Marc Joseph Nutrition - Blog

Earlier this year, researchers took a look at air pollution levels in the Northern California Bay Area and the potential association with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

The study, published in the respected journal, Environmental Health Perspectives, found that the risk of ASD was 50% greater in babies born in areas with chlorinated compound and heavy metal air pollution levels in the top quartile. Compounds that had the greatest individual risk of association were mercury, cadmium, nickel, trichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride.

The researchers examined other potential variables that may have affected the results (including maternal age, race, education, and parity; paternal race and age; low birth weight, preterm delivery, and child race), but found them to not have significantly altered the chemical group findings. The results, of course, could not take into account potential individual exposures to the various chemical compounds.

Not Just the Bay Area

The results mirror those in another 2006 study that examined data for each county in Texas and found that autism rates increased by 61% and special education rates increased by 43% for every 1,000 pound increase in mercury emissions. Fossil-fuel burning power plants were the primary heavy metal source.

Few areas of the country are really immune from these potential air pollution effects, as evidenced by these stories discussing the effects of mercury in cement plant emissions in both Michigan and the NY Hudson Valley areas.

Clearly, more attention needs to be paid to air pollution levels of these compounds. As mentioned in the NY Hudson Valley article, efforts to regulate lower emissions haven’t been enacted quickly:

In 2000, a federal judge ordered the EPA to draw up rules for limiting mercury, hydrochloric acid and hydrocarbons at the nation’s cement plants. The decision was prompted by a lawsuit by EarthJustice and the Sierra Club, and the judge agreed the new rules were required by the Clean Air Act.

After the EPA took no action, the environmental groups joined with others in a coalition and again sued successfully, in 2004, to force action.

Last fall, the EPA proposed new rules, and determined new and existing plants would face limits on hydrochloric acid and hydrocarbons, but that cost and technological barriers prevented regulation of mercury. The environmental coalition has protested. A final decision is expected in December.

“It’s just ridiculous,” said Jim Pew, an attorney for EarthJustice. “These guys are big emitters and for whatever reason, EPA has decided to blow it off.”

For those who are affected by these air pollutants, especially heavy metals, waiting for government action isn’t really a good option. There are steps that can be taken to reduce the impact of these toxins.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 5th, 2006 at 10:56 pm and is filed under Autism, Mercury, Other Toxins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.