Mercury and Autism Revisited

For many years now scientists have been searching for the root cause of autism.  Recent studies conducted over the span of the past three years may have found a link between autism and mercury.  Is it possible for mercury to affect the rates of autism in a specific area?  Do the emissions of mercury affect pregnant women and the unborn fetus, and does it matter just how far away the mercury emitting source is?  It is easy to see that people are now questioning the possible relationship between exposure to mercury and the degenerative condition of autism.

One of the most recent studies in regard to the mercury and autism relationship was conducted in Texas.  The University of Texas Health Science Center, located in San Antonio, provided sufficient and statistically significant information which linked the release of industrial mercury and a noticeable increase in the rates of autism.  Amazingly for the first time ever in the literature of science, this study has brought forth and shown the association between not only the risk of autism but the association of severity and the distance from the source of mercury.  While the study is not definitive, the new information surfaces with a whole new perspective on how to approach autism studies.

The study had shown that the autism prevalence reduced between 1 and 2 percent for each ten miles the individual was away from the mercury source.  Further investigation and study showed that there is a direct link between the sources of mercury pollution added with the consumption of fish which deserve great amounts of attention.  Not only will this help possibly prevent autism, but will also aid in assessing the risks based on other genetic susceptibilities in a wide variety of different areas and patients alike.

Some of the highlights of the study include that the mercury release data that was examined came from 39 coal-fired plants as well as 56 different industrial facilities within the state of Texas.  In order to properly gauge the accuracy of the information, the autism rates were examined from 1,040 different school districts within Texas.  For every 1,000 pounds of mercury that was released by the sources throughout Texas into the environment, there was an autism rate which corresponded with the number.  The average infliction of autism for this figure was a 2.6 percent increase overall.  As the years progressed the autism rate increased to 3.7 percent.

The relation between air exposure, ground water, and food sources of mercury has still yet to be thoroughly tested.  It is known that there is much evidence in way of children and other organisms that are developing to be far more susceptible to the neurobiological effects that mercury has.