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Air Pollution Almost Doubles a Woman's Chances of Having an Autistic Child

Women living in polluted areas are more likely to deliver babies suffering with autism

Jun 18, 2013 20:51 GMT  ·  By
Women exposed to high levels of air pollution are more likely to have an autistic child, study finds
   Women exposed to high levels of air pollution are more likely to have an autistic child, study finds

A research whose findings were published in today's issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives establishes a link between exposure to high levels of air pollution and increased chances of having an autistic child.

The researchers who looked into how air pollution influences autism rates say that, according to their investigations, women who live in highly polluted areas across the United States are almost twice as likely to deliver an autistic child as women living in cleaner environments are.

The Harvard School of Public Health specialists say that this link between air pollution and autism rates need not come as such a big surprise.

They explain that, as several other studies have shown, chemical compounds such as lead, manganese, mercury and methylene chloride toy with a baby's development.

More precisely, they have been documented to affect brain function and should therefore be labeled as a possible trigger for autism. EurekAlert reports that the Harvard School of Public Health researchers came to establish a link between air pollution and an increased risk for autism after comparing data concerning autism rates in various parts of the US to information having to do with the distribution of various air pollutants across the country.

“Our findings raise concerns since, depending on the pollutant, 20% to 60% of the women in our study lived in areas where risk of autism was elevated,” stated study lead author Andrea Roberts.

The scientists recommend that further studies carry out a more detailed analysis of how certain air pollutants influence both a mother's and her child's overall health.

Once the chemical compounds most likely to trigger the onset of said medical condition are identified, specialists would find it easier to protect pregnant women.

As senior author Marc Weisskopf put it, “Our results suggest that new studies should begin the process of measuring metals and other pollutants in the blood of pregnant women or newborn children to provide stronger evidence that specific pollutants increase risk of autism.”

“A better understanding of this can help to develop interventions to reduce pregnant women's exposure to these pollutants.”