New Autism Study Deals Blow to RFK Jr. Theory
The study examined the correlation between autism and exposure to pesticides among pregnant women.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) study published on August 24 in JAMA Pediatrics found no link between prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and autism-related social difficulties in children. The research, which examined urine samples from pregnant women and their children, tracked over 3,000 mothers involved in the NIH's Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
Despite nearly all participants having detectable pesticide metabolites, the study concluded that higher levels did not predict autism-related traits. The findings challenge the theory that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted, suggesting pesticides as a contributing factor to rising autism rates. Kennedy has repeatedly argued for environmental investigations as potential contributors to autism, despite many researchers and medical organizations attributing the condition to a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors.
The study's biological measurements of exposure during pregnancy provide stronger evidence than estimates based on residential proximity to farms or dietary habits. However, authors noted they cannot rule out the possibility of greater autism risk among those with higher exposures or genetic susceptibilities.
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