2008-04-25 Autism Risk Linked To Distance From Power Plants, Other Mercury-releasing Sources

2008-04-25 ScienceDaily \autism/causes\autism vaccination theory\environment/hazards/mercury\University of Texas http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080424120953.htm Autism Risk Linked To Distance From Power Plants, Other Mercury-releasing Sources &ldquo;A newly published study of Texas school district data and industrial mercury-release data, conducted by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, indeed shows a statistically significant link between pounds of industrial release of mercury and increased autism rates. It also shows – for the first time in scientific literature – a statistically significant association between autism risk and distance from the mercury source.&rdquo;  A newly published study of Texas school district data and industrial mercury-release data, conducted by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, indeed shows a statistically significant link between pounds of industrial release of mercury and increased autism rates. It also shows – for the first time in scientific literature – a statistically significant association between autism risk and distance from the mercury source.

"This is not a definitive study, but just one more that furthers the association between environmental mercury and autism," said lead author Raymond F. Palmer, Ph.D., associate professor of family and community medicine at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. The article is in the journal Health & Place.

Dr. Palmer, Stephen Blanchard, Ph.D., of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and Robert Wood of the UT Health Science Center found that community autism prevalence is reduced by 1 percent to 2 percent with each 10 miles of distance from the pollution source. This is at least confirmation that there is a link between environmental mercury and autism. While this doesn't directly bolster the vaccine theory, it at least gives more credence to the idea that mercury in vaccines could be a contributing factor.   