Early Exposure to Air Pollutants Linked to Autism in Children

Researchers have completed a study that bolsters the case for a connection between autism and pollution. The findings reveal that children diagnosed with autism are likelier to have experienced exposure to harmful pollutants, either in utero or in their first 24 months, than children without the disease.

Lead author Dr. Evelyn Talbott, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, presented the study at the 2014 meeting of the American Association for Aerosol Research on October 22.

Quick stats on autism

This study is important based on the scope of the illness:

• According to the CDC, one in six American children has special needs of some sort. Out of that population, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been diagnosed in approximately one 1 of every 68 children. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
• Autism is on the rise, with diagnosis accelerating between 6% and 15% annually from 2002 to 2010.

How the child development study was conducted

The researchers spoke with over 200 families with special needs children who specifically have autism. The families were from six different Pennsylvania counties. Birth years for the children ranged from 2005 to 2009.

The research team made reasonable estimates of exposure to almost 3 dozen pollutants that are common in the environment, based on data from the EPA’s National Air Toxics Assessment.

In order to have controls, the researchers questioned two sets of families residing in the same locations and not including children with this form of special needs. To ensure an accurate comparison of child development, children in these sets were born in the same time range.

Dr. Talbott emphasized the importance of having more than one control group. By incorporating a dual control mechanism, it was possible to accurately determine “representative air toxics in neighborhoods of those children with and without ASD.”

As indicated by the design of the study, the researchers directly compared children exposed to specific pollutants alongside their rates of autism. The study found that when styrene and chromium were experienced at high levels either in the womb or up to 24 months, autism is as much as 100% more common.

Styrene is released when gasoline burns. It is also found in paint and plastic. Chromium is released by power plants and created through industrial steel hardening.

A healthy environment for treatment

These findings on the connection between autism and pollution generally underscore the strong link between the environment and our health. At Diagnostic Health & Injury, our multidisciplinary team provides a full-spectrum approach toward interventional pain management and neurologic rehabilitation. Get an appointment so you can live life without pain!