Air pollution 'could cause of autism'

Researchers have found that autism has possible links to air pollution. Whilst conducting research into the roots of autism, researchers discovered a link between the disease and certain chemical particulates found in air pollution.

It has been revealed by researchers at Harvard University's School of Public Health, that women who are exposed to mercury of diesel particulates from exhaust fumes in high levels during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to an autistic child. Pregnant women from areas with high air pollution levels could be twice as likely to have a baby suffering from the disease in comparison to women who spend their pregnancy in areas with low-pollution levels.

Andrea Roberts, author of the study and research associate at Harvard School of Public Health, said to The Huffington Post: "Women who were exposed to the highest levels of diesel or mercury in the air were twice as likely to have a child with autism than women who lived in the cleanest parts of the sample."

The study is the largest of its kind ever to have been performed, and used data from 116,430 nurses beginning from 1989. From this data 22,000 women were isolated whose children did not suffer from autism along with a further 325 mothers whose children had the condition. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data was used to approximate pollution levels and adjustments were made for factors such as whether they smoked during pregnancy, income and education.

The research suggests that expectant mothers should undergo ongoing testing throughout the term of their pregnancy to determine the levels of metals and other pollutants that are present in their blood. This could ultimately give better indication as to whether air pollution can truly be linked to autism.

Ms Roberts continued: "All of the chemicals studied are known neurotoxins. They are also known to pass from mother to baby while a woman is pregnant. It is very plausible that the 'stuff' the mother is taking in through the air is affecting her baby's brain development."