Autism linked to higher smog levels : Study

Air pollution exposure may be linked to a child's risk of autism, a recent study suggests. The controversial findings echo similar results from a study last winter that found an increased risk of autism among children of women exposed to more smog late in pregnancy.
This new study -- which does not establish a direct connection between dirty air and autism -- did not find a statistically significant increased risk for autism related to air pollution exposure at any specific time during pregnancy. Instead, the authors found a child's odds of autism were 1.5 times greater when air pollution exposure was greater across the entire span of time from pre-pregnancy until the child was 2 years old.
"These findings are striking because they suggest that cumulative exposures over the course of the pregnancy may be important, as opposed to any individual period during the pregnancy," said study author Evelyn Talbott, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh. But more research would be necessary to understand how pollution might affect autism risk, she said. Autism spectrum disorder -- a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant communication and social challenges -- affects 1 in 68 children in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The research involved 443 children living in six counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, about half of whom had autism. Researchers compared air pollution exposure -- based on all addresses where the mothers reported living -- before and during their mothers' pregnancy and in the children's first two years of life.
The type of pollution measured was fine-particle air pollution, included in smog. It's composed of small particles from car exhaust or other forms of burning wood, coal and other fossil fuels that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The American Lung Association ranks southwestern Pennsylvania among the nation's worst regions for this type of pollution.
The findings were published in the July issue of the journal Environmental Research.
    medicinenet.com

 

Autism linked to higher smog levels : Study

Air pollution exposure may be linked to a childs risk of autism, a recent study suggests. The controversial findings echo similar results from a study last winter that found an increased risk of autism among children of women exposed to more smog late in pregnancy. This new study -- which does not establish a direct connection between dirty air and autism -- did not find a statistically significant increased risk for autism related to air pollution exposure at any specific time during pregnancy. Instead, the authors found a childs odds of autism were 1.5 times greater when air pollution exposure was greater across the entire span of time from pre-pregnancy until the child was 2 years old. These findings are striking because they suggest that cumulative exposures over the course of the pregnancy may be important, as opposed to any individual period during the pregnancy, said study author Evelyn Talbott, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh. But more research would be necessary to understand how pollution might affect autism risk, she said. Autism spectrum disorder -- a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant communication and social challenges -- affects 1 in 68 children in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The research involved 443 children living in six counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, about half of whom had autism. Researchers compared air pollution exposure -- based on all addresses where the mothers reported living -- before and during their mothers pregnancy and in the childrens first two years of life. The type of pollution measured was fine-particle air pollution, included in smog. Its composed of small particles from car exhaust or other forms of burning wood, coal and other fossil fuels that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The American Lung Association ranks southwestern Pennsylvania among the nations worst regions for this type of pollution. The findings were published in the July issue of the journal Environmental Research. medicinenet.com