Autism Effect of Maternal Exposure to Neurotoxic Chemicals

Autism prevalence data from around the world and, indeed, even within individual countries and states, are sporadic, but they indicate rising rates almost everywhere. For example, autism rates in Iceland increased from 3.8 per 10,000 in the period of 1973-1983 to 8.6 per 10,000 in the period of 1984-1993 [11], Thirty-one cases of 

It is generally agreed that autism has been increasing worldwide at least since 1979 at a rate of 3.8% per year [15,16]. As of 2002, the conservative estimate of worldwide prevalence was 10 per 10,000 births [17]. It has since dramatically increased [18]. 

The available data, however, point in the direction that autism prevalence is lower in rural than in urban areas within the same locale. Autism is prevalent at the rate of 3.06 per 10,000 in the urban areas of Kukishama-Ken in northern Japan and at a rate of 1.18 per 10,000 in rural areas of this region [17]. In this study, it was noted that autism rates were lower when parents worked in agriculture, forestry, fishing, or mining, aU presumably rural areas. Among the indigenous peoples of Africa, autism rates are lower than in other parts of the world [8]. 

Neurotoxic agents can act differently in children than in adults because of their effects on developments, which have no parallels in adults [30]. The developing fetus is more sensitive to neurotoxic agents than adults or even young children [23]. Low levels that are not harmful to adults negatively affect the developing brain [31]. 

Different chemicals can cause different injuries at different parts of the fetus s development that is, different parts are sensitive at different stages of development A given neurotoxic agent can cause multiple effects, and neurodevelopmental consequences of exposure may vary, since different areas of the brain develop at different times and since dose and timing lead to different outcomes [30, 34, 36], The nervous, immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems are extensively interconnected and interference with any one of these can have profound effects on any or all of these systans [37]. 

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Autism Effect of Maternal Exposure to Neurotoxic Chemicals... 

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