[plotthickens]

Linking autism to the fun things we all enjoy every day.


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Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center Publishes a List of the Top Ten Toxic Chemicals Suspected to Cause Autism and Learning Disabilities An editorial published today in the prestigious journal Environmental Health Perspectives calls for increased research to identify possible environmental causes of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in America's children and presents a list of ten target chemicals including which are considered highly likely to contribute to these conditions. CEHC developed the list of ten chemicals found in consumer products that are suspected to contribute to autism and learning disabilities to guide a research strategy to discover potentially preventable environmental causes. The top ten chemicals are: 1. Lead 2. Methylmercury 3. PCBs 4. Organophosphate pesticides 5. Organochlorine pesticides 6. Endocrine disruptors 7. Automotive exhaust 8. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 9. Brominated flame retardants 10. Perfluorinated compounds

And:
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"A Research Strategy to Discover the Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities"

[Frosted]

I'm sure the oils spills and radiation leaks into the ocean will help to subside the increase in autism.

[Doggzilla]

In the old day they called those afflicted with Aspergers "reserved", and respected them for their abilities and respected their personal space. Now they are nuts because they dont like the company of scumbag Steve and Paris Hilton. Sigh.

[plotthickens]

	Originally Posted by Doggzilla To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	In the old day they called those afflicted with Aspergers "reserved", and respected them for their abilities and respected their personal space. Now they are nuts because they dont like the company of scumbag Steve and Paris Hilton. Sigh.

Actually they called them "slow" and frequently named them "much", as in "not much". Pre-industrialized literature contains many such references. They were down's syndrome, Asperger's and other mental retardation sufferers. They typically were bread-bakers, garbage-sifters and floor-sweepers, jobs that today we have replaced with mechanism and skilled laborers.

[HIDE="Not simple tasks anymore"]

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[/HIDE]

If the per capita incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders had remained steady throughout these decades in which we can diagnose for it, then we would know that there has been no increase. But this is not the case. Incidences of Autism are still increasing at a huge rate.


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[Latro]

How much of that can you attribute to changes in diagnostic practices?

[thod]

They have just produced a list. When these things are eliminated from the environment and it does nothing they will pick another list. Yet it should be easy enough to eliminate these factors by looking at regions where they are not present. It reminds of the theory that pollution causes asthma. However Eastern Europe was very polluted but had low asthma. I suspect that the autism angle is being hijacked by the green movement to get these chemicals eliminated.

One of the more interesting facts I have read is the high autism rate around silicon valley. IT work tends to lend itself well to those slightly autistic. These then go on to have autistic children.

[paleoeco]

	Originally Posted by Latro To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	How much of that can you attribute to changes in diagnostic practices?

Researchers at the CDC have said (though perhaps not published) when looking at the increase in incidence AND accounting for (1) broadening of definition, (2) better diagnositic tools, and (3) increased scrutiny/knowledge, there still is an increasing number of cases of autism.

(As a former Board Liaison for an autism treatment facility with CDC autism researchers on the Scientific Board, I've been present at many discussions about this specific topic)

[Latro]

Originally Posted by paleoeco To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Researchers at the CDC have said (though perhaps not published) when looking at the increase in incidence AND accounting for (1) broadening of definition, (2) better diagnositic tools, and (3) increased scrutiny/knowledge, there still is an increasing number of cases of autism. (As a former Board Liaison for an autism treatment facility with CDC autism researchers on the Scientific Board, I've been present at many discussions about this specific topic)

Interesting. Could you refer me to any sources on this?

(I should say that I wasn't saying "no you're wrong", I was saying "that seems like a drastic trend, what about this?")

[Nightmare]

Some time ago on NPR I remember they were talking about newborn vaccines and how they may correlate with autism...

[mormeguil]

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How much this map is worth i'm not sure. But it does seem that no environemental effect correlate with the amount of autism. The difference seem to be most likely cultural.

[Arcanist]

I like how my state has no data.

[Subgenius]

	Originally Posted by Arcanist To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I like how my state has no data.

Well, at least we know you aren't a retard now, and you have proof. My state, seemingly, has tons.

[phoboser]

I favor the theories that the the increase in autism is the result of 1) a relaxing of the diagnostic criteria, and 2)
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Its high heritability disfavors environmental causes.

About those environmental chemicals... my guess is that they aren't likely to be the cause because the abnormal neuron migration in the cortex associated with autism has to be the result of something that exerts its effect throughout the entire process.

A flaw in the code can plausibly do that because it should affect events throughout the entire developmental process. An environmental chemical or chemical group? Sure, but why does autism hit one child out of all the others in the same SES who are exposed to the same chemicals? And why is it more common in upper SES families who are more protected/protective against environmental assaults than lower SES families?

[zibber]

Originally Posted by phoboser To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I favor the theories that the the increase in autism is the result of 1) a relaxing of the diagnostic criteria, and 2) To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Its high heritability disfavors environmental causes. About those environmental chemicals... my guess is that they aren't likely to be the cause because the abnormal neuron migration in the cortex associated with autism has to be the result of something that exerts its effect throughout the entire process.

Read the article. The genetic component often plays a role, but many environmental factors may be present. Guessing and Wired links aside.

[phoboser]

	Originally Posted by zibber To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Read the article. The genetic component often plays a role, but many environmental factors may be present.

Uh, yes I know.

	Originally Posted by phoboser
	An environmental chemical or chemical group? Sure

How's this?

	Originally Posted by phoboser
	About those environmental chemicals... my guess is that they aren't likely to be [an important] cause [of the increase in autism diagoses].

[thod]

Well, homo sapiens cannot last forever. Perhaps we are witnessing the birth of homo superior (homo geekus).

[plotthickens]

	Originally Posted by phoboser To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Uh, yes I know. How's this?

	Originally Posted by phoboser To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	An environmental chemical or chemical group? Sure, but why does autism hit one child out of all the others in the same SES who are exposed to the same chemicals? And why is it more common in upper SES families who are more protected/protective against environmental assaults than lower SES families?

No, really, read the article and the study. It doesn't talk about what the CHILD is exposed to, it talks about what the MOTHER was exposed to during the first trimester. Therefore all the high-pesticide foods, such as fruits and yuppie veg and bottom-dwelling expensive sushi fish and gorgeous manmade synthetics and having your hair done and bug-free everything and fire-retardant everything might have just a wee little something to do with it.

Also: the list of suspect chemicals starts with LEAD. I notice that everyone is kind of ignoring that, skipping it and going to cherry-pick attack the rest of the list. OOoookay.

[paleoeco]

	Originally Posted by Latro To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Interesting. Could you refer me to any sources on this? (I should say that I wasn't saying "no you're wrong", I was saying "that seems like a drastic trend, what about this?")

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[LadySpock]

	Originally Posted by Latro To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	How much of that can you attribute to changes in diagnostic practices?

I am thinking that a lot of it can.

[Latro]

	Originally Posted by LadySpock To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I am thinking that a lot of it can.

Evidently so, but also that a lot of it can't. I haven't read all three of paleoeco's links, but the first one says this:

	Based on the abovementioned research, approximately 53% percent of the increase in autism prevalence over time may be explained by changes in diagnosis (26%), greater awareness (16%), and an increase in parental age (11%).

[ummon]

	Originally Posted by Doggzilla To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	In the old day they called those afflicted with Aspergers "reserved", and respected them for their abilities and respected their personal space. Now they are nuts because they dont like the company of scumbag Steve and Paris Hilton. Sigh.

It's still the norm in non-Western countries to reserved people. Sadly though, other cultures are starting to pick up the more scumbag aspects of our culture.

Originally Posted by phoboser To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I favor the theories that the the increase in autism is the result of 1) a relaxing of the diagnostic criteria, and 2) To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Its high heritability disfavors environmental causes. About those environmental chemicals... my guess is that they aren't likely to be the cause because the abnormal neuron migration in the cortex associated with autism has to be the result of something that exerts its effect throughout the entire process. A flaw in the code can plausibly do that because it should affect events throughout the entire developmental process. An environmental chemical or chemical group? Sure, but why does autism hit one child out of all the others in the same SES who are exposed to the same chemicals? And why is it more common in upper SES families who are more protected/protective against environmental assaults than lower SES families?

Yeah there are a lot of things (such as cancer) whose increases are caused largely by chemical environmental changes, but autism probably isn't one of them. It's due primarily to assortative mating, over-diagnosis, and over-expression of autism due to bad family support during the childhood. That's not to say environmental factors don't play a role, (lead poisoning won't do you any good), but I certainly don't see a smoking gun.

	Originally Posted by Latro To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Evidently so, but also that a lot of it can't. I haven't read all three of paleoeco's links, but the first one says this:   Based on the abovementioned research, approximately 53% percent of the increase in autism prevalence over time may be explained by changes in diagnosis (26%), greater awareness (16%), and an increase in parental age (11%).

You can thank the feminists for that.

[Noelle]

I'm still not convinced that Aspergers is a 'disorder.' I've met several people with Aspergers and I find them to be much better 'people' than a lot of the people who claim to be normal.

[Espadrille]

Originally Posted by ummon To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

It's still the norm in non-Western countries to reserved people. Sadly though, other cultures are starting to pick up the more scumbag aspects of our culture. Yeah there are a lot of things (such as cancer) whose increases are caused largely by chemical environmental changes, but autism probably isn't one of them. It's due primarily to assortative mating, over-diagnosis, and over-expression of autism due to bad family support during the childhood. That's not to say environmental factors don't play a role, (lead poisoning won't do you any good), but I certainly don't see a smoking gun.

This also is an environmental factor. You cannot separate the chemical from the social environment.

	You can thank the feminists for that.

But thankfully only 11%
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---------- Post added 05-05-2012 at 04:21 PM ----------

	Originally Posted by Noelle Winters To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I'm still not convinced that Aspergers is a 'disorder.' I've met several people with Aspergers and I find them to be much better 'people' than a lot of the people who claim to be normal.

When I enumerate for people the main characteristics of autism, from the DSM 5, the response is often that I am describing a lot of people they know. Socalled ordinary people, particularly men, who more often than women have difficulties with freeflowing conversations, taking the initiative in relationship activities, etc.

Or could that be straight men? I don't know if there is data on any correlation between autism and gender identity.

[Thinktress]

	Originally Posted by phoboser To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I favor the theories that the the increase in autism is the result of 1) a relaxing of the diagnostic criteria, and 2) To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Its high heritability disfavors environmental causes.

I am fully in agreement with you on this one. In our family we have no autism. We have reams of ADHD and ADD.

The very definition of autism has been changed within the past two decades - and it is about to change again. Every change causes the inclusion or disinclusion of many people.


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[plotthickens]

I find it interesting that there are so many naysayers on this thread. Are ya'all advocating that pregnant women eat lead?