increase correlates with the use of sun screen and the lack of time in the sun. When people immigrate to Wisconsin or Sweden for example their kids rates of Autism increased dramatically. So much of the increase is basically the result of dermatologists scaring young mom's into using sun screen.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAutism rates have gone up in areas with little lyme disease and not in areas with high rates of ticks. The Amish for example have almost no Autism but work outside more then the rest of us and are often bitten by ticks so I doubt it is lyme disease.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn 1996 Genetically Engineered crops were first planted in the US. By the year 2000 the amount of GE crops was increasing substantially and the ingredients from these GE crops were entering the food chain in growing percentages. The comparison between the percentage increase in autism and the increase if GE crop growth should be made.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am an attorney in Los Angeles researching possible links between autism and environmental conditions faced by children living in slum like conditions including heavy cockroach, bed bug and vermin infestation, lead based paint, heavy pesticide treatments inside the home etc. If you have information on this subject, please forward to me at griley@rileylawca-nv.com. Thank you.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHello, I am trying to find studies that look into the connection between frequent flying in the third trimester, cleft lip, autism and older parent ... I wonder if the fact that water bottles, expand and contract might have a similar effect on the developing brain, etc.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIsn't it interesting that Science seems to forget that Environment is more than physical. There are many more factors that are affected by emotional and intellectual stimulus. Children respond according to their examples.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIsn't it interesting how social networking came up and technology has grown by leaps and bounds but we can't figure this out.
It is their emotional and intellectual environ that seem to me to cause the most autistic symptoms.
Let's not forget that we are not diagnosing more children under Autism spectrum disorders than ever before because more symptoms are being recognized under the Autism spectrum disorders.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLet's blame ticks or lime disease. Let's not blame our technology and our own interactions with our children making these kids worse.
Let's not forget that we are not diagnosing more children under Autism spectrum disorders than ever before because more symptoms are being recognized under the Autism spectrum disorders.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLet's blame ticks or lime disease. Let's not blame our technology and our own interactions with our children making these kids worse.
How long will it take people to understand that autism - or most autistic traits- are most likely caused by using pitocin at birth? Children are born with a lack of oxygen to the brain. After birth, the babies are deprived of being held, and this causes furture failure to thrive. It is a mixture of western birth practices in combination with normative abuse. This is why autism rates are much lower in cultures where co-sleeping and natural births are prevalent.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy guess is that it is to a large degree epigenetic. And I would guess that illegal drug use, in fact any drug use, could be the culprit that turns on or off the genes. An earlier commentator mentioned Tylenol. The epigenetic effects of Tylenol showed straight line graph of use to the number and severity of illnesses such as asthma. Cigarette smoking has also been linked epigenetically with some illnesses. For those not familiar with epigenetics, is the study of how environmental influences can turn on or off certain genes. They do not change heredity but rather influence whether or not a certain genetic trait will be active in a child or adult. The epigenetic factors may last one or more generations. There is a brief factual discussion of it in the somewhat fictional Book 9 of the free book series at http://andgulliverreturns.info
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI know this is old, but the problem is as bad as ever, and as a father of two Autistic boys (2 years apart)who have an older sibling (who seems perfect in every way, years ahead of her peers etc..) I would like to offer my unique anecdotal (but very important nonetheless)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think I know what is causing it with a fair amount of certainty (enough to warrant a study at least!) But first let me mention the things I know CANNOT have caused their Autism:
1. Vaccines (neither were ever vaccinated until post diagnosis, their older sibling was)
2. RF (EMR/EMF) I worked for years in electronics and Radar many years before becoming a father, but I have long recognised that RF can cause cells to mutate during cell division, because of this, our house has had very little radiation (less than pre wi-fi/Bluetooth era ) also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use far far less energy than mobile phones and their towers that saturate the land we currently live in (although as the RF is distributed equally, the cause would have to be the phones themselves, but we have gone out fo our way to keep them away from our kids both pre/post natal)
3. Genetics (on their own anyways) someone earlier posted that Autism HAD to be caused by genetics because they had twins and only one was autistic, to me that proves the case opposing)
4. Environmental pesticides etc.. Their mother is a strict Vegetarian who has only eats organic foods (causes there perhaps? The rise of organic foods?) and took with absolute regularity her folate supplements(That's another possibility, but the suggestion that mothers take folate to reduce neural tube defects emerged from a study, so I'm inclined to look past folate)
Without going into further detail (and I have given this a great amount of thought) The two factors that need looking at: The additive that was introduced to fuel to phase-out leaded fuels, think about it! The timing is spot-on and anything that can replicate lead's valve-lubricating abilities must have much of it's properties etc.. It was rushed-in to get rid of lead. I bet studies weren't done and definitely on the airborne side of things.
The other things IS lead, It's long been know that trace quantities correlate to lower intelligence, but these studies were done pre-autism DSM4 criteria, so what about larger quantities? we know it's a spectrum.. We also know authorities were aware of toxic levels of lead concentration at the time, there's nothing to bring-down those levels, AFAIK it's cumulative ..
Which of the 'lead-substitutes' to look at exactly? Difficult to tell..
This is a bunch of BS. It's from the Vaccines, when I was vaccinated, it was only 12 or so, now they give them up to 34 different types by the time they are 1 year old.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf YOU massively stimulate the immune system systemically, via vaccine, it will massively activate
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisthe BRAIN SPECIAL IMMUNE SYSTEM, Which is governed by MicroGlial cells, these pour out Excito
Toxins or excitoxicity into the brain, Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter which acts
to facilitate electrical signaling between nerve cells. BUT WHEN GLUTAMATE LEVELS RISE TOO MUCH
, they jam the nerve cell in the OPEN POSITION , allowing calcium to flow freely into the cell.
The Calcium the structure and DNA of the cell, and creates a snowball cascading effect where
the cells that die and release glutamate which floods neighboring cells, causing the damage to spread.
And increases inflammatory cytokine for months even years, producing damage and death in
children, the brain is highly vulnerable at this age
I think it is obvious that GM corn, soy, cottonseed oil, and canola is causing the dramatic rise in autism and asthma. You asked right in the article, "What has changed in the environment in the last 15 years." Your answer is right there.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI specifically searched this article to find a counter point for an argument in an essay that I'm writing.I am sure that there is absolutely no correlation between autism and the environment. Throwing all research in this direction is a huge mistake.Get out of the labs and offices and figure out how to best help these children by researching how they best learn.Some parents do not know how do deal with autism and those cases can end up much more extreme then they have to be.I used to have full on autism as a child but my symptons moderated out to a light Asperger's.I don't know why or how but I spent all my time with my mother in a classroom setting as she was an English teacher.I did not formulate full sentences until at least second grade but now I have extreme passions for writing and music and thinking about things that normal people don't bother thinking about.Although I've only met my father a few times I am convinced he is very autistic and I can see many other cases of autism on his side of the family. I have many friends with autistic symptons and diagnosis as well and their fathers display symptoms of an adult with autism. The reason for the wild fire of cases isn't due to overdiagnosing necessarily but that the diagnosis is new. Many adults were forced to live their lives harshly without any accomadations or concerns for their education and either had to sink or swim.None of the failures made history but those who became succussful such as Bill Gates or Albert Einstein had conducive learning environments where their obsessive brains could flourish. I was never given any vacinations (except tetnis)and my mother never huffed Chinese paint, it's pure brain genes. It seems to me as though you try to shift the research direction towards the environment because that's a fun way to scare people and get money especially in California. I do not see autism as a problem though so therfore there are no culprits. If I had an autistic child I would thank God, not be embarressed or regretful or try to sue a doctor or slap a poor me puzzle piece ribbon sticker on the back of my hybrid. We need to research how to change cases of autism to be light as can be. Serious cases are huge problems for parents, teachers and all involced. Condemning the hole autistic spectrum is bad and those who do are just holding society back. Don't condemn us for we push you forward and you need us and always have needed us. You research what we write. Now our national system is trying to squeeze us into cookie cutters. The view on autismn needs to change.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy son has autism, I have M.S. and we were both tested for Bartonella Henselae, a cousin microbe of Bartonella Borrealis (Lyme disease). I tested positive. He tested negative. We both went on antibiotics and his autism symptoms dramatically improved due to the meds. He was taken off the meds and it reverted back. I think there is something to this, but I also think there is something that is creating a pathway for the microbe. Maybe it is DNA contamination in the vaccines (as was found in the flu vaccines earlier.) I can't put my finger on it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this