CDC Says 1 in 36 Children Have Autism

A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis claimed 1 in 36 8-year-old children have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), drawing from 2020 data. The statistic is an increase from last year’s report based off of information from 2018, which stated that 1 in 44 8-year-old children had autism. Another CDC report noted that 4-year-old children were diagnosed with autism at greater rates than 8-year-old children before the pandemic. Both studies found that autism was greater across non-white children.

From The Defender:

“There are many studies suggesting that something in our environment is driving the increase in autism, and that’s where we need to focus our attention,” [Sallie Bernard, co-founder and board president of SafeMinds] said.

As autism rates skyrocketed among U.S. children over the past several decades, along with concern among parents, much research has turned to investigate the role of environmental risk factors in compounding underlying diverse genetic factors.

Environmental risk factors include metals like aluminum and mercury in vaccines, glyphosate exposure, use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and infancy, heavy metals in baby food and other organic environmental pollutants.

Studies also link industrial chemicals, such as lead, arsenic, copper, selenium, iron and magnesium, to the disorder.

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