World Autism Day

Today is World Autism Day.

If you've been paying any attention to the news lately, you'll know that autism is being diagnosed in the world's children at an alarmingly increasing rate since the 1980s. This is disturbing, no? Even accounting for an increase in diagnoses due to greater awareness and clearer criteria, the numbers are growing.

According to virtually every article available, the conventional wisdom is that there is a genetic predisposition which, when combined with some as yet unknown trigger(s), results in autism. There has been lots of speculation and scientific study concerning a link between vaccines containing Thimerosal, which some are convinced is "the" trigger. But if that's true, then why is the case number still growing when Thimerosal and other known teratogenic agents were already removed from vaccines years ago?

I know nothing. I have no experience in this field. I am not qualified to make any pronouncements or judgements, BUT, I am a mom and hopefully have some modicum of common sense. If Occam's Razor still applies, and usually it does, then it stands to reason that the trigger is something simple that humans have been exposed to in growing amounts since the 1980s.

Seems to me one source of teratogenic agents that absolutely pervades our lives now, and specifically those of babies is...plastics. Plastics contain phthalates, which are very nasty chemicals known to cause birth defects. The phthalates are not chemically bound to the plastic, so when chewed or sucked on, they leach out.

Working with environmental scientists, it's been pointed out to me on numerous occasions that, among literally thousands of other items, those bottles we suck on to drink our fashionably unregulated bottled water, are full of phthalates. What are women told to do during pregnancy?...drink lots of water. Not to mention that virtually everything you buy for a baby these days is made of phthalate containing plastics. What do babies do?...suck and chew on plastic teething toys.

Phthalates are also in all sorts of baby care products such as lotions, shampoos, powders, etc.; and lots of general household items such as shower curtains, beauty products, iPhones, iPods, personal computers, insect repellants, solvents and adhesives, etc., etc., ad infinitum.

There are studies being conducted regarding the possible role of phthalates in various adverse health conditions as I write this. California took a bold step in banning phthalates from childrens' toys in 2007. And here's a LINK to a study published just this February regarding phthalates in baby care products.

As I said, I know nothing, and make no causal assumptions, but it sure makes sense to me that it's something more simple and pervasive than three or four compounds already removed from vaccines.

Food for thought anyway. And for truly fascinating insights into a life lived with autism, check out Temple Grandin's books, if you haven't already.

Apologies for the length of this, and bless you if you've actually read the whole thing, but this phenomenon worries me greatly.

Let's hope that science cracks this mystery very soon...