Autism and Toxic Chemicals

Here is a very interesting article from Dr. Harvey Karp about the rise of endocrine disrupting chemicals and the rates of autism. New links are showing up about about the cocktail of chemicals we are exposed to, and how many of them are hormone disrupting, causing multiple health problems in developing children, including potentially autism. These chemicals mimic estrogen in the body, which usually means feminization, but the opposite affect takes place in children, where more masculine traits (in the extreme) are developed, where they wouldn't normally be.

This is the only theory about autism that actually takes into account the larger number of males that are diagnosed with autism. This "extreme male theory" (which explains a lack of social skills and language development) is associated with autism.

What are endocrine disrupting chemicals? You've heard about them: BPA, pthalates, flame retardants, and a host of other chemicals that are in all of our homes and everyday products. The article discusses that the rates of these chemicals in women of childbearing age are very high, and the damage from them takes place as the fetus is developing. And they have been linked to very troubling medical concerns (from the article): "Multiple animal and human studies have linked EDC exposure (during or after fetal development) with a host of hormone-related disorders, like low sperm count, cancer (breast, ovarian, prostate, testicular), congenital malformation of the genitals and even obesity."

I learned that a new study will begin looking closely at this link (which is behind due to a lack of funding and commitment from the Bush administration, just another way we stepped backwards during those 8 years), and the author suggests several other needed studies as well.

Chemicals in everyday products are largely unregulated and needs the regulatory system (or lack thereof) needs a complete overhaul to protect our families. Maybe now that these is a possible link between the chemical stew we are exposed to and autism, we will see more action on this.