What Really Causes Autism?

February 2, 2009

California's sevenfold increase in autism is most likely due to

environmental exposures, according to scientists. A new study

advocates a nationwide shift in autism research to focus on

environmental factors such as pesticides, viruses and chemicals in

household products.

Throughout the U.S., the numbers of autistic children have increased

dramatically over the past 15 years. More than 3,000 new cases of

autism were reported in California in 2006, compared with 205 in 1990.

Many medical officials argued that the rise was due to changes in

diagnoses or migration patterns rather than a real rise in the

disorder. But the new study concludes that those factors cannot

explain most of the increase in autism.

Researchers analyzed 17 years of state data...

Continued here:

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Sheena Judd

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