Pesticides and autism

OrganophosphatesChlorpyrifos
PyretheroidsCarbamates

A study done at the University of California Davis, “found pregnant women who lived within a mile of an area treated with three different types of pesticides were at a two-thirds higher risk of having a child with ASD or developmental delays” according to Harmeet Kaur, writer of “pesticides exposure during pregnancy may increase autism risk”. This study was made by researchers studying the medical records of 970 women. The three different types of pesticides that were studied were “organophosphates, which include the widely used insecticide chlorpyrifos, as well as pyretheroids and carbamates” (Kaur).  Women who were exposed to organophosphates had a 60% chance of having a child with autism. For women exposed to chlorpyrifos during their second trimester are 3.3 times more likely to have autism. Pyretheroids exposure before conception increases the risk to 82% and if exposed to it during third trimester the chances increased to 87%. Lastly women who were exposed to carbamates, such as methomyl and sevin, didn’t show signs of autism but an increase in developmental delay. Other factors can contribute to the development of autisms. This is just more evidence to contribute to the hypothesis that chemicals exposure influences the chances of having a child with autism or developmental delay.  


Articles:
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/06/24/pesticide-exposure-during-pregnancy-may-increase-autism-risk/
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2014/jun/autism-and-pesticides