A common thought among scientists for some time has been that chemicals in our atmosphere and environment have a part in causing autism. Recently published research in Environmental Health Perspectives stated that this theory may have some fact to it. They support the scientists’ thinking. The theory stated agricultural pesticides in the air may cause pregnant mothers to give birth to children with increased risk to autism disorders or ASDs.
According to CNN Health’s recent article, in a study of 970 participating individuals, researchers at University of California, Davis, observed and examined their medical records in order to create their theory. What they found was that pregnant women in a mile radius of an area of land treated with up to three different pesticide types were two-thirds more likely to have a child with ADS or developmental issues, such as delays. In addition to this find, they also theorized that women in their second or third trimesters who are or were exposed to pesticides were even more likely to have a child born with said mental issues.
Any of the following common locations could count as pesticide-treated lands, roadsides, pastures, parks and golf courses. The three types of pesticides were organophosphates, which includes popular chlorpyrifos and pyrtheroids and carbamates. The study analyzed all three and their respective uses.
These are not the only pesticides that may prove risky to pregnant women, however. Janie Shelton, an author of the study and a graduate student at UC Davis, stated that pregnant women should be cautious when using household chemicals as well due to the unknown risk involved in exposing themselves and their unborn child to the toxins.
“I would suggest that women who are pregnant or in the process of becoming pregnant avoid using chemicals inside the home,” Shelton said.
The findings of this recently published study add to the large amount of evidence already established that links autism to pesticide exposure during pregnancy.
Further research is still in need to fully prove that other factors may be a part of autism development as well. For instance, a mother’s genes could contribute to the risk along with exposure to pesticides. Besides genetically, race was seen as a factor for development of autism disorders according to a study of more than 7.500 people that was published in Pediatrics. This study discovered that mothers who were foreign-black, Central and South American, Filipino and Vietnamese had a higher chance of giving birth to a baby with autism than a white mother in the United States. This is not to say that these races are genetically prone to autism.
It is important to realize when reading or hearing about these studies and their findings that association and cause are not identical. Parents can worry over such high risk situations and may go great lengths to keep themselves from exposure. While this is not in all a bad thing, many experts agree that other factors constitute risk as well. Among these are maternal stress and nutritional deficiency. Further evidence must be discovered before direct correlations can be made.