Autism Clusters in California May Have Environmental Link
Researchers at U.C. Davis are trying to connect the dots leading to 10 autism clusters in California. One theory is that those parents are using certain hazardous household products, exposing their kids to dangers linked to the neuro-developmental disorder that usually surfaces by the time a child turns three.
According to the Contra Costa Times and other news sources reporting the findings, the study authors don’t attribute the cases to a toxic waste plant or other widespread polluter, but rather to household items like cleaners or landscaping products.
The report released by the University this week says the clusters show autism rates nearly twice the amount of ones in surrounding areas, including three in the Bay Area: Parts of Redwood City, San Carlos and Belmong; Parts of Santa Clara and Sunnyvale; Western San Francisco. No clusters were found in the East Bay.
Other clusters are in Southern California and the Central Valley. And one San Diego cluster was found to have rates of 61.2 per 10,000 births, compared with 27.1 per 10,000 births in the surrounding region. The researchers said the study is the first one looking at the geography of autism births in the state to learn of local sections of elevated environmental risk.
In producing the study, which was published online in the journal Autism Research, the scientists looked at nearly all of the 2.5 million births recorded in California from 1996 to 2000. The report says some 10,000 children born during that period were later diagnosed with autism.
The scientists who conducted the study are now conducting two additional studies examining the environmental causes of autism, and plan to collect dust samples from the homes of 1,300 families to see if common chemicals are the culprits.
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January 8th, 2010 at 11:29 AM
interesting study, but also a little scary O.O
January 8th, 2010 at 1:41 PM
What the heck are these “certain hazardous household products” I wonder.
Lots of people use toxic cleaners and you don’t see pockets of autism.
My bet is it’s something in the pipes…
January 9th, 2010 at 9:31 AM
It’s believed a lot of disease will be linked to exposure to toxins in the homes. It’s not hard to believe when you read the ingredients.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:03 AM
A step in the right direction. Wish other diseases were handled this way. I think chemical pollutants are the cause of many of our chronic illnesses.
May 13th, 2010 at 8:02 AM
This is just speculation in my mind. You can’t link autism directly with living in a specific location. It’s just something to think about and recognize so that you can look at it as a big picture. Other than that I wouldn’t worry about it.
May 22nd, 2010 at 8:46 AM
what are signs that your child has autism & does autism exist more in certain races than others?
May 25th, 2010 at 3:06 AM
Relation of environment with autism, if they can really proof it then i think its gonna be huge for future mankind. But from just some random research on population you can’t come to a solution or decision. They need some solid evidence for their claim.
May 28th, 2010 at 10:01 AM
We’ll continue to be searching for the environmental factors, but I don’t think they’re going to be sources of pollution in specific neighborhoods
June 1st, 2010 at 12:40 PM
Its a great research, no doubt. But this types of researches doesn’t give the original result all time. I think they should be more specific about the matter.
June 5th, 2010 at 9:02 AM
Ahh its too scary. thanks for sharing with us.
July 29th, 2010 at 4:57 AM
What is “certain hazardous household products”? Anyways, Its looking good research.
November 8th, 2010 at 9:52 AM
You just never know…there are so many health issues we face today.
January 11th, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Autism could be brought about by many factors. Those researches do have studies that conclude that it may be because of household items and such. We’ll just never know until studies have been conducted.
March 16th, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Many experts say that improved diagnoses by doctors can explain only a portion of the increase, so environmental causes may be responsible for the rest. Hertz-Picciotto said the new study cannot explain the rising rate of autism since education levels have not changed.
May 5th, 2011 at 3:21 PM
very nice blog
May 9th, 2011 at 6:47 AM
You just never know…there are so many health issues we face today. n
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