Green Options

The cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have risen dramatically over the past 30 years, so much so that there may be 50 percent more cases than previously suspected.

Up to 250,000 children have autism or a related condition on the autistic spectrum, but have not been diagnosed, researchers say. They are in addition to the 500,000 children who are known to be affected.

The study, conducted by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and colleagues of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, found that the increase was due to better detection and intervention.

This is disputed by a U.S. study at UC Davis, which said that California’s 7- to 8-fold increase was due only in small part by better detection, and stressed that environmental factors must be studied as a possible cause.

So now the opposite sides of the pond, and coasts for that matter, are in dispute.

In the quest to learn why autism rates in this country are rising dramatically, we have to look at the environmental health of our communties and chemical load that is being placed on our children. I recently wrote over at Non-Toxic Kids about the new link between PVC flooring and autism. Cate Nelson also wrote about this issue for Eco-Child’s Play last week.

Today, I came across this article in posted on Environmental Health News, about the link between autism and toxic waste sites.

A Swedish study found that the rate of autism is higher for children in houses that have PVC vinyl flooring. The children in the study were apparently affected by the phthalates that are emitted from the material.

Infants and toddlers who had vinyl floors in their rooms were twice as likely to develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than those with wood or aluminum floors.

This beautiful little girl is the youngest of my five children. She is the one who makes me break out into a sweat any time we venture into a grocery store, doctors office, library (or any other new location). She is the angel who needs her blankets on in a specific order, her favorite stuffed toys (pandy and puppy) each on their side and six rounds of “huggy and kissy” before she will settle into bed.  She is possibly one of the rising numbers of children on the Autism Spectrum.

Around age two, we begin to suspect that we weren’t just dealing with a more difficult or strong willed child.  At that time, I had no idea what we were dealing with and I kept telling myself “this is just a phase, it’ll pass”.  But the phase never passed.  Behaviors became more pronounced, social interactions and transition became exceptionally difficult.

Our “Little Critter” as she is dubbed in the online community is exceptionally bright, active and speaks beautifully so Autism Disorders were not considered in our early well child checks.  She walked at 7 1/2 months unassisted and has never stopped since, she wasn’t a cuddly baby from birth… rolling and scooting around on her belly by 2 1/2 months.  This was a baby who wanted to go.  I figured she was eager to play with her big sisters and therefore had no desire to be a baby.  She hit all the milestones on time or early and boy was she messy!  Always touching, feeling, running, jumping, twirling.  Now we know that she has sensory processing disorders which cause her to seek stimulation in some situations and over-react to stimuli (lights/noise) in others. We began to learn about Aspergers Disorder and Sensory Perception Disorder and saw our child.

A recent study at the University of California Davis found a correlation between fetal and infant exposure to pesticides, household chemicals, and viruses and the rise of children diagnosed with autism.

[Creative Commons photo by Arria Belli]

In the past, vaccinations were a suspected link to increased autism due to the mercury-derived preservative thimerosal, but that chemical has not been used in vaccines since 1999. Autism rates are still on the rise. Better diagnosis has also been discussed as a reason for the increase, but researchers say that a jump this large can’t be attributed to diagnosis alone. California has seen autism diagnosis jump by 700%, and researchers are now saying that environmental factors are likely the culprits.

Scientific research has long linked environmental toxins to a variety of cancers. Is autism next?

While autism rates have been climbing at a frightening rate, its root causes have remained elusive.  Researchers at the University of California, Davis M.I.N.D. institute have concluded that the focus of autism research should shift away from genetics or accounting practices and toward the increase of toxic chemicals and infectious microbes in the environment, especially in the home. Since 1990, autism rates in California have increased 600 to 700 percent. The study, published in Epidemiology, suggests that environmental toxins like metals, pesticides, and infectious agents could play a large part in the increase.

The dramatic increase in autism rates in California has been attributed to several factors, including increases in families bringing autistic children into California and changes in how autistic children are diagnosed.  To address the first issue, the study only looked at California natives. The second issue, accounting practices, played a small part in the increase, but no more than 20% of the overall increase.

There’s been a seven- to eight-fold increase of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) cases in California since 1990.

I’ve suspected that the rise in diagnoses of ASD is linked to many factors, one of them better detection. You, too? Not so, says a new study.

“It’s time to start looking for the environmental culprits responsible for the remarkable increase in the rate of autism in California…We’re looking at the possible effects of metals, pesticides and infectious agents on neurodevelopment,” said researcher Irva Hertz-Piccoto.

This is a guest post by Kelly Duneavy, a reporter for MarinScopes newspapers.

Though Jenny McCarthy may have hit it big originally for her bad girl image, now she wants to go good. Too Good.

McCarthy signed with Brand Sense Partners to launch a children’s lifestyle line, Too Good by Jenny, next Spring. The line will be focused on providing children with safe, non-toxic surroundings.

Ever since McCarthy’s son, Evan, was diagnosed with [...]

I interviewed a friend of mine who works in public health about breastfeeding being baby’s first natural immunization, in the hopes of sorting out perceptions and realities when it comes to germs, diseases, and vaccines from a ‘green’ perspective…

AJ: We’ve all heard doctors explain how breast milk protects newborns via antibodies, proteins and immune cells, but rather than deep dive into the science of secretory IgA molecules, I’m going to ask a simple ‘Earth mom’ question…Is breastfeeding enough of a ‘human vaccine?’

R: ‘Breast is best’ to boost immunity from infections, reduce respiratory illnesses…But breastfeeding ONLY offers limited protection from serious diseases like measles, pneumonia, and whooping cough.

Breastfeeding works synergistically with immunizations, boosting the levels of protection against disease to actually increase the protection your baby gets. ALL ingredients in vaccines serve a purpose, whether it’s triggering a child’s immune response, or keeping them germ free. Even though we’ve eradicated some diseases in this country before, our mobile society makes it easy to have them come right back over on a plane…‘Herd protection’ only goes so far.

Many parents are concerned about the safety of childhood vaccines, and my attention was caught by Mothering’s action alert about “Green Vaccines”. What the heck is a green vaccine? It sounds like an oxymoron to me.  Jenny McCarthy, spokesperson for Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), and Jim Carrey are calling for support of the Green Our Vaccines Rally for Autism.

On June 4, 2008, the Green Vaccines rally will be held in Washington, D.C. The rally cry is:

• We are not anti-vaccine, we are anti-toxins.

• Green our Vaccines!!

• Change the schedule, babies are getting too much too soon.

• We support informed consent for all families

• To give the moms and dads around the world a day to be heard. This is their day. This will be their moment.