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There are certain times during a pregnancy where the fetus is particularly sensitive to small molecule environmental pollutants, like pharmaceuticals and pesticides. Some of these molecules alter the normal development of the fetus, through unknown processes. The researchers studied genital malformations in females and males but found that the congenital malformation - autism link was much stronger in boys.
The study's main author is quick to point out that this study does not count out genetic and other factors for autism. Nor does it directly point to the environment as the cause for autism, but it does point to a strong argument for an environmental role.
Sources
University of Chicago
FoxNews
The Examiner
An analysis of 100 million U.S. medical records reveals that autism and intellectual disability (ID) rates are correlated at the county level with incidence of genital malformations in newborn males, an indicator of possible congenital exposure to harmful environmental factors such as pesticides. - See more at: http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/03/13/autism-and-intellectual-disability-incidence-linked-environmental-factors#sthash.iqZzther.dpuf
An analysis of 100 million U.S. medical records reveals that autism and intellectual disability (ID) rates are correlated at the county level with incidence of genital malformations in newborn males, an indicator of possible congenital exposure to harmful environmental factors such as pesticides. - See more at: http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/03/13/autism-and-intellectual-disability-incidence-linked-environmental-factors#sthash.iqZzther.dpufAn analysis of 100 million U.S. medical records reveals that autism and intellectual disability (ID) rates are correlated at the county level with incidence of genital malformations in newborn males, an indicator of possible congenital exposure to harmful environmental factors such as pesticides. - See more at: http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/03/13/autism-and-intellectual-disability-incidence-linked-environmental-factors#sthash.iqZzther.dpuf
An analysis of 100 million U.S. medical records reveals that autism and intellectual disability (ID) rates are correlated at the county level with incidence of genital malformations in newborn males, an indicator of possible congenital exposure to harmful environmental factors such as pesticides. - See more at: http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/03/13/autism-and-intellectual-disability-incidence-linked-environmental-factors#sthash.iqZzther.dpufAn analysis of 100 million U.S. medical records reveals that autism and intellectual disability (ID) rates are correlated at the county level with incidence of genital malformations in newborn males, an indicator of possible congenital exposure to harmful environmental factors such as pesticides. - See more at: http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2014/03/13/autism-and-intellectual-disability-incidence-linked-environmental-factors#sthash.iqZzther.dpuf
100 million U.S. medical records
100 million U.S. medical recordfrom the University of Chicago links
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