Autism Could be Linked to Environment?
Autism is a mysterious disease that has dramatically increased in recent years and only speculations as to why. A new study conduced by the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences reports that the increase of Autism cases cannot fully explained by changes in doctor’s diagnosis. Many feel that this is the main reason that Autism cases have increase so much in the past 20 years, but this study seems to show differently. The scientists involved in this study feel that more research needs to be done in environmental factors that could affect babies and fetuses including:
- Pesticides
- Viruses
- Chemicals in household products
The exact results of the study were that less than half of the increase is due to the change in diagnosis of the disease. The only two factors that could cause such a huge change are genetic and environmental. Genetics are out of the picture since they could not change that much in such a short period. This leads the scientists to believe that it must be environmental factors causing the increase.
This is a very interesting issue that hits home to many people. The current rate of an autistic child being born is anywhere from 1 – 6 children out of 1000. That is a pretty scary number considering that it is also continually rising. I have heard many people blaming the rise on vaccinations. I am not sure if this is actually the case, but I can easily believe that environmental factors could be a huge reason for the increase. All the chemicals and pesticides in the foods we eat could easily be the reason. Also, there are tons of chemicals in our household cleaning products that could also be contributing.
Regardless of the fact that little research has been done to prove that environmental factors could be causing autism, I would take every precaution necessary. Some way that you may want to try that could reduce risks to your child while pregnant are:
- Make Homemade Cleaners and Pesticides.
- Buy Local or Organic Produce and Meats.
- Use more natural body cleansing products.
Comments
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January 12th, 2009Trackback from : Fioricet cheap.
I believe that environmental factors are responsible (if not completely then at least partially) for so many illnesses. If we can make some green changes and improve the health of our children … and ourselves … why not? Green changes aren’t difficult and these days … they aren’t all that expensive either.
Great information … thank you!
Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com
Excelent article.
Thanks for share your knowledge.
Regards!
I guarantee it’s somehow linked to all the processed foods available at the supermarket. That’s why my wife & I try to do a lot of shopping at local farmer’s markets, and try to get grass-fed meat, etc.
I use all natural personal products, and have have been wanting to get into using more white vinegar as a cleaning agent around the house.
Aside from Autism, how about the rise in ADD & all of its off-shoots (ADHD, etc)?
The corporate infrastructure couldn’t care less about the impact of their behavior on the masses. I have absolutely no faith in them, and even less faith in our government to regulate them.
That’s why I buy local!
Great point Matt. ADD seems to have risen as much as autism and probably much of that can be due to the diets that kids have. Just the sugar and high fructose corn syrup that they put in all processed foods, it’s no big surprise that kids can’t stay focused.
I recently blogged about this same study. I agree with Irva Hertz-Picciotto, the head researcher in the study that the rise in autism cases here in California is due to environmental factors. We use a lot more chemicals now than we did in 1990. I also agree that we need more research to pinpoint exactly what environmental factor is contributing to the rise.
The industrialization chemical invasion doesn’t surprise me that this could be linked to autism. Probably other diseases and especially cancer can be linked to environmental contamination.
Great blog with a lot of time and effort to bring very informative articles.
Thank you