Study finds air pollution may be linked to autism

Polluted air may increase children's chances of developing autism.

     According to a new study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health, exposure to high levels of fine particulate pollution during the first years of life may increase a child's chance of developing an autism spectrum disorder.

     The study, led by Dr. Evelyn Talbott of Pitt's epidemiology department, focused on 430 families living in southwestern Pennsylvania. 211 of the families had children with autism, while 219 of them did not. The researchers estimated children's individual exposure to fine particulate pollution, which originates largely from car exhaust and power plants, using information about where the mothers lived during and immediately after pregnancy and models developed by one of the study's co-authors.

     They found that the children who had the highest levels of exposure to air pollution were about one and a half times more likely to develop autism spectrum disorders than those who had less exposure. This follows in the footsteps of three other recent studies of the effects of air pollution on autism that had similar results, two of which were conducted in California and one of which was also conducted at Pitt. 

     "Autism spectrum disorders are lifelong conditions for which there is no cure and limited treatment options, so there is an urgent need to identify any risk factors that we could mitigate, such as pollution," Talbott said in a statement.

     Autism now affects about one in 68 children in the U.S., a much higher rate than even a few years ago, so the need for early identification of its possible causes is greater than ever before.

     To protect yourself and your family from the detrimental effects of air pollution, shop for a home air purifier with U.S. Air Purifiers today.