Researcher adds
to evidence linking autism to air pollutants
A University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee study published in Epidemiology
has added to research evidence that links autism to particulate matter less
than 10 microns (PM10) in size according to an article in Science Daily. This
is the third study that links air pollution to the autism, a disorder that
affects interpersonal relations and work achievement that now affects 1 in 68
children in the U.S.
The case-control
study evaluated 645 cases and 12,434 controls in North Carolina and 334 cases
and 2232 controls in California. The study measured particulate matter based on
the family’s address from birth certificates, assuming that they lived there
during the pregnancy for one year prior to the child’s birth and one year
following birth. Air pollution model inputs were publicly available PM10
concentrations from EPA Agency Air Quality System monitors and analyzed using
Bayesian Maximum Entropy geostatistical method.
This allowed the researchers to analyze data in smaller time slots to
compare exposures during specific weeks of pregnancy. The study concentrated on
pregnancy vulnerability because it had the ability to split out time
differences in air pollution. Other studies focused on home distance from major
sources of air pollution. The study adjusted for year, state, maternal
education and age, race/ethnicity, and neighborhood-level urbanization and
median household income, and including a nonparametric term for week of birth
to account for seasonal trends.
The study showed
increase susceptibility during the third trimester, which is consistent with other
studies, however the mechanism for increased susceptibility is not known that
this time. The author, Amy Kalkbrenner says, “this
finding is consistent with theories that show links between autism and altered
brain network development, specifically synaptic connections that are
developing during the final months of pregnancy.”
Overall, the
article published in Science Daily provided a good overview of the study
published in Epidemiology. It
provided enough information for people to understand that there is growing
evidence for a link between air pollution and autism.
Epidemiology
article: http://journals.lww.com/epidem/Abstract/publishahead/Particulate_Matter_Exposure,_Prenatal_and.99266.aspx
Science Daily
article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141015112119.htm
I thought that the news article did a good job showing why the study was important. It mentioned that the study confirmed results found in California, but in a region with different weather and climate. This narrowed down the list of potential confounding variables.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the paper talks about it, but it would have been interesting to see some information on how to prevent this through like maybe a filter or something that would reduce the PM in the houses. Not having any recommendations on how to prevent autism caused by air pollutants makes these situations seem like a lost cause.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that autism could be related to particulate matter, before reading this blog post I thought autism was strictly caused by genetics. This research needs to reach worldwide media, that traffic pollution and other sources are having detrimental effects to human health. I agree with Jennifer, not having any recommendations to how air pollutants can be filtered, reduced, or stopped seems like a lost cause. I found it interesting the concentration of particulate matter was highest among children born in summer months in North Carolina and highest in fall and winter months in California, I wonder what the cause of this was? I would have assumed that for California it would have been higher in the summer due to high temperatures and increased traffic emissions. For future studies, I think this should be done for each state to see if results are consistent and air pollutants from the same sources are the main cause for autism.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that autism can be related to air pollutants. It think a total of nearly 1000 cases is enough to prove the relationship, but locations are limited.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of linking autism to particulate matter pollution is totally new to me. If this accounts for an important part of the reason why autism develops in children, hopefully the proper control of maternal exposure to PM10 would help mitigate the situation. Meanwhile it's also interesting to see how early exposure to pollutants can have a delayed effect on human health that wouldn't reveal until a certain stage of life.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting article. I also didn't know that researchers were looking at particulate matter as a cause of autism. We have talked a lot about PM2.5 as a being particularly hazardous to human health. I wonder if additional studies will be done to narrow down even further the size of the particulate that is potentially harmful; perhaps it will also be in the PM2.5 range.
ReplyDelete