Air Pollution Doubles Child’s Risk For Developing Autism

According to a study conducted by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health, “Children whose mothers were exposed to high levels of fine particulate pollution in late pregnancy have up to twice the risk of developing autism as children of mothers breathing clean air.”   Fine particulates, which were especially harmful, include those emitted by fire, vehicles and industrial smokestacks.  According to the US government approximately 1 in 68 children have been diagnosed with autism. (2010) These statistics are up from 1 in 150. (2000)
Although autism has a strong genetic basis, genes alone cannot account for the rapid rise in the disorder, prompting researchers to search for possible environmental factors. More information can be found at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/18/air-pollution-autism-_n_6345448.html