Ockman's Razor and Autism: The case for developmental neurotoxins contributing to a disease of neurodevelopment

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*_NeuroToxicology_* <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0161813X>

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<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL & _udi=B6W81-4VWHVWY-1 & _user=\

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_doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2009.03.003_

<http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2009.03.003>

Copyright © 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Ockman's Razor and Autism: The case for developmental neurotoxins

contributing to a disease of neurodevelopment

*M. DeSoto**^ * *_^a _*

<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL & _udi=B6W81-4VWHVWY-1 & _user=\

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>*^,

*

^a Department of Psychology, University of Northern Iowa, Baker Hall,

Cedar Falls, IA50614-0505, United States

Received 16 January 2009;

revised 4 March 2009;

accepted 7 March 2009.

Available online 21 March 2009.

*Abstract*

Much professional awareness regarding environmental triggers for ASD has

been narrowly focused on a single possible exposure pathway (vaccines).

Meanwhile, empirical support for environmental toxins as a broad class

has been quietly accumulating. Recent research has shown that persons

with ASD have comparatively higher levels of various toxins and are more

likely to have reduced detoxifying ability, and, that rates of ASD may

be higher in areas with greater pollution. This report documents that

within the state with the highest rate of ASD, the rate is higher for

schools near EPA Superfund sites, /t/ (332) = 3.84, /p/ = .0001. The

reasons for the rise in diagnoses likely involve genetically-predisposed

individuals being exposed to various environmental triggers at higher

rates than in past generations.