Mothers to be who are exposed to certain environmental factors may increase their risk of having children with autism. A study, presented at the annual conference of the International Society for Autism Research, found that pregnant women exposed to high levels of certain air pollutants had a 30 to 50% greater chance of having a child with autism in comparison to other women. The Nurses Health Study II was presented by Marc Weisskopf, Ph.D who stated the consistency of findings across studies “certainly makes me start to feel much more certain that we’re on a path to finding something environmental that’s playing a role here,” said Weisskopf, a professor of environmental health and epidemiology. “At this stage it does seem there’s something related to air pollution.” (Source of Quote)
Another study presented at this conference, the Charge study, found that women who took iron supplements prior to or in the early stages of their pregnancies decreased their risk of having a child with autism by 40%. In another aspect of this study, researchers found a relationship between exposure to insecticides in the home and some characteristics of autism.
More on these studies can be found here:
©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action
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