Page 1 of 1 [ 2 posts ] 

idlewild
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

User avatar

Joined: 21 Nov 2011
Age: 43
Gender: Female
Posts: 226
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA

21 Dec 2014, 1:05 am

Quote:
A new study has strengthened the link between exposure to fine particulate matter in the air during pregnancy and the risk of a child developing autism. The link was particularly strong when the exposure occurred during the third trimester, and the risk increased when the amount of particulate matter increased.


http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-me ... -pollution

Thoughts at first glance:

But does this account for the full spectrum and for historical autism? For instance, is there evidence that women working in pre-OSHA factories had a higher rate of giving birth to autistic children? Do women in Beijing (which has terrible air pollution) have higher rates than women in Seattle? And what was air pollution like in Vienna when Hans Asperger was studying ASD? Were these "cold, frigid mothers" that scientists used to speculate on spending a great deal of time in unhealthy breathing environments?

You would think women working in textile mills full of fine particulate matter would have had a high enough rate of giving birth to autistic children that this would have been commented on.

In my own history, I had relatives who smoked but I also had plenty of fresh air in a relatively clean suburb of Atlanta. My mother wasn't exposed to any significant air pollution during her pregnancy.

I think pregnant women in unhealthy environments generally have a higher risk of having children who have some form of health issue, but correlation isn't looking like causation here.


_________________
"My personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair." - Steel Magnolias

Your neurodiverse (Aspie) score: 159 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 75 of 200
You are very likely neurodiverse (Aspie)


Jezebel
Toucan
Toucan

User avatar

Joined: 15 May 2010
Age: 29
Gender: Female
Posts: 274
Location: Alabama

21 Dec 2014, 2:38 am

My view on the nature/nurture debate is pretty typical, I suppose. Though links may be found between autism and environmental factors, I personally believe its mainly caused by genetic factors. However, that's not to say that autism can't be caused or even worsened by a combination of specific environmental and genetic factors.


_________________
Diagnosed with ADHD combined type (02/09/16) and ASD Level 1 (04/28/16).