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Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has unveiled a list of 'harmful substances' he believes might be causing an 'autism surge' in the United States.
Kennedy mentioned he would initiate a number of studies to determine if mold and pesticides were contributing factors. food chemicals Or medications are playing a role in the onset of the condition.
He additionally proposed an unexpected fifth potential contributor: ultrasound scans. He pointed out that this technology gained widespread use roughly coinciding with the rise of autism rates in the 1980s.
RFK Jr proceeded to imply that 'some individual' might be 'benefitting' from the epidemic, which seemed like a reference to his doubts about vaccines. campaign against synthetic food components.
It comes after a Tuesday CDC report The suggestion indicates that the number of U.S. children diagnosed with autism increased to one in 31 in 2022, up from one in 36 in 2020 and one in 44 in 2018.
In contrast, initial research conducted during the 1960s and 70s placed autism incidence at roughly 1 in 5,000 individuals. Most experts argue this increase is mainly due to improved detection methods and greater public understanding; however, Kennedy stated that these factors account for just ‘10 to 20 percent’ of the rise observed.
Previously, doctors and therapists were not ignorant," RFK Jr stated at a press conference earlier today. "They did not overlook all of these instances.
He similarly rejected the notion that genetics are driving up autism rates, stating, " genes cannot spark epidemics," and further commented that ' The increase in autism likely stems from environmental or risk factors.
Kennedy stated to journalists: "It’s crucial for us to shift our perspective and not merely view the continuous rise in autism rates as a result of improved detection techniques and enhanced diagnostic standards."
'The outbreak is genuine. Only a minimal fraction can be attributed to improved awareness or enhanced diagnostic standards.'
'The response is quite evident, and this is disastrous for our nation.'
In line with his previous commitment to provide insights regarding the autism "crisis" by September, RFK Jr stated, "'We will have some explanations by September,' as a range of investigations examines potential environmental factors."
'An answer for the American people will come very, very soon,' he said.
The CDC study published earlier this week examined autism prevalence in 16 surveillance areas throughout the U.S. to estimate the national average.
Researchers carried out monitoring for autism in children who were four and eight years old, as well as looking into possible cases of autism in four-year-old children.
Monitoring encompassed children who resided in the region at any point throughout 2022.
Children were categorized as being on the autism spectrum through various assessments, which included whether they had previously been issued a diagnosis following a thorough developmental review or qualified for autism-specific educational services.
Four-year-old children were labeled as possibly having autism if they didn't fit the criteria for autism but showed signs of this developmental condition during an extensive assessment of their development.
In 2022, one out of every 31 children was diagnosed, and boys faced a higher risk.
In total, one out of every 20 eight-year-old boys received an autism diagnosis in 2022; however, in areas such as California, it occurred at a rate of one in 13.
RFK Jr described the danger for boys as 'extreme.'
Kennedy further pointed out that approximately one in every four children are considered 'severely'disabled, indicating that they do not speak and might entirely rely on other individuals for fundamental care tasks.
The secretary stated: 'Autism devastates families and, even more crucially, ruins our most valuable asset which is children.'
Although researchers from the CDC stated that advancements in recognizing autism at an earlier stage have become evident recently and might account for the increase, RFK Jr suggested that up to 85 percent of these cases could potentially be attributed to environmental factors.
He stated: "It's crucial for us to acknowledge that we are perpetrating this upon our children, and we must bring it to a halt."
Studies from Harvard, for instance, revealed that exposure to air pollutants such as particulate matter during early childhood can have significant effects. could increase the chances of autism by up to 64 percent .
Exposure during pregnancy might increase the risk of ASD by 31 percent.
Experts proposed that fine particles inhaled during early childhood or even before birth might pass through the bloodstream and circumvent protective barriers in the brain, leading to inflammation which can impede nerve growth.
An An Australian study released earlier this year It was also discovered that male children exposed to the endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA) during pregnancy were six times more likely to receive an autism diagnosis before turning 11 compared to those not exposed.
The group proposed that Bisphenol A (BPA), commonly used in lining plastics and metals for food packaging—a continually increasing contaminant—might be linked to alterations in neurology and behavior connected with autism.
The US has also witnessed an increase in the application of artificial pesticides, which certain individuals believe might play a role as well. The usage of these chemicals has multiplied fiftyfold since 1950.
Some research suggests that as much as 80 percent of Americans have measurable amounts of pesticides in their bloodstream.
In the previous year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared an urgent ban on the use of the pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal). This decision was made because studies indicated that infants exposed to this substance during pregnancy might have a higher risk of being born at low birth weight along with reduced IQ levels and developmental issues.
Dr Walter Zahorodny from Rutgers University in New Jersey, who was a co-author of the CDC report and also attended the press conference alongside Kennedy, stated, "The improved recognition stems from an increased number of children being identified as autistic."
It isn’t increased awareness driving this rise.
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